DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

Why do all Forum Interfaces Look Similar?

8 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/why-do-all-forum-interfaces-look-similar.5280/

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prasathvishnu Original post #1
Feb 1, 2005 at 1:19 AM
In my opinion, 99% of the forums have similar interface.
Just the color theme changes.

I think, they all use some ready made templates or some softwares
to build the forum.
Isn't there any other way to build the forum page.

If u hav used to visit some other forum interfaces, share the link here.
Let others know abt the different interfaces.

Thanks

-Vishnu-
swatkat
swatkat #2
Feb 1, 2005 at 2:05 AM
Most of the Forums, Discussion Boards use phpBB software, which is also used by Digit Forum, that to in Sub silver colour theme, so all forums look similar.
There are different softwares like Snitz, WebWiz, IkonBoard etc.
*forum.snitz.com/
*www.webwizguide.info/web_wiz_forums/
*www.ikonboard.com/
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~Romil #3
Feb 1, 2005 at 2:27 AM
There are hundreds of community forums software available both with PHP and ASP platforms.

The best three are:

vBulletin

Invision Power Board

phpBB

As 'swatkat' rightly mentioned about phpBB's popularity due to it being an open source software.

-----

Come June, and you may expect a change in look of phpBB discussion boards with phpBB 3.x version being rolled out.

Beware vB and IPB! :twisted:
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chaos #4
Feb 1, 2005 at 10:09 AM
phpBB is quite popular, but it does have a lot of security flaws. phpBB sites get hacked very often.

It's not that everyone must use some existant forum software. Big sites use their own forum software (for eg. , gamespot.com forums uses its Lithium software).

You can start your very own forum using free templates like InvisionFree.
drgrudge
Feb 1, 2005 at 10:26 AM
I like invision and phpbb only 8)

I hate the interfaces of vBulletin !
GNUrag
GNUrag #6
Feb 1, 2005 at 11:33 AM
You might want to have a look at ILUG-BOM forum, < *forum.ilug-bom.org.in > ... its done in Drupal..

also see:
1) www.Slashdot.org, its done in Slash CMS...
2) www.linux-delhi.org.. done in an in-house content management software called anCMS ...
3) www.plone.org ... Plone CMS software
these alternate CMS software look way better than phpBB based solutions... Many other sites prefer to use a Wiki software rather than forum software...
cooljeba
Feb 1, 2005 at 5:19 PM
One of the best thing about phpbb is lotta of hacks available for it ;)
*www.phpbbhacks.com
for example our quick reply option si finally back :D
thanks admins ;)

..:: peace ::..
Jeba
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cheetah #8
Feb 1, 2005 at 5:19 PM
Na Na Na,They all are lying.The truth is that they all copied it from my site www.kkavyanjali.com hahaha