2.2 Ultimate BB/Forum?

Discussion of general topics related to the new version and its place in the world. Don't discuss new features, report bugs, ask for support, et cetera. Don't use this to spam for other boards or attack those boards!
Forum rules
Discussion of general topics related to the new release and its place in the world. Don't discuss new features, report bugs, ask for support, et cetera. Don't use this to spam for other boards or attack those boards!
Psiphere
Registered User
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Jun 28, 2003 7:40 pm
Location: Toronto, ON

Re: 2.2 Ultimate BB/Forum?

Post by Psiphere »

If I'm not mistaken it's quite difficult to change software from being licensed under GPL to being a pay software. If they did start charging I feel many many people would continue to use the free versions for a long time. Although it would indeed be worth a bit of money because it is an ecellent forum it would loose a lot as well I think.

One of the reasons its so popular is because of the free useage of it.

I think if they really felt like they needed some money for it it would be much more logical to ask for donations, or use the phpBB site as like a gateway to promote other projects that are pay projects. Also they could always offer a fee just to download it but keep it all opensource and free still but then people would probably just find other places to download it from. Currently all the downloads come from sourceforge anyways so it doesn't use any of the dev teams resources for people to be downloading copies from them all the time.

If it ever did become no longer free I think other free ones would slowly start to prevale over it. vBulletin is a very very good forum, some features are better than phpBB's and some of phpBB's features are better than it but if they were the same price and I have to choose between the two I would probably choose vBulletin. Although phpBB 2.2 is going to be pretty darn wicked, vBulletin is also about to release a 3.0, they are at beta 4 last time I checked.

Anyway, like I said I think if they were to start charging, another free board would rise up to the level that phpBB has currently in the community. Probably openbb at openbb.org, it still has a lot of work to reach the level phpBB is at but it's an extremely promising and good board.

I really don't think there would be that much advantage to the phpBB to start charging for it and I really hope they do not.

Although I have never heard any info directly from the team themselves that they would. Some people just really enjoy making free software and contributing to the community. I tell ya if I was a rich millionaire I'd give the team a bunch of money just for doing such a great job and putting so much effort into it. Besides, I'm sure they get return in ways other than money. Also I'm sure "I am the lead developer for phpBB" looks damn good on a resume and is worth something in itself :D

R45
Registered User
Posts: 236
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2001 10:42 pm

Re: 2.2 Ultimate BB/Forum?

Post by R45 »

Please folks don't start to get worried about phpBB become commercial. Most likely it will always be Opensource. If any of developers wanted to do a commercial package, they would probably release it under another name, and someone else would help James pick up phpBB. While Paul does have the inclination of accepting "sexual favours" which Pit currently provides (hence the 2.2 development), I once again highly doubt phpBB will not be released under an Opensource license.

User avatar
Techie-Micheal
Registered User
Posts: 566
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2001 12:11 am

Re: 2.2 Ultimate BB/Forum?

Post by Techie-Micheal »

Psiphere wrote:If I'm not mistaken it's quite difficult to change software from being licensed under GPL to being a pay software.
Erm, you are mistaken. You can charge for any GPL'ed product ...

As per R45, phpBB won't be charging, ever. :)

cgranade
Registered User
Posts: 86
Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2003 8:35 pm

Re: 2.2 Ultimate BB/Forum?

Post by cgranade »

Micheal wrote:Erm, you are mistaken. You can charge for any GPL'ed product ...
So long as the buyer can sell or give at no cost copies without paying a royalty. In that way, if phpBB decided to charge $1 mil for it, some rich philanthropist could buy it, and offer it for free from his site. Not to mention that psoTFX would finally get his "feature request" filled...

Linkooseven
Registered User
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 8:26 pm
Location: Michigan
Contact:

Re: 2.2 Ultimate BB/Forum?

Post by Linkooseven »

phpBB IS the ultimate forum!

I've used

YaBB
YaBB SE
Invision Power Board
Phorum
Zorum
OpenBB

They all are nowhere NEAR as good as phpBB. The phpBB script is better, the features are better, and everything else is better.
Image

User avatar
electronerd
Registered User
Posts: 180
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2003 2:36 pm

Re: 2.2 Ultimate BB/Forum?

Post by electronerd »

R45 wrote:If any of developers wanted to do a commercial package, they would probably release it under another name
And have to re-write the entire codebase.

LucidParody
Registered User
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun Jun 22, 2003 1:01 am

Re: 2.2 Ultimate BB/Forum?

Post by LucidParody »

I like phpbb. I don't like phpbb2.2. at least not these forums. they are like little she-devils that taunt me every day of what i can not have because of my lack of knowledge. and that angers me. and sadens me. all at the same time. :(

User avatar
Lugie
Registered User
Posts: 163
Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2002 9:56 pm
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Re: 2.2 Ultimate BB/Forum?

Post by Lugie »

Ehm. Some CVS snapshots install without quirks... you should try them until you find one, if this is what your problem is.
I can't see the meaning of this life I'm leading,
I try forget you as you forgot me...
This time there is nothing left for you to take -
this is goodbye...

User avatar
dhn
Registered User
Posts: 1518
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2001 8:10 am
Location: Around the corner
Contact:

Re: 2.2 Ultimate BB/Forum?

Post by dhn »

LucidParody wrote:I like phpbb. I don't like phpbb2.2. at least not these forums. they are like little she-devils that taunt me every day of what i can not have because of my lack of knowledge. and that angers me. and sadens me. all at the same time. :(
Perhaps you should wait with a final judgement till 2.2 is actually finished? ;)
Image

Post Reply