Trying out Web Forum Software (written in PHP)

Update: We have now gone for Vanilla forum which is really nice. PHP4 but has a really nice interface, next step Framework integration!

This is more for notes to myself for now – that I installed bbPress (by the same developers as WordPress that this blog runs on) and Phorum 5. To see if they are any good / worth using at work (eg will they integrate well with other web tools/the Zend/AEA Framework, how well are they written and documented, whats the licensing etc).

Dev site links and notes:

bbPress: https://blog.cronky.net/bbpress/

This integrates quite nicely with WordPress (uses the same users) would be good if it could use more of the WordPress installation stuff (eg templating). Also has a nice Poll plugin (although code for this looks a bit hacky).

Cons: PHP4 based, Doesn’t look very mature from its version number, GPL license might cause issues when integrating.

Phorum 5: http://sucrose.cronky.net/phorum/

Particularly interested in this one as it looks good / feature rich but it is also BSD licensed making it more flexible to customise and incorporate into other frameworks without having to re-release an Open Source version.

Cons: Again PHP 4 based.

Silverstripe Forum Module (need to install on dev box)

The other thing to consider is whether a dedicated tool like one of the above offers compelling advantages over the Silverstripe Forum module (although the Forum module is a bit alpha in our experience so far – but then it is at v0.1.2!)

Some benefits of the SS module include PHP5 / MVC implementation, that we are already using SS for CMS anyway…