Advice for easy to use forum software

Kilgore__Trout

Hi,

I'd like to set up a simple website and forum. I haven't a lot of experience in this area (set up a dreamweaver site with a database as part of a project last year) so I have some of the basics, but I'm really looking for the path of least resistance.

I have Linux hosting, and will use wordpress for the website. Wordpress has some forum software (http://bbpress.org/), which seems like it might do the job. The requirements for the forums are:

- Allow certain members access to specific areas (they should be hidden to others)
- Be reasonably secure

Any advice on a simple solution?

Graham

As it's based around WordPress and it's free, you've really got nothing to loose by setting it up and testing it out.

slegs

https://www.phpbb.com/

fl4pj4ck

bbpress is really crappy when compared to alternatives.

I'd suggest SMF or MyBB, both open source and free

Kilgore__Trout

Thanks for replies. Do these forum software require manually setting up databases? It's been a while since I've done it, and I'm hoping to get something up and running quickly.

Had a go with bbpress. Not overly impressed tbh.

fl4pj4ck

you just need to create db and provide the details to the forum installer

Kilgore__Trout

Tried SMF. Vastly prefer it to bbPress. Thanks for suggestion!

ThrowinShapes

esoTalk looks really good http://esotalk.org/

mark8511

Hi

You can use wordpress for website and any other for forum, there is no problem in that, I hope most of hosting have an one click option to install a forum to your website and then you can customize that.

In this way you need not to create databases and you can setup a forum without any experience. Some of the most commonly forums used these days are as below:


vBulletin Forums

Simple Machines Forum

phpBB

bbPress

PunBB

Vanilla Forums

TommiesTank

Take a look at Liferay Portal. It has a lot more features so it may be overkill for your needs.