So my forum right now is using SMF. SMF does everything I want it to in terms of being a forum. There are a couple of features that I would like to add that I just don't think SMF can handle.

1) I'd like to be able to have really good wordpress integration. This goes beyond having just shared logins. I'd like to allow users to comment on articles in the forums and post new entries in the forum.

2) I've seen some sites that have "Social Group" systems where users can create social groups and interact with each other. I would like this because I have some users from all over N America and I try to keep forums for each area. But I think it would be easier to just have a social group for each area.

3) I'd like to allow my users to have blogs (although this is more of a "would be nice" feature). I've never tried too much in this respect, but could wordpress be a good way to do this? If so, I can kill #1 and #2 in one stone!

The only piece of forum software that I've seen that can do all this is vBulletin. Does anybody know of any alternatives?

In regards to #3 - try SMF with WPMU (Wordpress Multi-User). See WP_SMF Bridge and WordPress MU › Home for more details.

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The Oldiesmann
SMF Project Manager
SMF+Gallery2 Integration Project - Beta3.1 now available!