Back in the early 2000s, I launched my first forum using SMF as my forum software. Later, I switched to IPB, and from there, I moved to vBulletin.

 

After vBulletin, I transitioned to Xenforo.

 

What about you? What was the first forum software that you ever used?

First one I ever used was either phpBB or IPB 1.3, don’t remember exactly which one came first. But I do remember my begin days like it was yesterday. Not knowing how it was properly setup or managed. Learned a lot since then. Wish I could go back in time and relive those days for a little while. :D

My own with threaded replies and unlimited depth in early 2000 like:

 

> Thread

Re: Thread

>> Re: Thread

>> Re: Thread

Re: Thread

Re: Thread

 

As it was built into my own MMPORG text based game. Members had no problem with it.

 

After the game was stable with enough features, I converted it to what you would consider a traditional view (like Xenforo), but with very limited features of title and message with little "emoji" (related to the game) support.

 

Then I got into blog networks, criminal justice and forex to be exact. The CPC from interlinking was insane for those keywords at the time ($7-25 per click, just incredibly competitive).

 

But I made my very first mistake opening my first forum in the forex niche on vB3, then vB4, with all the bells and whistles (vB SEO and a ton of brand free DragonByte Tech plugins)... in a niche I had no interest in and relied on paid content posting — $10,000 sunk, with a saving grace of a $3,000 ad deal right before I planned on pulling the plug; soon as the ad deal played out and they didn't renew, it was shut down. I was down about 50% on the investment, but the blog networks held so it wasn't too bad of a loss when combined.

 

Anyone want my vB4 license? 😅

 

Now, I hold several more XF licenses (and will buy anyone's second hand if the price is right), than open forums. But, I'm working on 3 concurrently, about to add the 4th.

I used InvisionFree during 2004-05, back when I was a total noob. Then I used ZetaBoards in 2008 where I felt it was more modern then and that I had matured also.

I used InvisionFree, then ZetaBoards, and now Jcink. I've been stuck in the non-self-hosted software world for ages.

 

I think I even had a ProBoards forum once.

First I used as a non-admin? I have no idea what that would have been back in 199x, first I ran as an admin was a short-lived phpBB instance for a few friends in 2003, first proper community in 2006 on PunBB then moving to SMF.

 

I have tried many of the platforms out there, and for the longest time I kept coming back to SMF but I suspect the next iteration of my journey is something else entirely.

First was a Frontpage guestbook extension that I hacked into a threaded discussion forum. Next was UBB. Had to create an importer for the hacked up guestbook script. Then it was wwwthreads, vbulletin, IPB, xenforo and now moving back to IPB.

I first used phpbb but quickly switched the vBulletin when I realised just how much fun it could be to run a forum (back then).

vBulletin 3. Its adminCP is imprinted in my mind forever. So many memories.

 

I vB3 rocked back then, it has tons of awesome plugins like vBadvanced and vBCmps if I remember correctly. They could be used to build a full fledged portal on top of the forum. Blogs, groups, etc.

 

So cool!

I'm about to suprise everyone. Ikonboard was the first forum software I ever started, a solid CGI-based platform. Then, I met a developer from Ikonboard who introduced me to a project by an ex-Ikonboard employee named Matt. His software has since become one of the top three in forum software.

Edited October 22, 2024Oct 22 by Sinistra Sensei

vBulletin 3. Its adminCP is imprinted in my mind forever. So many memories.

 

I vB3 rocked back then, it has tons of awesome plugins like vBadvanced and vBCmps if I remember correctly. They could be used to build a full fledged portal on top of the forum. Blogs, groups, etc.

 

So cool!

The archive feature was nice too. It was a mini sitemap at that point of time. You could also print an entire thread on vBulletin 3.

The archive feature was nice too. It was a mini sitemap at that point of time. You could also print an entire thread on vBulletin 3.

Yeah that's right, their archive was awesome! :)

I created my first forum on wordpress and I used Asgaros Forum Plugin. The first proper forum software I used was SMF.

phpBB1 but not for very long.

 

I might had use a script from Bravenet before that but I can't remember that far back - im old now.

 

phpBB2 was really the main software I used for a forum for a few years. That and Php-Nuke which used phpBB2. Oh those were the days!

Definetly Forumotion because it was extremely popular in the past, when I wanted to use forums, and I simply chose it. There were plenty of forums hosted on Forumotion (my native language) so it kind a pulled me to do the same. I loved those days because forums were popping out like crazy and plenty of people advertising it.

Ipb 1.4

I think it was phpbb. I honestly can't remember it was so many years ago. I've used most forum softwares over the years.

I started on Pro Boards back I believe on Version 1. I tried MyBB and PhpBB but never really liked them so stayed with SMF for a long time. I have tried Woltlab and that was pretty good just had a hard time getting to understand some of the German addons.

Way back in 1997, I had a forum, but it had no options. Anyone could login as anyone (you just picked a name and posted). It was a complete fail. I then tried Proboards (crap IMO) and later moved to a self hosted phpBB in like 2000, which was pretty much the only viable choice back then...

When I first set up my site forums weren't a thing yet and it just had a guestbook.

I remember running an EZboard for a while, and I had another one like it, but once I discovered SMF I was hooked.

 

If we are getting nostalgic .......

Who remembers sitting up all night waiting to see if the Millennium Bug trashed your site?

I remember running an EZboard for a while

I think that's what I used. I can't recall, that or Proboards. This was more than 25 years ago. hehe

The first forum I ran used phpBB2. It was so simple and easy to use, I do miss the days of basic forums like that. I also never noticed any sort of performance issues, even with on occasions thousands of hourly visitors. That forum launched in around 2007-08 or so, and closed in 2012-13 time. From then on, I tended to lean mainly towards MyBB, as the availability of themes, plugins and modifications was so much better than phpBB3. phpBB3 I also found unnecessarily complicated, and the fact they didn't offer a plugin/modification installer natively sucked. (with MyBB, you could install plugins and setup settings in a matter of 5 minutes, with phpBB3, a similar plugin setup could take an hour or more)

I think that's what I used. I can't recall, that or Proboards. This was more than 25 years ago. hehe

 

It was all good fun :ROFLMAO:

 

It was all good fun :ROFLMAO:

 

I do not miss that. 😅

You know that you could turn off the dial up noises, right? Most modems didn't need to run it back through the soundcard - indeed for years I didn't have that noise going on because I'd turned it off.

 

ATM0 was probably your friend. (If you're curious, most old school modems followed a standardish set of commands called the Hayes command set, for more information read something like http://losno.lisa.univ-paris-diderot.fr/Electronik/Hayes.htm - AT was the command to say commands followed, M was the speaker control.)

The first software I used was phpBB 3, though it was hosted through Forumotion. It's the worst one to start with IMO, since the permissions can be confusing to those who are new to owning forums.