Have you ever used SMF?

I have used vB, IPB, phpBB, MyBB, Vanilla... but never SMF. And if I recall correctly, no active members on AA at the moment use SMF as their preferred forum software, but have you ever tried it? We need some SMF love!

 

I chose to use Simple Machines Forum for a music-related discussion forum years ago (when I was first starting out). It was easily one of the biggest mistakes that I've made - the visual appearance is flawed to no end, the administrative interface leaves little to be desired (if not nothing), and the feature set is a bit lacking.

 

Food for thought: one cannot expect to "use" SMF - one can expect to "put up" with it.

 

I've never personally used SMF for a forum however I've done some maintenance for a buddy's board running SMF. IMHO, The ACP was frustrating and unintuitive to say the least.

Another buddy of mine I convinced after busting his chops for a while to switch from SMF to vBulletin, I did the import and 3 weeks after the switch he sold the board.

 

I have never and do not plan to use SMF.

SMF's dull... They lack in flexibility, customizing the software and to code functions is really hard...

 

I never use forums which are SMF. I would never own one either.

 

I can't blame you - they're quite horrid.

 

Hmph, horrid ain't the word you were looking for!

SMF is hideous, ghastly and VERY loathsome.

 

I just hate it when you need to look at something and the board is using SMF. It makes all my hope collapse.

 

I also find it hard to customize. It's almost as if it is an impossibility.

 

Could be worse. They could make you pay to use SMF.

 

Who would pay to use SMF?! More would pay for phpBB or MyBB...

 

If MyBB were to become a commercial venture, I'd purchase a group of licenses immediately. It's something that I'd support with no hesitation.

 

SMF was the best free forum software a few years ago. No one could match it in features and stability.
However, it really needs a major haul. SMF was the first forum software that I used, and I loved it. Then I found MyBB, and IPB. SMF really lacks on interface and basic features (such as AJAX quick reply, which I suggested for a mod and someone finally made it) and it SLOW! Plus, there aren't as many configurable permissions and the ACP template editor sucks.

 

I've only used IPB, vBulletin and MyBB. Not even phpBB. Where does that put SMF? Far away from me.

 

Only used SMF as a user not an admin. I don't like it. It lacks a proper "Today's Posts" facility, which even XMB has.

I think it's clunky and unintuitive, but I probably prefer it to phpBB. Though that REALLY isn't saying much.

I would actually suggest people wanting free forum software try XMB - although development has stopped now, it's perfectly adequate, gets you started and if you know nothing about forums it is good to learn the basics of admin work and customization. I learned a lot on it anyway. Then when you're ready Impex can cope with an import to vB, and I think you can port to Invision too.

 

Once, nearly through out my computer.

 

I have only used SMF on my localhost, and that's the only place it'll ever be. SMF is pretty much the most disorganized forum software I have ever used.

 

I don't think that it could have been said better, Justin.

 

I have tried it but never had any public open forum with this software. I have however been and Super Moderator on a site that used this software but never really liked it.

But there ACP is interesting.