PHPBB seems to me to still be one of the best forum software solutions out there because of how robust it is. But the way PHPBB accomplishes its many features through visible BBCode in the UI is also off-putting to many users in the modern setting. Users don't want to see actual code or have to learn how to use the UI, or see options like "Do not automatically parse URLs." They just want intuitive integrated functioning like they see on Facebook. The more simple the interface looks and acts the better (while maintaining features).
I think the best path forward for PHPBB would be to do a major overhaul of the UI; simplifying the UI while at the same time adding more community focused features like a pop-up chat box for PMs, reactions, and a more customizable and robust user profile as a separate page for each user. All integrated without an extension or by official extensions.
PHPBB has to adapt to compete with Facebook groups. In my niche (the sport of wingfoiling), there are so many different Facebook groups (Ex. Groups based on age or weight, groups in different regions, used gear groups, a general wingfoiling group which is the biggest groups), but all of these groups are run by different individuals, there is no connection between the groups, and they are not easily searchable or archivable. Not to mention many of these group owners are charging for posts and hiding content they don't want seen. It's all very shady and disorganized. But there is no incentive for users to leave Facebook groups and sign up for a different site without a better solution.
With so many people using WordPress, PHPBB should simplify the UI and function as a fully compatible plugin within WordPress using the same login and session. PHPBB should become an integrated community platform for WordPress, not just a forum platform. Some of the work Axew3 is doing is really clever.
What I want to do with PHPBB is use it within my webpage as a way for my community members to be able to interact and also access all the information they want on wingfoiling in one place. (And not to have to answer the same question 3 times a day on different Facebook groups). I also would love to see PHPBB become more of a tool for building searchable databases. The user permissions and information is all there. Being able to set up a template for static pages that users can add information to like a wiki and then be moderated would be super powerful. And then have infrastructure to list the pages in an organized fashion and also make them searchable by taxonomies such as location, keyword, etc.
This is all just a bunch of rambling from someone trying to start an online community in 2024 that hasn't found the right tool to do so that actually would draw users away from the mess that is Facebook groups.
I do believe if PHPBB doesn't adapt, it will die.
I think the best path forward for PHPBB would be to do a major overhaul of the UI; simplifying the UI while at the same time adding more community focused features like a pop-up chat box for PMs, reactions, and a more customizable and robust user profile as a separate page for each user. All integrated without an extension or by official extensions.
PHPBB has to adapt to compete with Facebook groups. In my niche (the sport of wingfoiling), there are so many different Facebook groups (Ex. Groups based on age or weight, groups in different regions, used gear groups, a general wingfoiling group which is the biggest groups), but all of these groups are run by different individuals, there is no connection between the groups, and they are not easily searchable or archivable. Not to mention many of these group owners are charging for posts and hiding content they don't want seen. It's all very shady and disorganized. But there is no incentive for users to leave Facebook groups and sign up for a different site without a better solution.
With so many people using WordPress, PHPBB should simplify the UI and function as a fully compatible plugin within WordPress using the same login and session. PHPBB should become an integrated community platform for WordPress, not just a forum platform. Some of the work Axew3 is doing is really clever.
What I want to do with PHPBB is use it within my webpage as a way for my community members to be able to interact and also access all the information they want on wingfoiling in one place. (And not to have to answer the same question 3 times a day on different Facebook groups). I also would love to see PHPBB become more of a tool for building searchable databases. The user permissions and information is all there. Being able to set up a template for static pages that users can add information to like a wiki and then be moderated would be super powerful. And then have infrastructure to list the pages in an organized fashion and also make them searchable by taxonomies such as location, keyword, etc.
This is all just a bunch of rambling from someone trying to start an online community in 2024 that hasn't found the right tool to do so that actually would draw users away from the mess that is Facebook groups.
I do believe if PHPBB doesn't adapt, it will die.
Statistics: Posted by wingmanfoilclub — Mon Apr 15, 2024 5:55 pm