Forum

[jon123]

Anyone ever try to create their own forum?

I have I guess what you would call a flagship site where I try out all my new scripts. I am trying to remove all third party scripts for no particular reason other than just to see if I can.
I have created the guestbook and the photo gallery, and the only one left is the forum. It doesn't get used very much so would be a simple one but will need a hidden section also.

I thought that the guestbook script would go a long way to creating this forum, but i am finding it very difficult to plan, and planning is everything i have come to realize.

i have seen some good tutorials and such, but that is not what i am looking for. I just wanted to see if anyone had any experience in writting something like this.

I have (from previous scripts) got my login/register, html editors, captcha, etc, so the basis for the forum is there, just need a little guidance I guess.

[Dan]

Yes, i have made my own forum however i couldn't seek the time to finish it off. I will help you if needed, that's if you're thinking of creating your own forum

[kev woodman]

If you're doing it in PHP you could use a framework - that might speed things up. A forum isn't too much different to a guestbook - you just need to link up the messages with thread ids.

[jon123]

Hi Dan, yes i am thinking of creating a forum. I like you started this project before but shelved it because i made everything so complicated when it didn't need to be. Mainly joining tables and the way i was starting new threads and replying to existing threads, that is why this time i would like to plan it all first then script it.

[jon123]

Originally Posted by kev woodman

If you're doing it in PHP you could use a framework - that might speed things up. A forum isn't too much different to a guestbook - you just need to link up the messages with thread ids.

He Kev, thread ids, post ids, user ids, etc. This is where I came unstuck last time. I have started with my notebook and pen and will see if i can link it all together.

[kev woodman]

Not sure if this helps but I always start by writing out the table relationships in terms of 'belongs to', 'has one', 'has many', 'has and belongs to' e.g. 'thread' has many 'posts', 'user' has one 'profile'.

If you use a framework or something like RoR then this maps nicely to the built in table relationships but even of you don't it seems a more natural way of working them out to me.

[jon123]

Thanks Kev that was exactly what i was looking for especially regarding db tables and the relationships.
Afraid i have no experience with frameworks and downloaded cake a couple of times but never used it.
I think for ease I will just use php to create it as I already have the foundations in place. Just need to plan it correctly so i don't run into problems half way through due to poor planning.

[kev woodman]

very sensible mate - my working life is blighted by poor planning, crap requirements analysis and a general lack of any strategy. Sadly I'm the one responsible for all that