[NCLUG] Choosing forum software

[Michael Dwyer]

Evelyn Mitchell wrote:
> * On 2002-09-12 16:54 Dan Fink <danbob at starband.net> wrote:
> 
>>We want to stick with GPL products. Software like Slashdot, Scoop and 
>>Squishdot seem to be just what we have in mind for this project. From 
>>what I've seen implemented on other forums, I kind of favor Scoop. But 
>>I'd sure appreciate comments from anyone that has used, installed and/or 
>>administrated Slash/Scoop/Squish -based forums.
> 
> 
> Scoop is used by kuro5hin.org, a site I rather like. The install requires a
> non-rpm version of apache/mod_perl, which is rather strange.
> 
> Squishdot is a Zope product, and works pretty well. 
> 
> I've never looked at or installed the Slashdot code.

I've tried the original Slashdot code.  It was pretty scary to get 
working.  That may have changed since then.  They have revved the code 
once or twice, and have surrounded it with a development group.  It 
might be a good thing if you are pretty handy with PERL.

Personally, I've been rather taken with phpslash.org's PHP Slash.  It is 
a rewrite the the Slashdot system in PHP.  It is quite easy to set up 
and maintain.  The documentation seems to be a little slim, though -- I 
KNOW it can do a whole lot more than I'm doing with it...

Have you considered using newsgroups for the forum features?  Those can 
be accessed with /less/ than Lynx. :)  Also, there is a pretty decent 
web interface.  Look at what they do at Phonescoop.org (I think) for an 
example.

I share your impression of UBB...  Worse, I've traded E-mails with them 
from time to time...  I have a huge pet peeve with people who store my 
password in plaintext (Bugzilla... grrr).  They felt it was a necessary 
risk that enabled them to mail peoples' passwords to them.  <sigh>