Hello,
I would completely respect the mod team for closing this topic if someone decided to turn it into a bash fest. Those posts don't remain on my sites, and I wouldn' expect for them to remain here.
There some needless things found in VB. I agree that the calendar is not useful. Granted, you can add events to it, and it lists the birthdays for the month, but it isn't needed.
iguanairs - most of the features you mention (a template editor particularly) would seem fairly peripheral to forum software, even though they might be quite an interesting project in their own right. But the downside would surely be a loss in flexibility-
The "editor"(for lack of a better term,lol) is actually the files themselves. Instead of them being placed in a folder within the directory for editting, they are located within the Admin CP. Whatever you can do a TPL file, I can do within my ACP and have the same desired result, in a fraction of the time. Its the ease that I am referring to. I don't want people from any of the sites to be swayed. All of the forum applications have their benefits and downsides.
When I switched to PHPBB, I lost a great deal of accessibility. Though I still had control over the items missing from the admincp, it was more work to accomplish things that I am use to being able to do within minutes.
I prefer to FTP files opposed to using file managers through server control panels. So for me, I needed to either download the files necassary to make the edits, edit them, and then upload them, to see the results. In the time it takes to download the files, I could have already edited half the files and have saved them.
Here is a good example. The header and footer files control the main table. If I wanted to redice the body of my site, header, and footer, I could do so in under 20 seconds via the admincp. When styling a site, this is wonderful. The template structure that they use is wonderful. It is exactly the same thing as editing the tpl files, only I have easier access, so there is no loss of flexibility. In fact, I would say that it is more flexible. Having the controls at your finger tips means you can do more, in a shorter amount of time.
Modifications that require some decent editing means you need to put a "slot" aside for the installation and debugging if necassary. With vb, I can install 90% of the modifications within 10 minutes. Any templates that need to be edited require minimal work. The php files require the download,edit,upload method. Seeing as I cut having to download, edit,and upload the tpl files, I get done a lot faster than the previous method.
The phrase manager in itself is another great feature. My boards are tweaked immensly. I add things all the time. I optimize all the time.
The phrase manager contains all the phrases found within the main_lang.php file.
I can edit, add, and even translate ANY phrase used on my forums. For obvious reasons, this is great. Especially for members that speak dual or foriegn languages. The edits are easy to follow, are quickly accessible, and help to motivate them into changing them. It also reduces the chance for human error, which everyone knows plays a major factor in installing anything to these sites.
I am not knocking PHPBB. I think it is a great application. I personally would like to see some of the functionality that I have seen elsewhere. I am a huge fan of open source code. mainly because I like to dabble in the code myself. So if this application had some of the features I have noticed, I think it would be in my best interest to use this application over VB. But as it is now, I feel VB has more control and diversification with the controls than PHPBB.
I am going to install a test site this afternoon when i return from work. I honestly believe that everyone will understand better if they can see what it is I am talking about. The ease of use is great.
I agree with some of the coders on this site. I too would like to see some of the needless stuff removed. Some things are useless, while others I really wouldn't be able to do without. They make my life so much easier.
I think that comparing the 2 may not have been the best way to approach this thread. Those that have used VB, and then tried PHPBB would understand where I am coming from. Those that have used PHPBB and never tried VB are firm in their convictions that they have everything they need.
It really is difficult to go from something that allows so much control and options to something that requires twice the work to attain the same results.
I look forward to your new release. I would love to have the control I have now with VB using this application. That would thrill me. lol
In the same instant, if you require any beta testers, I have 4 servers. I would be more than willing to host one of your new version on one of my servers and give it the testing that my staff could easily do. (I have 11 people that work for my sites. They would easily test every feature that the newest version has available. I use them to debug my VB's after I have gone in and made all of my modifications and enhancements.)
Well, time to get ready for work. I appreciate the designers and staff keeping this post up. I anticipated it being dropped the moment it was viewed.
Honestly critiquing an application can only lead to improvements. Thanks again and I will be back on later with the test VB installed.