So as the topic says, I was wondering whats your guys choice of forum software, that is *free*. For the few that know, i have a domain that's sitting, and I've been wanting to do something with it for awhile. Ive been debating between SMF or phpbb. Currently I've set-up a test forum using SMF, I like it, but since i don't know a ton about forum software at all, What would you suggest? Specifically for Admin and ease of use. If i need to be more clear, typing this up during class.. Thanks in advance.

Hmm, well personally I think that both SMF and PHPBB are good, I find SMF a little nicer user side, but there seems to be a slightly easier admin layout on PHPBB.
PHPBB also lets you integrate Sax, while SMF has Omnom.
I personally think both are just about equal, even if I lean towards SMF after using it for so long ( just because I'm familiar with it, nothing to do with it being better ).

Hmm ok, The admin on SMF is sometimes kinda confusing. I think i'll just have to look into PHPBB more, since i pretty much got SMF to work the way i want it to..

Hmmm, alright. I guess if i have any SMF questions ill come here to ask . Now its time to forward my domain \o/ should prob. finish setting up the forum(s) first..

I've decided to go with SMF for my site. While pretty much still under construction, my domain www.rcfreak0.com Should forward to the forums. Mainly this will be focused around my server, but it will contain more than just that, eventually.

My forum is on ABXD, which is based on Acmlmboard. It might not be the best, but I like it.

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GNOMES! Better stay away from me, I might just war stomp you ^^
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<3 gnomes

Back to the topic..

Actually I saw some pretty great PHPBB themes before. The custom SMF ones are generally not that much original. However there are more mods it seems, and mods won't risk wrecking your board as much if you know what you're doing.

I'm glad the mods are forgiving 'cause i dont know what im doing for the most part, just winging it, and i haven't broke anything so-far so yay.

Try forumotion.com

Hi and welcome here JL235. Yeah I saw many people building their own in the past. The only problem though is that in most cases it was just so much work and hassle that the admin spent his entire time building it instead of keeping some life on his forum, only to have the most basic features done within an entire year. Eventually the site is just abandonned as the admin gives up. Also often people do not trust if a random person decides to make you a forum of his own, because sometimes those people might leave a security hole in the background that only themselves know, so if one day that person becomes a troublemaker and you have to ban him or if you get in a fight with him, then your site is at his mercy.

At least we have to give some credits to PhpBB/SMF for their work, though. THey're still nice pieces of software considering they're free. I personally am not willing to pay over $200 for VB or InvisionBoard. By the way I don't like any default theme of those sites, same for PhpBB/SMF. The only software default themes I liked are MyBB and InvisionBoard v1.3.

Also flyingfisch holy necropost batman! :O