One of my websites using WordPress (CMS/blog type system) and phpBB (forums), both are free and easy to customise. When I actually get some spare time I will finish said site so it's fully integrated, probably in about 10 years time LOL!

I've just started designing a template for Joomla, it seemed quite a daunting task when I first thought about doing it, but actually it's pretty simple!

Also take a look at Concrete5 CMS,

Its a bit more basic than Joomla etc.. but very simple and very good if your starting out, can get check out a free demo on there site.

http://www.concrete5.org/

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Originally posted by ed
Get something open source, and stay away from VBulletin. Joomla would give you content management (pages) then you can add on a forum, plus loads of other things too if and when you need them. It's open source which means that all the software is free and can be modified by anyone which means that there are lots of possibilities for it. If you don't like Joomla you could do something similar with Wordpress or PHP Nuke.

If it's a forum only then you could go with PHP BB.

Be prepared to modify things like templates, or even better, create your own. There's nothing worse than a generic looking website using the default template. Hence my hatred of VB...

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Get something open source, and stay away from VBulletin. Joomla would give you content management (pages) then you can add on a forum, plus loads of other things too if and when you need them. It's open source which means that all the software is free and can be modified by anyone which means that there are lots of possibilities for it. If you don't like Joomla you could do something similar with Wordpress or PHP Nuke.

If it's a forum only then you could go with PHP BB.

Be prepared to modify things like templates, or even better, create your own. There's nothing worse than a generic looking website using the default template. Hence my hatred of VB...

V Bulletin is your friend :)

I've got SQL at work I use to create a black db.. Also got it at home so using SQL would be better for me (easier to grasp any basics, but have a friend SQL coder).

Im just trying to sort a domain name (choose one) so will come back to you in a bit.

Cheers lads :)

I can sort you hosting and a subdomain if you wish

once you've got the hosting set up all you do is drag the whole folder youve unzipped into the root of the directory and then go to www.domain.com/forumfolder/install/index.php and follow the on-screen instructions.

It sets everything up automatically.

You'll have to create a blank mysql database before you start the onscreen instructions, for it to write all of the info to, which is the bit I think you'll get stuck on.

Ahhh right, no wonder I can't see the bugger....

I've got php installed, so really I should buy the domain name I want, get the database type details and get the forum setup.

The forums the first thing I want up and running... So main page, gallery, notes etc, Forum, and get that online.

Cheers, there may be a few more q's coming.. :)

Need some hosting and a domain first of all.

phpBB is a downloadable forum, and is free.

Then it's just the website itself that you have to create.

Plenty of free respectable forum software out there, PHPBB3 probably being the best.

Really simple install aswell, I can help you with all that if you wish. :thumbs:

Im a noob with it...

Want to create a site, with a forum. Got lots of notes and reading on HTML/XHTML, CSS styles etc.. Its a basic forum, similar to say Migweb or something. Thats kinda what i'd like to create with its main website at the front, and a forum as part of the site...

I've got the W3schools website, and lots of nots on building the site, structure etc (fine with that, its the coding im find hard to write, as im not a coder)..

But im guessing to actually write a forum will take forever... I know many sites use the PHP forum software, but is it available to download/at a cost???

Whats Ian write this on? Thought the forum was still a php download thats been modified?

Ta