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Simplest Forum 
Version
1.5.1 (last update on Jul 13, 2009)
Rating
Compatibility
Votes
71
Favoured
38
License
GPL
Non-Commercial
Type
Views
146884
Date Added
26 September 2007
The Simplest Forum core is kept very simple and very basic so that it is easily installed and used with little effort. The forum is, however, powered by a flexible plugin system which enables standard Joomla! plugins to extend its functionality considerably. Simplest Forum has a number of existing extensions available for it including CAPTCHA support via Simple CAPTCHA, a basic (but very customizable) "Latest Posts" module, a Joomla! search plugin, a BBCode plugin, a notification plugin, an attachment / upload plugin, and an RSS plugin.
The Simplest Forum *does not* include profiles, statistics, or private messaging. You can be the first to write a plugin offering one or more of those functionalities, or you may be better off using one of the more advanced components such as Fireboard, Agora, etc.
Enjoy and feel free to contact us with questions and comments!
NOTE: This version requires MySQL 5.0 or greater, and PHP5 or greater. The CAPTCHA plugin also requires that GD is installed.
bymberman9 on November 14, 2009
As others have said, this installs easily. After I installed it, I set it so that registered users could read and post, but only Publishers could modify, edit, or delete posts. After starting the forum, we found that anyone could edit any post. I checked and rechecked all settings, and all seemed correct.
I posted a request for help on the developer's forum, and he replied with a request for access to the site, which I emailed to him immediately. No response. I then posted on his forum again, asking if he had received the email. No response. It has now been a month, and still no fix or response, either to email or support forum posts.
Clearly there is a serious bug in this software which allows users to edit other users' posts, and the developer, at least in my case, has been unresponsive. Having failed to get this to work or get any support. I now plan to switch to a different forum component.
I recognize that this is a free component, so the developer owes me nothing, but I always make donations to every add-on that I use successfully. Obviously I won't be donating to this one.
I posted a request for help on the developer's forum, and he replied with a request for access to the site, which I emailed to him immediately. No response. I then posted on his forum again, asking if he had received the email. No response. It has now been a month, and still no fix or response, either to email or support forum posts.
Clearly there is a serious bug in this software which allows users to edit other users' posts, and the developer, at least in my case, has been unresponsive. Having failed to get this to work or get any support. I now plan to switch to a different forum component.
I recognize that this is a free component, so the developer owes me nothing, but I always make donations to every add-on that I use successfully. Obviously I won't be donating to this one.
byMCNX on October 26, 2009
I love the forum's design! It's simple and clean. When I visit a forum in order to seek advice, I want to see clearly the information and not heaps of icons, smileys the authors' zodiac signs etc. If I wanted to see that I would visit a social network.
There are few things, that in my opinion, would make this application better:
1)The option to hide your real name.
2)Pagination
3)Edit function
4)Sub categories creation
and I don't know if there is more but, as far as I know, they are working on it.
Keep on the good work!
There are few things, that in my opinion, would make this application better:
1)The option to hide your real name.
2)Pagination
3)Edit function
4)Sub categories creation
and I don't know if there is more but, as far as I know, they are working on it.
Keep on the good work!
byjkovba on October 7, 2009
This was easy to install and is easy to user for the users of the site. Thanks for writing this! This is the first extension I've ever used, so I especially appreciate the ease and effectiveness. One thing I might be missing though, is there a way for users to create new topics (that are then sent to the admin for approval)? I'm close, but just missing it.
Again, great job!
Again, great job!
byhustad on October 3, 2009
I needed a forum that did not have all the "normal stuff" for a forum cause that would be totally overkill for my site.
My registered users should be able to submit and edit posts in an easy way and this forum definatly gives you this functionallity.
Very easy to use. In my opinion you need to do some css styling to make it look good though. But thats only a couple of css lines.
Very very pleased, donation is sent and well earned :-)
Keep up the great work, and thank you so much for sharing it with us!
My registered users should be able to submit and edit posts in an easy way and this forum definatly gives you this functionallity.
Very easy to use. In my opinion you need to do some css styling to make it look good though. But thats only a couple of css lines.
Very very pleased, donation is sent and well earned :-)
Keep up the great work, and thank you so much for sharing it with us!
bynaastniels on September 23, 2009
Your forum is true to its name. Simple to install and use. With some template tweeks it fits right into my site.
Unfortunately the language files were not synchronized with the latest version, and is translation file for JoomFish missing (at least I didn''t see it).
Still I like the simplicity. Thanks for your work.
Unfortunately the language files were not synchronized with the latest version, and is translation file for JoomFish missing (at least I didn''t see it).
Still I like the simplicity. Thanks for your work.
byxwing on September 8, 2009
Thanks for a great forum ! I really like it !
Simple to install an verrrrry easy to use !
Only one little sugestion :
- Add a few more administration option :)
I need for example to change the order of forum list. Now it works only in administration but that order doesnt work in page too.. i want for example after i create a few ....to modify the order in page because now.. first one that i create it will be the last in the page .. :)
Keep up the good work and thanks !
Simple to install an verrrrry easy to use !
Only one little sugestion :
- Add a few more administration option :)
I need for example to change the order of forum list. Now it works only in administration but that order doesnt work in page too.. i want for example after i create a few ....to modify the order in page because now.. first one that i create it will be the last in the page .. :)
Keep up the good work and thanks !
byxnigma on September 8, 2009
I would have given Simplest Forum an excellent rating except for one characteristic, message ID is only set to post the user name, with no option to use the user Login ID. A bit of anonymity might be desired in some cases.
bykbrinner on August 24, 2009
I'm new to Joommla and liked how easy Simplest Forum was to install and setup (doing some minor styling in the CSS wasn't too bad either). However, when I adjusted the permissions for view group, post group, and moderate group in the options for the forum name, there is a slight glitch. If someone is not signed on, there is no message that they need to sign on in order to post a message. The 'post response' or 'post message' buttons are simply gone when not signed in. I think this could confuse people. Is there a fix for this? Thanks.
byaszhenwu on June 15, 2009
Yes, it is very easy to install and you get your language automatically. But if you have a beautiful web site, why would you get a so hugly component ? No, if this forum was just a little stylised, it could be the better one.
bybross26 on April 30, 2009
After playing around with several of the other extensions and eventually phpbb for 2 days, I stumbled upon this extension about 30 minutes ago. It was installed and configured within 5 minutes. It took another 5 minutes to edit the css to match my site.
Kunena, Agora and the others were far too visually styled and complex to be useful. I next tried phpbb and had trouble authenticating users.
Kunena, Agora and the others were far too visually styled and complex to be useful. I next tried phpbb and had trouble authenticating users.
Owner's reply
Thanks for trying it out!
bystanberka on April 7, 2009
I'm a new Joomla user. I need a simple but functional website for users of an app I'm developing. Installed Joomla only to realize, that the forum isn't part of the core. Installed Kunena. A bit heavy, but installed OK (although users don't synch automatically, and installing CB module is a bit too much: I don't need it). But then, I have found that the link to create a new thread is not there... unless you go to view a post. Oh no! That's not good. For a big component like Kunena?! Then, I have found the Simplest Forum. Installation is simple. I like it.
But, I have found that one thing that I need is missing... or may be I haven't found it. There is no notification sent to the moderator, when there is a post awaiting to be accepted. Is there a function like this? I could try to implement it myself, but you know, there are other things I want to do, too.
In any case, bravo for the authors!!!
But, I have found that one thing that I need is missing... or may be I haven't found it. There is no notification sent to the moderator, when there is a post awaiting to be accepted. Is there a function like this? I could try to implement it myself, but you know, there are other things I want to do, too.
In any case, bravo for the authors!!!
Owner's reply
Thanks for taking the time to submit a review!
The functionality you are looking for is actually in a plugin called plg_notification which can also be downloaded at the Simplest Forum site. It provides settings to subscribe to new posts, or just new topic notifications. It also provides your users the ability to subscribe to topics.
Thanks again!
bykajantek on March 4, 2009
I was very happy at first and really disappointed when i realized that this extension was just food for spammers... hoping for a better new release...
Owner's reply
It sounds like you did not install the optional CAPTCHA plugin. Without the CAPTCHA plugin the forum is prone to exploitation by spammers, as is every other form interface that does not have some sort of human validation measure. If you were using the CAPTCHA plugin, please use our forums to help us identify any vulnerabilities. No other users have reported this issue.
Thank you.
bylizardslane on February 14, 2009
I am a novice Joomla user and this extension is very easy to install and use. I like it, but wish Fireboard would come back.
Owner's reply
Thanks for the review. Simplest Forum is definitely too simple for some and Fireboard had its strengths. You may want to try out the Kunena forum and see if it's enough like Fireboard.
Cheers.
byinou on January 31, 2009
This is good tool however I found some problems here:
+ when a post has been approved by admin and the owner of that post goes back to edit it then the post will disappear to the admin (reason: I look at the database, the parentId changed to the thread id)
+ after edit a post, the order of the thread and the respond messed up.
If the edit function can be fixed, this tool will be awesome for the simplestforum
+ when a post has been approved by admin and the owner of that post goes back to edit it then the post will disappear to the admin (reason: I look at the database, the parentId changed to the thread id)
+ after edit a post, the order of the thread and the respond messed up.
If the edit function can be fixed, this tool will be awesome for the simplestforum
Owner's reply
Thanks for taking the time to post a review and point out a few of the shortcomings. The reason that the posts disappear after being edited again by the user is that they go back for moderation again (to prevent abuse). It may not be the best design decision, but it's intentional. The second issue is resolved in 1.4.2 now.
Thanks again for taking the time to review the Simplest Forum!
bykaren.m.gilchrist on January 2, 2009
This is exactly what I needed to create a straightforward user-driven forum. Really helpful installation information. Integrates well with the rest of the backend administration.
Owner's reply
Thanks! I'm glad you've found it useful!
bytrombonechamp on December 21, 2008
This is a great extension for 1.5 sites. It is the only one I found that integrates well with strangely colored templates. It also "just works", which is nice. I didn't like the fact that there was that view that popped up all the time that showed all of the posts and responses made in a single forum at on the same screen, so I went in and changed some of this GPL code to get rid of it.
Bravo!
Bravo!
Owner's reply
Thank you very much for the nice feedback!
If you are a Joomla beginner and you want a simple forum, this product is great as it does what it says on the tin!. I have installed it on a local server and have tried using the extension with the captcha feature and the latest posts module and they all work great. Thank you!!
Owner's reply
Thank you!
bythorab on November 17, 2008
As much as I like "Simplest Forum", with its clean style and easy to use features - actually a forum type I was searching for a long time - as much I was disappointed about the fact the forum has no pagination. (I was trying the cirrent stable version and the new beta 1.4.0)
Even in a small forum I was trying to run, discussion can go on for a while on a topic. Seeing those threads growing and growing but no pagination to structure it, was not a good thing. I like the idea of a simple forum and was delighted by the "easy to install", but can't continue to use it due to this key feature miss. I still hope the developers will add this feature request to the next version and can only drop an "average" rating for now. Nevertheless, thank you for your great work and for providing this forum to the community.
Even in a small forum I was trying to run, discussion can go on for a while on a topic. Seeing those threads growing and growing but no pagination to structure it, was not a good thing. I like the idea of a simple forum and was delighted by the "easy to install", but can't continue to use it due to this key feature miss. I still hope the developers will add this feature request to the next version and can only drop an "average" rating for now. Nevertheless, thank you for your great work and for providing this forum to the community.
Owner's reply
Thanks for the feedback. There have been several feature requests on our forum to add pagination. I will try to kick this in to the next release.
byEclectic on November 15, 2008
We are a non-profit neutral organization who can not (by policy) endorse outside suppliers or in this case developer. While I understand that development costs need to be recouperated, I do NOT agree with the self-endorsement being embedded without prior knowledge. So having gone through all the steps to install, I was disappointed to see a large logo at the bottom of every screen (list, etc..). Had there been a warning I would not have downloaded. There are other more effective and user-friendly methods of advertisement.
Owner's reply
Thanks for the feedback. I think the confusion is that the demo is still running 1.3.0 which didn't include the link at the bottom. I will update the demo to use the latest version which does include the link so that it is not misleading.
Since I have released this component as GPL, you are absolutely welcome to remove the links from your installation or change any other aspect of the forum. Simply delete the one line of HTML that is responsible for the link and you are set to go.
I am definitely not a product marketing guru, so if you have other ideas on more effective means of advertising the component, please let me know.
Cheers.
byluvdata on September 23, 2008
Nothing to it, it works great and took almost no effort. The topics integrate nicely into the rest of the site, and it is user-friendly for anyone posting.
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