Edit: Looks like the old developer, literally just one day ago, decided to setup shop on a self hosted server and has made an updated version of this script. This is good news for everyone that wants to keep things in tackt. Talk about great timing!http://www.portalxl.eu/supporto-e-conti ... 67-10.html The link above lead me here
http://84.29.121.198/I've updated Option 1 to reflect the changes.
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Yom has contracted me to change the site script to something more manageable and less bugged. If you don't know who I am or why I'm doing this; I'm the guy who originally setup, updated and modified this site to be the way it is now, I'm also a novice Linux (environement this script runs in) admin and got my start with working on phpbb forums.
Now that the formalities are out of the way lets get down to business.
The site we have now is heavily bloaded and bugged beyond belief. The orginal developer of this script "damysterious" no longer maintains the script and now it is being maintained by another developer on portalxl.eu. I would try to use that script and be done with it but there are a couple of red flags, for one their site is bugged like crazy and is bloated beyond belief, secondly I can't even download or register due to errors. This pretty much means that using this script or an updated version of it is out of the question. In the long run the maintenance of this script will waste too much time.
So that leads into what I actually want to tell you.
We have a couple of options of what we can use and I will outline them here for you.
Option 1.Update from the current Portal XL (phpBB3.0x) version to the newest at
http://84.29.121.198/Pros:
Will be very easy to maintain
Regularly updated
Will be easy to convert
Easy to add extensions
Cons:
Will have to re add some of the features
Option 2.Change to PHPBB2 FM; This is the final version of the best PHPBB2 script. PHPBB2 is the script that forkheads originally used, the modified version is at its most stable point.
Pros:
No need to update ever
Has all needed features
Barely any need for maintenance
Cons:
Will be complicated yet not impossible to convert
Will never be updated because its at its final version
Limited niche support
Option 3. Change to BBpress; the forum version of Wordpress.
Pros:
Very very very simple to update and maintain
Tons of support
Lots of plugins and addons
Great for content featuring sites
Modern and secure
Integrates well with other buddypress
A lot of really good posting options
Ability to use embedded codes
Very fast loading
Cons:
Completely difference script
Different feature set than phpbb
Doesn't have a lot of the goofy extras like shop and money plugins
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In option 3, you will loose your money and shop items.
Due to recent events, I am now strongly in favor of Option 1 as the most convenient option- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In addition to the above, I will be migrating the site to another host and optimizing it for quick loading. The new site no matter what option will resemble this version of FH as much as possible and be in its best working condition.