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Thoughts On PHPFOX

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  • Thoughts On PHPFOX

    Posted 12 years 3 weeks ago
    • Hey everyone,

      I know we're on an open source template site and the proprietors don't have a best interest to discuss other systems etc, And I really do not mean this thread to be in bad taste or disrespect to R/T whatsoever.

      I'm a Joomla guy and committed and loyal R/T customer, and will be for as far into the future as I can possibly envisage. But I'm hitting a bit of a wall…

      I have a single site which is to be community oriented, forum FIRST and foremost, with some articles / downloads / user contributions / CMS stuff as secondary, and I definitely don't need a F/B clone whatsoever.

      I've jumped through all the hoops over the years with CB / SOBI / PHPBB / Kunena / forum bridges / messenger mods + many more of the J! addons. And to build the site I need with the functionality I need is going to be a constant nightmare of constantly buying / upgrading software and resolving all the issues and problems that goes with it… I've seen and experienced so much and just have no interest in trying to build the site I need now from all of these different suppliers… I know I'll be spending more time on maintaining the site and trying to keep it from going into meltdown than I will be actually running it, growing it and enjoying it.

      ATM I have Joomla / PHPBB / JFusion setup for this site.

      I have no interest in JomSocial.

      So with all this in mind, for this one single site, I decided to go looking past Joomla for the first time. I just have no interest in doing a massive Joomla hack job to keep everything flowing for its purpose.

      I had a look at ELGG, Oxwall and Buddypress, none of which are suitable.

      I then looked commercially, IPB, VB, Xenforo etc, none of which are suitable.

      Then I found PHPFOX!

      And it looks perfect for everything I need, as well as some things I don't need.

      Integrated forum / CMS / blog etc… one software… all integrated… it seems perfect for this one project.

      The problem is… there are as many negative reviews about this software and its company as there are positive, and based on these things alone, I'm unwilling to trust it or proceed with it just yet.

      So my questions for those amongst us who are more savvy and experienced with web development and platforms are these…

      What are your experiences with phpfox? Do you trust it, does it run without too many issues, and is there anything about this software which rings alarm bells with you at all?

      All thoughts and experiences most welcomed.
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    • kelmom's Avatar
    • kelmom
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    Re: Thoughts On PHPFOX

    Posted 11 years 11 months ago
    • I have some experience with PHPFox and I will tell you that the learning curve is a little insane and the software itself is not very intuitive. Additionally, the templating system is clumsy.

      Have you thought of using a forum software like IPB or vB? They both have blogging components and CMS components as well.
    #961353
    • drsawbones's Avatar
    • drsawbones
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    Re: Thoughts On PHPFOX

    Posted 11 years 11 months ago
    • I hear you on the jbridge to phpBB! EEK! Ran one for years...painless, after you accept
      - nope, can't do xzy... :(

      I've bridged other Open Source/custom PHP things, too, but have not heard of PHPFox...the front end looks a lot like jomsocial! :twisted: And when I hear ^kelmon stating the template system is clumsy and the software not intuitive, it makes me want to download/demo it
      and punish myself...that's the only way I learn new things! LOL jk.

      Seriously though, I didn't see you mention agora board. It has had a ton of time to grow
      up...pretty much as long as I've been in phpNuke and Mambo days...
      demo.jvitals.com/
      But, it's more of a forum style board, not a social networking center type - overall...

      Glad to read that you have tried out Kunena. I had great hopes when I meet the kunena team for a "dream board"...sad to say, I had to jump ship...
      because as kelmon states...clumsy and not intuitive, in my opinion.

      If you go with PHPFox...drop me a line and let me know how it goes...
      I'm always needing a new solution/magic pill for that "dream board"
      that I can't build by myself!

      Regards,
      Doc
    #961587

  • Re: Thoughts On PHPFOX

    Posted 11 years 11 months ago
    • Thanks people for your well thought out and helpful comments.

      After more consideration I more than likely will not go with PHPFOX, the theming concerns are one of the most common complaints, but its low user base when compared to other scripts, and the unknown factors, and the nature of the criticisms do concern me. Pity… it seems to have everything in the right mix - right out of the box for my needs.

      Having said that, I must deviate away from the software I'm using on my initial beta site now. The mixing of the different softwares, the ongoing costs for all the components, and the constant time and headaches to make everything work together is just too much to contemplate for the end result I'm trying to achieve, to make a large scale site to be stable, and easily managed for years into the future, without having to change systems, of constantly update and integrate so many different components together, when so often they sometimes conflict, or don't work, or need to catch up to each other...

      I'm still not overly happy with the overall CMS / site building components of VB / IPB / Xenforo systems, but it seems these are my only choices, and each have their own problems and critics. Its going to be extremely difficult to choose between them, and I have no interest in swapping systems at any time in the future, so this is a one time deal for me, especially considering the upfront costs involved.

      And of course my greatest concerns with these systems is not being able to get a great and unique design like I can with Joomla and RT with some quick alterations, and the lack of those little favourite addons with Joomla that we love.

      Thanks again for the input, but it seems the question has changed to another ongoing tired debate between VB / IPB / Xen… sigh… why is something so simple - so difficult??
      drsawbones wrote:
      when I hear ^kelmon stating the template system is clumsy and the software not intuitive, it makes me want to download/demo it
      and punish myself...that's the only way I learn new things! LOL jk
      You sound like me... a sucker for punishment, often bringing the hard core difficulties onto myself, just so I'm forced to overcome them, so I can learn :evil: Its a difficult path :mrgreen:
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