-
Acme News
- Compatible with PicoSpan and YAPP. Comes with
complete source code (C and Bourne shell scripts).
Developer: Jef Poskanzer
Platform: UNIX
-
aGNeS News Forum
- Forums can be run for free on the developer's server, or the software
can be purchased.
Developer: Daniel Doubrovkine, Vestris Inc.
Platform: UNIX, Windows
- AnyBoard
- Web-based bulletin board system. Can be configured to emulate competing products.
A limited version is available free for noncommercial use.
Developer: Netbula
Platforms: UNIX, Windows (requires Perl 5)
-
ASP Message Board (AMB)
- Inexpensive message board software featuring email notification, voting, and
thread rating. Requires IIS, MS Access or SQL Server.
Developer: Infuseum (formerly Tipped Cow Development)
Platform: Windows
-
ASP Playground.NET Forum
- In addition to the usual message board features, offers photo galleries, polling, user ranking,
group calendars, document change tracking, and other features. Requires VBScript and Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or
MSDE 2000.
Developer: ASP Playground.NET
Platform: Windows 2000/2003
-
bbBoard
- Comes with Perl source code; can be customized using Perl, PHP, C, or other languages.
Supports mySQL and a variety of other databases. Users can access the message boards
via the web interface, or through WAP, NNTP, telnet, and other front ends. Software
licenses can be purchased for a one-time fee or rented for a low monthly fee.
Developer: bbNetwork Ltd
Platform: Linux
-
Carbon Communities
- Inexpensive linear message board software, also offering private messaging and chat rooms.
Requires Windows IIS and either MS Access or MS SQL Server. A limited free demo version
is available.
Developer: Sinertia Software
Platform: Windows
-
Ceilidh
- Available in English and several other languages. Features e-mail
notification and listserv capabilities.
A free version is also available.
Developer: Lilikoi Software
Platforms: UNIX, Windows, OS/2, Macintosh
-
Comment Board
- Simple, inexpensive message board software. Requires Microsoft Access or SQL Server.
Developer: yMonda
Platform: Windows
-
DCForum
- A database-driven BBS.
Developer: DCScripts
Platforms: UNIX, Windows (written in Perl)
- Deluxe Portal
- Inexpensive message board software based on PHP and MySQL.
Developer: Andrew Harper
Platforms: UNIX, Windows
-
DiscussionOnTheWeb
- You can run a discussion forum on JADA's site, or purchase the software
and customize it for use on your own server. Requires SQL server.
Developer: JADA Productions
Platform: Windows
-
DNEWS
- Usenet News server with a built-in Web gateway. Free to nonprofits and
educational institutions.
Developer: NetWin Ltd.
Platforms: UNIX, Windows, Macintosh, OS/2, VMS, Novell
Netware
- eForum
- Open source Java forum software.
Developer: Jcorporate
Platforms: Any (written in Java)
-
Encore Web Forum
- Uses a linear discussion structure, organized in topics and subtopics.
Also features email notification. Requires MySQL or Microsoft SQL Server. A free limited version is available for evaluation.
Developer: Arborior
Platforms: Windows, UNIX (written in Perl)
-
Forum Web Server
- Inexpensive BBS software with a built-in web server; no other software is required.
Developer: MiniHTTPServer Co. Ltd.
Platform: Windows
-
FuseTalk
- Online discussion forum software available in ColdFusion MX and .NET platforms. Feature rich, including
web services enabled API, multiple forums capable of different permissions and users, built-in reporting.
Attractive, secure and customizable web interface. Highly scalable and configurable.
Developer: FuseTalk Inc.
Platforms: Windows, UNIX
-
Gossamer Forum
- Template-based message board software, allowing for customized user interfaces in
different languages, etc. Requires mySQL or another SQL database.
Developer: Gossamer Threads Inc.
Platforms: UNIX, Windows, Macintosh (written in Perl)
-
Ideal BB
- Bulletin board software based on Active Server Pages. Requires Microsoft SQL Server.
Developer: Ideal Science
Platform: Windows
-
Ideal BB.NET
- Bulletin board software based on the Microsoft .NET framework. Features an API allowing customization
through C# programming. Requires Microsoft SQL Server.
Developer: Ideal Science
Platform: Windows
-
InstantForum.NET
- Inexpensive forum software based on ASP.NET and SQL Server. Full VB.NET source code
is available.
Developer: InstantASP Ltd.
Platform: Windows
-
Interaction
- Features both threaded discussions and real-time chat.
Developer: Media Design in Progress
Platform: Macintosh
- IP.Board (formerly Invision Power Board)
- Popular forum software featured by many forum hosting services. Offers content sharing via RSS,
extensive "skin" customization, and some ability for custom extensions through PHP programming.
Available as licensed software or as a hosted service. Also offers automatic conversion from many
other popular message board formats.
Developer: Invision Power Services
Platform: Any (requires PHP and MySQL; Oracle and SQL Server also supported.)
-
Jive
- Open architecture, threaded forum software, written in Java. Free or discounted
for noncommercial users.
Developer: CoolServlets.com
Platform: UNIX, Windows
-
Motet
- Fast and feature-rich forum software modeled after the WELL.
Developer: Bryan Higgins and Leha Blaney
Platform: UNIX
Sample site:
Cafe Utne
-
ocPortal
- Web site engine, with features such as forums, chat rooms, blogs and galleries for all members,
and a community database. A free version with most of the same functionality is available.
Developer: ocProducts
Platforms: UNIX, Windows
-
Orchestra
- Threaded message board software with instructions in English and French.
Developer: Crossdraw
Platform: Windows (requires Cold Fusion and SQL database)
-
panFora
- Features framed and frameless user interfaces.
Developer: wiTHinc
Platform: UNIX
-
Prospero
- Created by a merger of WELL Engaged and Delphi, this company will customize their
community software for your site.
Developer: Prospero
Platform: UNIX
Sample sites: The WELL
-
ProvideTalk
- French language product.
Developer: TimSoft
Platform: Windows with SQL Server
-
Toast Forums
- Message board software implemented with Active Server Pages. Requires Microsoft Access.
Developer: Josh Painter, Headrush Media
Platform: Windows
-
UBB.threads
- Supports both linear and threaded discussions, moderated forums, and
a multilingual user interface. Requires PHP and mySQL.
Developer: Groupee (from Rick Baker's WWWThreads)
Platform: UNIX, Windows
-
UltraBB (formerly WowUltra)
- Based on WowBB with additional enhancements for private messaging,
custom user titles, visitor log, theme change options. Unlimited members, categories, forums. Versatile
permission system. Single license available for indefinite use and various plans available for subscription.
Developer: Jim Hale
Platforms: many
-
vBulletin
- Very popular and inexpensive bulletin board software based on PHP and MySQL. Features e-mail notification and user profiles.
A limited freeware version is available.
Developer: JelSoft Enterprises Ltd.
Platforms: UNIX, Windows
-
WebBBS
- Uses cookies to keep track of what users have read, and has an e-mail
notification feature. Distributed as shareware.
Developer: Darryl C. Burgdorf
Platform: UNIX (written in Perl)
-
WebBoard
- Includes features for user profiles, listing recent users, etc. Also
features real-time chat rooms.
Developer: Akiva (originally O'Reilly, then ChatSpace)
Platform: UNIX, Windows
-
Web Crossing
- Highly customizable and scaleable. Features forums, real-time chat, mailing lists, blogs,
email notification and digests, and integrated email and newsgroup services.
Also available as a hosted service.
Developer: Web Crossing, Inc. (previously Lundeen & Associates)
Platforms: UNIX, Macintosh, Windows
-
Web+
- General-purpose Web development tool that includes a forum
application called Web+Conference.
Developer: TalentSoft
Platform: Windows, UNIX
-
Wildcat! Interactive Net Server
- BBS-style web server.
Developer: Santronics Software, Inc.
Platform: Windows
-
Worldgroup
- Web implementation of a BBS, including forums, chat rooms, instant messaging,
live and recorded video streaming, and more.
Developer: Galacticomm
Platform: Windows
-
WowBB
- Inexpensive bulletin board software implemented with PHP and MySQL. Features a WYSIWYG editor,
spell checker, private messaging, polls, and attachments. User interface is available in several
languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Arabic, and others).
Compatible with other popular bulletin board software, including phpBB and, UBB.Threads, vBulletin,
and Invision Power Board.
Developer: Aycan Gulez
Platforms: UNIX, Windows, Mac OS X
- WowClassic
- Based on WowBB and enhanced with Mass PM, User Group Ranking, Top Posters, Member Stats,
birthdays, hide a forum, and much more.
Developer: Nancy Chandler
Platforms: UNIX, Windows, Mac OS X
-
WowUltra
- See UltraBB
- WWWThreads
- See UBBThreads.
-
YAPP
- Web interface to YAPP, a clone of the WELL's PicoSpan forum system.
Developer: Dave Thaler, Armidale Software
Platform: UNIX
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