Switch to UBB.threads in the future?

[Andros 1337]

As many should know, vBulletin (the forum software used here) will be raising their prices with the release of vB 4.0.

I came up with an interesting idea. I think that for the future, you guys (City Data) should consider moving to UBB.threads.

UBB.threads is NOT the old, slow Perl-based flat file forum software that was once prevelant online. UBB.threads is a robust and scalable PHP-based forum software that uses a MySQL database. UBB.threads is very stable and on average runs faster than vBulletin.

UBB.threads developer Rick Baker is currently working on UBB.threads version 8.0. UBB.threads 8.0 will include blogs as standard for no additional fee, as well as an API.

I wouldn't suggest upgrading to UBB.threads 7.5.4.1 right now; I would probably wait until UBB.threads 8.0 is released. It should be available sometime in 2010.

[Suncoast Guy]

I don't think this is a good idea. There are just too many probabilities with moving all of this to another forum. Does that forum have reputation, is it easy to move around in, blogs, social groups, number of forums -- everything we have here. There are also dangers. Example: I belong to a news forum for Florida News Stations, recently they moved over to a new forum just as you are describing. Something happened during migration and ALL the data was lost. Imagine losing ALL of City-Data and having to start over from scratch? That would be a complete nightmare.

Obviously, this is up to the Administrator, but I would be totally against it UNLESS it was a forum similar to this style, and things weren't completely out of whack. I think simply: "If it ain't broken, don't fix it."

[TampaKaren]

I agree with SCG. Change for the sake of change is not necessarily improvement.

[Poncho_NM]

The so called "cost" advantage is not substantiated.

I would like to see verifiable proof that "UBB.threads is very stable and on average runs faster than vBulletin."

vBulletin has been setting a standard for years.

city-data appears to have paid for the sources for vBulletin and has what appears to be a fine crew of programmers.

I think if you investigate Advameg, Inc., which owns city-data, you might notice it is not your run of the mill hobby website.



Rich
(Former BBS Express ST! programmer and owner)

[Andros 1337]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

The so called "cost" advantage is not substantiated.

I would like to see verifiable proof that "UBB.threads is very stable and on average runs faster than vBulletin."

vBulletin has been setting a standard for years.

city-data appears to have paid for the sources for vBulletin and has what appears to be a fine crew of programmers.

I think if you investigate Advameg, Inc., which owns city-data, you might notice it is not your run of the mill hobby website.



Rich
(Former BBS Express ST! programmer and owner)

But if you read my original post, vB will be raising their prices with vB 4.0, including membership renewal costs. Most of vB's original programmers have been laid off by Internet Brands.

And really, vBulletin was originally made as a rewrite of Infopop's (now Groupee) Perl/flat file-based Ultimate Bulletin Board (known in it's later years as UBB.classic) in PHP with a MySQL database.

UBB.threads, on the other hand, was first developed by Rick Baker in 1996 as WWWThreads, one of the first database-driven forum software packages. WWWThreads was originally written in Perl, then a PHP version became available in 2000. WWWThreads was acquired in 2001 by Infopop (now Groupee). The software was renamed UBB.threads and the Perl version was discontinued shortly afterward.

Infopop/Groupee offered both UBB.classic and UBB.threads for a few years, however, it became clear that they were internal competition. With the release of UBB.threads 7.0 in 2006, UBB.classic was discontinued.

UBB.threads 8.0 will be a revolutionary release, and I can gurantee it will blow vBulletin 4.0 out of the water.

[Suncoast Guy]

Originally Posted by Andros 1337

But if you read my original post, vB will be raising their prices with vB 4.0, including membership renewal costs. Most of vB's original programmers have been laid off by Internet Brands.

And really, vBulletin was originally made as a rewrite of Infopop's (now Groupee) Perl/flat file-based Ultimate Bulletin Board (known in it's later years as UBB.classic) in PHP with a MySQL database.

UBB.threads, on the other hand, was first developed by Rick Baker in 1996 as WWWThreads, one of the first database-driven forum software packages. WWWThreads was originally written in Perl, then a PHP version became available in 2000. WWWThreads was acquired in 2001 by Infopop (now Groupee). The software was renamed UBB.threads and the Perl version was discontinued shortly afterward.

Infopop/Groupee offered both UBB.classic and UBB.threads for a few years, however, it became clear that they were internal competition. With the release of UBB.threads 7.0 in 2006, UBB.classic was discontinued.

UBB.threads 8.0 will be a revolutionary release, and I can gurantee it will blow vBulletin 4.0 out of the water.

My question is why are you so adamant about City-Data moving over to UBB.threads?

[Administrator]

UBB.Threads seems like a very good forum platform, but we have made a lot of custom plugins and modifications over the years, so we would need to have some very good reasons to switch.

[Andros 1337]

Originally Posted by Administrator

UBB.Threads seems like a very good forum platform, but we have made a lot of custom plugins and modifications over the years, so we would need to have some very good reasons to switch.

As I said, if you really consider moving to UBB.threads, I would wait until UBB.threads 8.0 comes out. UBB.threads 8.0 will have an API, allowing easy creating of plugins.

[MinuteMan]

Originally Posted by Andros 1337

As I said, if you really consider moving to UBB.threads, I would wait until UBB.threads 8.0 comes out. UBB.threads 8.0 will have an API, allowing easy creating of plugins.

It seems they frequently add new versions, why is that? I see lingering issues here and there.

News and Announcements - UBB.threads Community

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by MinuteMan

It seems they frequently add new versions, why is that?

A variety of reasons:

You get to a point where adding a feature can create a problem somewhere else. So you have to go fix it.

Some of these programs are huge and become difficult to program. Requiring more programming time. Sometimes simple fixes/features snowball leaving you with a lot of manhours of wasted time.

Some consumers feel they are not getting their money's worth unless there are constand upgrades.

All of the above is based on my past actual experiences....



Rich