How to build a forum

[majesty2009]

What did you guys use to build your forum?

[Ignorant]

How big is your forum ?

http://www.vbulletin.com/

[IRuleYouHard]

I started with no exper and I got mine working ok www.phpbb.com

[Freakin]

vbulletin is the best

phpbb is a free alternative that does the job

i've got several forums and i'm using about 50/50 between the two pieces of software.

[wmspringer]

I'm using SMF for mine http://www.simplemachines.org

[Transference]

ive never used vbulletin, in what way is it better than phpbb or SMF?

[DonkeyKongSr]

A question about forums: Once you start a forum and get it going, is it possible to switch over to a different forum software? Essentially I'm wondering if I can start with some very basic forum software and over time switch to a much more elaborate one.

[IRuleYouHard]

you could (i would think) switch easily if you either changed the names of your database files or changed the name of your database files in your code so they matched. At least the basic stuff you would be able to hold on to.

[maxtower]

phpBB and vbulletin are so popular, I imagine there are software packages around that allow conversion. Themes and skins probably wouldn't convert too easily, but the posts and users probably can.

[Alltimed]

[ QUOTE ]
phpBB and vbulletin are so popular, I imagine there are software packages around that allow conversion. Themes and skins probably wouldn't convert too easily, but the posts and users probably can.

[/ QUOTE ]

Vbulletin has a add-on called Impex that you can use to convert about any type of forum into Vbulletin. I also believe there are good commercial apps that can convert Vbulletin into other less costly forums.