Affordable discussion forum software

[tcsenter]

So far I have experimented with MyBB and SMF Forums (both free). I like SMF better than MyBB.

The problem I have is with the themes and add-ins available. The default themes function great, but are plain and not the style I am looking for. I found some themes I liked (created by user community), but of course they are riddled with bugs and glitches. The add-ins are also buggy or require significant code customization. I am barely HTML and CSS literate, but haven't a clue how to code PHP, XML, XHTML, or script, so I'm looking for something that is fairly easy to configure.

What are some other affordable (or free) forums that are a bit more refined, especially in the area of themes and add-ins that don't require 'fixing' because they didn't get enough vetting or was the creator's 'first attempt at a theme'. I don't know why some people think its kosher to offer a theme (or skin) that isn't 100% functioning, but it drives me nuts.

I am willing to pay if that's what I have to do, but I can't afford a couple hundred bucks per year. TIA!

 

[troytime]

phpbb is free and not TOO difficult to skin

i skinned a phpbb install for a client about a month ago, i told him it'd take an hour, it took almost 2, but it wasn't bad at all

how much design modification are you talking? adding a header and footer is really easy

 

[tcsenter]

how much design modification are you talking? adding a header and footer is really easy

I realize that adding/changing the header and footer will be needed no matter the forum. Although I'm not exactly sure how to do it, I'm willing to sift through the help and instructions. The problems I'm having are bigger than merely customizing the layout.

One SMF theme I like doesn't work at all. It installs 'successfully' using SMF's theme installer, but appears to have non-valid CSS formatting or something. When I load the forum, only the text appears, while some graphics and buttons only show placeholders. None of the color schemes, borders, or dividers are visible, just a white background.

Depending on the theme, I may have to add some advert areas along the side or in the header. I'm not opposed to reading through the help documentation, but suffice to say I'm going to be out of my element if I have to 'fix' the coding flaws in the theme on top of adding my customization.

I would also like a forum with a stable or at least consistent development model. With SMF, it seems that every new version of the forum runs a real risk of breaking compatibility with themes created for the previous version. The few themes I like are for older versions of the forum and have big problems with the newest release version.

 

[Markbnj]

You didn't mention platform, but if .Net is acceptible check out Community Server from Terragen (there's a link on www.asp.net). It's free for noncommercial use, and very slick.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: Markbnj
You didn't mention platform, but if .Net is acceptible check out Community Server from Terragen (there's a link on www.asp.net). It's free for noncommercial use, and very slick.

I have a Linux hosting package from 1&1, so I don't think .NET is supported.

 

[WooDaddy]

What kind of forum software is Anandtech running? I have similar questions, but might may be for commercial use.
I am slowly but surely updating my website (http://inputreview.com/) and in the meantime, I want to put up forums. Is phpbb pretty easy to setup and maintain?

 

[Markbnj]

Anandtech is running FuseTalk.. It's a .Net package.