Forum Software Update Question

[CandG]

Can I request that we get a warning a few days in advance before the change, so we have a chance to make our own backups of stuff we want to save just in case?

[Dvrjon]

vB4 seems to be a dead end. VB5 is out, but not sufficiently agile.

Xenforo has potential, and fielded 2.0 at the end of last year, so should have some stability for a few years. But, I think I hate the look and feel.

SMF open sourcing can leverage "hive" solutions and may help resource management and future agility.

Soooo.....SMF.

[artb]

vB4 seems to be a dead end. VB5 is out, but not sufficiently agile.

Xenforo has potential, and fielded 2.0 at the end of last year, so should have some stability for a few years. But, I think I hate the look and feel.

SMF open sourcing can leverage "hive" solutions and may help resource management and future agility.

Soooo.....SMF.

My thoughts as well.
Open source for customization if/when needed.
SMF appears to be the best option for future growth and non-obsolescence.

[Maltese Falcon]

Better take a screen shot of my iTrader ratings, worked hard to keep a triple A+ rating.

All things being equal I dislike SMF the least if VB4 is also close to EOL.

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[bool1tholz]

I vote for whatever is easier to maintain.
I also discourage usage of unsupported or custom mods since future maintenance is usually more difficult.
So the Open Source-ness of SMF is not necessarily an asset unless we have a SMF project contributor calgunner here.

[lordmorgul]

Can I request that we get a warning a few days in advance before the change, so we have a chance to make our own backups of stuff we want to save just in case?

[CALI-gula]

SMF or Xenforo. VB4 looks terrible, its just a wall of text seeing things and picking things out while scrolling is difficult

Maybe it loaded wrong for you? That's not what I see when I go to a page using it.

The someone that grew up on the I-phone with its cartoonish graphics and pastel rainbowness might think that, so it's plausible.

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[CALI-gula]

Xenforo has by FAR the best mobile theme and is usable that way.

Whatever is chosen I hope is still compatible with Tapatalk.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, SAF / CRPA / FPC member and supporter, USCCA Member

Tapatalk sucks balls.

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[CALI-gula]

Just to point this out, the software we're currently using is over 11 years old.
We ARE a bulletin board from 10 years ago!

HAH! I know. I realized that after I posted that and got a bit of a chuckle from it.



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[CALI-gula]

As far as user interface is concerned, the other options you provided are all terrible.

I've used a lot of web forums over the years, and Calguns has always been my favorite one to navigate. I doubt I'm alone in this. If you change it dramatically, you risk confusing and alienating people who have grown used to it over the years.

IMHO.

Agree. I like condensed formats. Tight groups, if you want to call it that; seems fitting, know?

I hate all the empty space that has become a design trend on not only bulletin-boards, but bank websites, financial institutions, and such; it's like suddenly everyone is catering their page designs to a 13-year old girl who likes the pretty pastel colors because they match her Hello Kitty backpack and reading is too much of a chore, where communication by insipid acronyms and smiley faces has taken over the slightest ability to convey something other than a fart.

Yet, I know that when it comes down to it, the engine is the most important thing and those that have to work with it will take function over form. Due to that, begrudgingly, I understand.

.

[Kestryll]

silly question, but what are the soft and hard cost differences between these?

vB4 is covered under my current vB license so no extra cost.
SMF is free open source software so no cost.
Xenforo is $140 initial cost then $40/year for support and updates. If I add in their enhanced search and Gallery options that's another $110 and $25/year for support and updates.

Can I request that we get a warning a few days in advance before the change, so we have a chance to make our own backups of stuff we want to save just in case?

Oh heck yeah! Nothing is going to happen without copious notices, announcements and warnings.

That's not a bad idea at all, I'll have to looking in to setting that up.

[CharlesV]

Ok i voted for SMF because im used to it on a motorcycle forum. You can see what i will suppose is a current version here:

http://malaysianbikers.com.my/forum/index.php?action=forum

This one uses vBulletin 3.8.8 and has set it up, for me, in a dis-likable way.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/

I think there is something to like and dislike about all of them. With the exception of advertising space, whichever one seems to have less clutter and ease of navigation is the winner.

[Chaos47]

After reddit went full retard on subreddits linking to sales or trading of certain items a bunch of people jumped ship in the tobacco subreddits to a newly setup website https://speak-easy.club/ ... its apparently XenForo.. seems pretty nice so far..

I like how it shows if you have posted in a thread by putting your avitar on the corner of the thread icon. It also tells you if your post has been liked or quoted in the inbox area.

[Kyle1886]

Other than regional content/laws the current format is one of the reasons I prefer CGN over GlockTalk and others. (I just don't do GlockTalk any longer because of the format and invasive ads).

I realize change is inevitable and it appears CGN is not the only site to need to update. Since some of us are familiar with the SMF format (Calguns. org) due to CGN outages in the past, my vote is SMF if we must change.

Respectfully,
Kyle

[BrassCase]

The SMF example back on P-1 looks good.