Adding A VBulletin Forum In A Subdirectory

inisheer · 2014-01-29 21:12:26

I would like to add a user forum as a subdirectory of my textpattern site. Is this feasible? I’m thinking of Vbulletin but would consider other software if it’s easy or free, unlike Vbulletin.

I really don’t need anything unusual – just the kind of standard features you see in most Vbulletin forums. Can anyone give any advice on how to accomplish this?
Thanks
Bob
irishletter.com

philwareham · 2014-01-30 11:28:20

Yes you can add any forum software really, since it’s an independent bit of software from Textpattern. Just put it in a subdirectory of root, follow the software’s install instructions, and you’re good to go. I’d create a separate database for this than Textpattern for safety, though you could probably prefix the tables in a single database along with Textpattern if you only have one database allowed by your host.

Having used various forum software over the years, I’d say avoid vBulletin – it’s painful to skin (almost impossible, since they have their own horrible tempting language) and chews up server resources.

Try FluxBB (which we use on this site), punBB or if you are feeling adventurous maybe Moot (I haven’t tried that one but it looks fairly nice at a glance). They are all free.

gaekwad · 2014-01-30 15:28:36

Also shortlist Vanilla – I’ve used it at version 1 and it was nice.

jstubbs · 2014-01-31 00:31:14

Moot is really nice, they use it over at Flowplayer.

gaekwad · 2014-01-31 10:25:47

jstubbs wrote #278583:

Moot is really nice, they use it over at Flowplayer.

Jonathan – having used Discus on TXP Tips and Moot at Flowplayer, which do you prefer? Is there a feature or asset that persuaded you?

philwareham · 2014-01-31 14:07:53

Moot is in beta and also it’s not really a forum in the traditional sense. It’s more of a cloud-based message board. You do get the advantage of:

Updates are automatic.
Spam and security is not yours to worry about.
I’s very quick to set up.

Disadvantages:

It’s not that easy to make it look like a seamless part of your site.
You are reliant on a third party and the level of trust that entails (read the terms and conditions beforehand).
Anything past the most basic features are monthly paid-for additions.

Swings and roundabouts really.

gaekwad · 2014-01-31 14:08:53

Nice write-up; thanks, Phil.

jstubbs · 2014-02-01 01:50:32

gaekwad wrote #278590:

Jonathan – having used Discus on TXP Tips and Moot at Flowplayer, which do you prefer? Is there a feature or asset that persuaded you?

I used Disqus to replace the in-built TXP commenting system as there was a lot of spam, and it seemed to work well over at TXP mag.

Now there are more options – Google+ I think and now Moot. I asked some questions on the Flowplayer forum some months back and thought it was pretty good, then spent some time over the last couple of days looking at Moot a little more in depth, even creating a forum.

I have a site on which we need to engage users, and Moot is one possibility since it has commenting features as well as the forum side of things.

gaekwad · 2014-02-01 01:56:05

Good info. Thanks.

element · 2014-02-18 13:08:32

I want to add Discourse to that list. It’s free, open en simple (according to them).

Last edited by element (2014-02-18 13:08:44)

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#1 2014-01-29 21:12:26