# Need to find free forum for a client in PHP. HLEP!

**URL:** https://forum.kirupa.com/t/need-to-find-free-forum-for-a-client-in-php-hlep/265778
**Category:** Uncategorized
**Created:** [July 12, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/need-to-find-free-forum-for-a-client-in-php-hlep/265778 "2008-07-12T11:52:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![biznuge](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/biznuge/32/11567_2.png) [@biznuge](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/biznuge)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/need-to-find-free-forum-for-a-client-in-php-hlep/265778/1 "2008-07-12T11:52:18Z")

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alright everyone.

Just wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction with regards to installing a fairly simple free forum project for a client of mine.

Points to consider are:-

[LIST]  
[_]The thing needs to be easy to use. It’s mainly aimed at young students of a dance school. age range i guess will be 7-14 yrs old.  
[/LIST]  
[LIST]  
[_]Needs to be easy to manage by said client.  
[/LIST]  
[LIST]  
[_]Needs to be easily installed on Mediatemple. (shouldn’t be an issue i guess). :lol:  
[/LIST]  
[LIST]  
[_]Accounts need to be created only by admin, so no third parties can get any kind of access to the forum without explicit adding in by the owners.  
[/LIST]

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I don’t really want to trawl the internet for “kids forums” for various good reasons, and don’t really wanna create an account anywhere, as that just seems wrong to me… :2c:

Cheers in advance!

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### Author: ![sekasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@sekasi](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/sekasi)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/need-to-find-free-forum-for-a-client-in-php-hlep/265778/2 "2008-07-12T17:45:12Z")

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phpBB with the simplest templates I guess…

Has all other features you requested.

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### Author: ![biznuge](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/biznuge/32/11567_2.png) [@biznuge](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/biznuge)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/need-to-find-free-forum-for-a-client-in-php-hlep/265778/3 "2008-07-12T18:32:33Z")

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Cheers Erik…

I’ll have a look…

As a side note, nice simple, effective portfolio there mate. Says everything it needs to very quickly. Nice Wirk! :2c:

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### Author: ![nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@nobody](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/nobody)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/need-to-find-free-forum-for-a-client-in-php-hlep/265778/4 "2008-07-12T21:56:54Z")

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I would really recommend [Vanilla](http://lussumo.com/vanilla) over phpBB if you’re willing to eschew the “standard” appearance of most mainstream forums. It’s very stripped down (vanilla) when you download it, then you get the add-ons you want for it. Sort of a Firefox mentality.

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### Author: ![biznuge](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/biznuge/32/11567_2.png) [@biznuge](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/biznuge)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/need-to-find-free-forum-for-a-client-in-php-hlep/265778/5 "2008-07-12T22:04:55Z")

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cheers nobody. I’m currently taking a look at sekasi’s suggestion of phpBB (took an age to get up on my slow ftp connex) and it’s pretty ■■■■ big, with far too many features for my brain to comprehend after having a four pack of becks… :crying:

Not sure if it’ll work for my target audience, but then you never quite know how the youth of today will adapt to all things digital.

I’ll try and check out Vanilla over the next couple of days too though.

Cheers for the posts both of you. lotta love!:party:

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### Author: ![Esherido](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/esherido/32/2158_2.png) [@Esherido](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Esherido)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/need-to-find-free-forum-for-a-client-in-php-hlep/265778/6 "2008-07-12T22:35:01Z")

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I’m sticking with nobody on this one, I’ve used Vanilla multiple times before and it is definitely the best in terms of simplicity and usability.

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### Author: ![biznuge](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/biznuge/32/11567_2.png) [@biznuge](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/biznuge)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2008, 11:40am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/need-to-find-free-forum-for-a-client-in-php-hlep/265778/7 "2008-07-13T11:40:26Z")

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Cheers for all the help people.

I’ve plumped for vanilla in the end, as it seems a lot easier to control, from the standpoint of my client moderating it, and the target audience. It’s just nice and simple, and was style, hacked, branded and live on the interweb in under 2 hours.

Thanks to everyone who responded here.

Incidentally I may try BB out for a personal project I’m doing around fairtrade and ethical consumerism, if I don’t go with my initial idea of vbulletin…

Muchos Gracias Amigos… :lol:

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### Author: ![sekasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@sekasi](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/sekasi)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/need-to-find-free-forum-for-a-client-in-php-hlep/265778/8 "2008-07-13T13:17:08Z")

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Ah yes I forgot about Vanilla… probably easier 😉

And thanks for the kind words Biz ;o
