10 Best Free PHP and Perl Forum Scripts
PHPBB
Since its creation in 2000, PhPBB has become the most widely used Open Source forum solution. Like its predecessors, PhPBB 3.0 “Olympus” has an easy to use administration panel and a user friendly installation process, which allows you to have a forum set up in minutes. With a large and highly customisable set of key features coupled with a standards compliant interface, PhPBB will grow with, and complement your website. With millions of installations worldwide, it is no wonder PhPBB is one of the most popular ways to create and support a community.
Documentation: Good documentation covering all aspects and customizing of PHPBB forum.
Community: Community is rather large and active. You can find lot of themes created by users,
License: GPL.
Last releases: 3.0.5.
Size:2.3mB.
Project example: Aprelium
Simple Machines Forum
Simple Machines Forum – SMF in short – is a free, professional grade software package that allows you to set up your own online community within minutes. Its powerful custom made template engine puts you in full control of the lay-out of your message board and with our unique SSI – or Server Side Includes – function you can let your forum and your website interact with each other.
Documentation: Good.
Community: Community includes several active forums and chat.
License: Simple Machines License
Last releases: 1.1.9
Size:1.4mB
Project example: Dynamic Systems Portal
PunBB
PunBB is a fast and lightweight PHP-powered discussion board. Its primary goals are to be faster, smaller and less graphically intensive as compared to other discussion boards. PunBB has fewer features than many other discussion boards, but is generally faster and outputs smaller, semantically correct XHTML-compliant pages
Documentation: There is large wiki with documentation.
Community: Laarge community includes several forums, wiki and international support.
License: GPL.
Last releases: 1.3.4
Size:302kB
Project example: Movie Discussion
Vanilla
Vanilla is an open-source, standards-compliant, multi-lingual, fully extensible discussion forum for the web.
Documentation: Compact and clear documentation
Community: One but large and active forum.
License: GPLv2
Last releases: 1.1.8
Size:509kB
Project example: OpenDNS Forums
SEO-Board
SEO-Board is a forum software that’s fast, free, and search engine friendly. It is the perfect solution for small and medium-sized sites.
Documentation: Compact manual describing all basic functions of forum.
Community: Several forums.
License: License statements described in the manual.
Last releases: 1.1.0
Size: 98kB
Project example: The Armenian Church
aterr
aterr is an open source threaded forum system; allowing registered visitors to express their opinions, discuss topics, and debate with other visitors. A threaded forum system differs from regular, flat forum systems in that once posted, a thread can fork, allowing visitors to reply directly to other posts. aterr also provides a customisable permissions system, the ability to nest forums, and moderation tools.
Documentation: Weak. Small instruction how to install forum.
Community: Community includes support forum and IRC channel
License: GPLv2
Last releases: 0.9.3
Size: 78kB
Project example: Neoteric Hovercraft Forums
Unclassified NewsBoard
The Unclassified NewsBoard (short UNB) is an open-source, PHP-based internet bulletin board system, mostly like those you may already know. But the difference is in a lot of details that make your life with this board, both as administrator and user, much easier.
Documentation: Medium. Documentation covers only basic operations with forum.
Community: Several active forums.
License: GPL
Last releases: 1.6.4
Size: 780kB
Project example: Deutsche Abandonware Gruppe
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