The FCF is Dead, Long Live the FCF

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 07 Oct 2009, 21:00

The phpBB3 board is back up again now. I had it down this evening to update the contents so it was an exact reflection of the test phpBB2 board. Since then I've hardly been home and left it to update whilst i went shopping and doing a bout of Dad's Taxi..

I don't like the style of phpBB3. Although there is a quasi-phpBB2 look available I don't think much to that either. Club XM currently uses it and it's a good place to see it in action. For the range of phpBB3 styles have a look at the Styles Demos on the phpBB Site. I don't like any of them

The main thing is performance and simplicity for me. I think phpBB3 is slow and clunky and does not offer a forum like this any great advantage.

There is no problem whatsoever in me keeping phpBB2 boards running for a long time yet in a technical sense. Although formally unsupported by phpBB now, they're in no danger of suddenly stopping working or having a massive flaw exposed. It's a good, mature product and still well supported by third parties. Ours are also well patched against spammers and therein a question mark still hangs over phpBB3.

My choice would be to remain with phpBB2.

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 08 Oct 2009, 07:26

I would have said stick with the old model (I also prefer my mk1 Xantia to my mk2).
But...I have always been a bit unhappy about external hosting of photos, as after a while, they tend to get lost, so on that basis, maybe a tentative vote for bb3

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 08 Oct 2009, 09:48

An attachment mod could always be applied to PHPBB2.
The thing is, with offsite hosting, you have total control over your images, with forum hosting the images are held on the server, taking up space (which can cost money) and in my experience of using PHPNuke can sometimes become orphaned, so they lose the links on the forum to them, but they still take up space on the server.
Also, there's the added security risk because there would have to be a folder open for uploads on the server.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 08 Oct 2009, 10:21

Xac wrote:...but they still take up space on the server.
Also, there's the added security risk because there would have to be a folder open for uploads on the server.

And a lot of space they can take up too. Disk space on the host server is at a premium and after accommodating databases (with room to grow), mail and the log files, there is not much space for image storage and what is there is needed for avatars.

The security side is also a good reason. Best always to host images on a separate server. I host my own and I'm happy for anyone else to use my server as an image host on request. I have loads of space..

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 08 Oct 2009, 11:19

I had a look at the different skins and, to be honest, they're pretty much either a medocre bunch or violently objectionable.

With two exceptions.

The first is for the wrong reason. Whoever designed Celtic dreams needs to be sectioned. How could anyone think that a brown background provides enough contrast againt black writing!

The only decent one of the lot is SE Square Left and, if we have to move to BB3 can I put a request in for that please?

One thing that you'll have to test is whether putting a different skin on slows the forum too much. Another forum I post on became unusable a few years back when they tried a different skin.

Do I feel another test forum in the wind Jim?

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 08 Oct 2009, 11:20

-Post deleted-

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 08 Oct 2009, 11:23

Where's my edit button? Is this a symptom of BB2 gradually dissolving into unuseablility?

Can you also delete my stupid post immediately above quoting my own post please?

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 08 Oct 2009, 11:56

Paul-R wrote:Where's my edit button? Is this a symptom of BB2 gradually dissolving into unuseablility?

Can you also delete my stupid post immediately above quoting my own post please?

It's the Forum Announcements section (took me a while to figure out that was the reason) where we have the ability to reply but not edit.

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 08 Oct 2009, 12:32

Xac wrote:It's the Forum Announcements section (took me a while to figure out that was the reason) where we have the ability to reply but not edit.

Ah yes, at the bottom right of the opening page of this section

You cannot edit your posts in this forum

I wonder why? Bad news for fumble fingerers like me who only see the errors after they've clicked the submit button

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 08 Oct 2009, 13:13

Paul-R wrote:I wonder why? Bad news for fumble fingerers like me who only see the errors after they've clicked the submit button

My fault

I will sort that next time I'm logged into the ACP...

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 08 Oct 2009, 13:30

The edit button should now be available. Sorry about that

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 08 Oct 2009, 16:03

CitroJim wrote:The edit button should now be available. Sorry about that

Thanks.

Evidence of bod spilling now eliminated.

davetherave · Unread post by **davetherave** » 08 Oct 2009, 16:12

Perhaps a vote would be in order!
Im pretty happy with phpBB2, when using the test ones phpBB3 did seem slower.
And external picutre hosting suits me fine too!
The old saying "If it aint broke..." comes to mind!

Unread post by **myglaren** » 08 Oct 2009, 17:45

I too am in favour of each of us hosting our own images. Cuts down on bandwidth for the forum, saves server space and avoids the problems mentioned by Xac.

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 08 Oct 2009, 22:28

myglaren wrote:I too am in favour of each of us hosting our own images. Cuts down on bandwidth for the forum, saves server space and avoids the problems mentioned by Xac.

On the other hand once they've been uploaded then they're available as long the board continues. No problems with broken links or hosting companies changing some minute part of their structure making them unfindable.