Top Free Forum Softwares To Build Online Communities

Onlne discussion forums are one of the most powerful tools to run online communities. Are you a webmaster and struggling to interact with your visitors ? OR Are you selling products online and want to provide online support in a free and open environment ? OR Are you a gaming enthusiast and want to host a gaming community ?

All you need is a forum software to realize your ideas.

Now you must be thinking of paid forum packages you can use to run your online community. But WAIT!!!! why pay when you can get one for free?

Yup, following is the list of top free forum softwares all equally robust, and each with its own unique features, that give paid forum software a run for their money.

1. bbPress

bbPress is forum software with a twist from the creators of WordPress.
bbPress is lean, mean and ready to take on any job you throw at it.

2. Vanilla

Vanilla is an open-source, standards-compliant, multi-lingual, fully extensible discussion forum for the web. Anyone who has web-space that meets the requirements can download and use Vanilla for free!

3. Simple Machines Forum — SMF

Simple Machines Forum — SMF in short — is a free, professional grade software package that allows you to set up your own online community within minutes.

4. phpBB

Since its creation in 2000, phpBB™ has become the most widely used Open Source forum solution. Like its predecessors, phpBB™ 3.0 “Olympus” has an easy to use administration panel and a user friendly installation process, which allows you to have a forum set up in minutes.

5. SEO-Board

SEO-Board is a forum software that's fast, free, and search engine friendly. It is the perfect solution for small and medium-sized sites.

6. Phorum, The Original PHP and MySQL Forum Software

Started in 1998, Phorum was the original PHP and MySQL based Open Source forum software. Phorum's developers pride themselves on creating message board software that is designed to meet different needs of different web sites while not sacrificing performance or features.

7. Simpleboard

Simpleboard Forum Component for the Mambo Open Source CMS framework

8. Ikonboard

Ikonboard is a comprehensive web bulletin board system. It transcends the limits imposed by other bulletin board software, allowing you to create a truly unique community on your website. From it's extensive template and skins features to it's complete multi-lingual support, your members will keep coming back for more.

9. MyBB

A lot of thought has gone into the MyBB interface to make it easy to use. MyBB uses a standard discussion board structure, so your visitors will feel familiar with the way MyBB works. Your visitors can use the MyBB user control panel to change the way they view discussions. They can also easily start and reply to discussions and markup their posts. The forum administrators and moderators can use MyBB's inline editing and moderation features to control discussion and keep the forum tidy.

10. Vikingboard

Vikingboard is a PHP-based community board designed by the principle of “less is more”, and features a powerful web-based extension-system, a lighting-fast cache system and dynamic web update. Small, but incredibly fast and powerful.

11. Snitz Forums

The Snitz Forums 2000 Community is an ever growing group of developers and friends that enjoy working together and learning from each other's experiences in programming. There is also a growing group of people that just like to talk and make friends.

12. Web Wiz Forums

Web Wiz Forums bulletin board system is the ideal forum package for your website's community.

Web Wiz Forums is fast and powerful as a result of over 8 years experience in developing message board software. It has 100s of practical, generic features, yet remains easy to get up and running.

Web Wiz Forums is backed by full-time support and development staff giving you a stable bulletin board engine that you can rely on today and into the future.

13. PunBB

PunBB is a fast and lightweight PHP-powered discussion board. It is released under the GNU General Public License. Its primary goals are to be faster, smaller and less graphically intensive as compared to other discussion boards. PunBB has fewer features than many other discussion boards, but is generally faster and outputs smaller, semantically correct XHTML-compliant pages.

14. miniBB

Obsessed to make a discussion board where you will be the only one boss? Own a web space and install a message board script written in PHP, free open source forum engine everybody can build an online community on: miniBB, standing for "mini-BulletinBoard". Mini-forum for big people - that's what "mini bb" is all about. Everything begins with choice, and miniBB is not the only right start for running a special community of the common interest, but also forums holder for ages. Security, speed and stability - they are three S's of our software philosophy.

15. UseBB.net

UseBB.net is the official website of UseBB, a light and Open Source PHP 4 and MySQL based forum package, distributed freely under the GPL license. Developed with simplicity and usability in mind, UseBB is ideal for small to medium sized websites which need a clear and efficient forum package.

16. IceBB

IceBB is a powerful, fast, free, and open-source forum solution powered by the free PHP and MySQL. IceBB scales well, no matter how many users or posts, due to its clean and efficient code. It can also be fully customized to your needs with full skin and language support. A powerful admin control center, along with easy-to-use moderation tools, allow you to easily manage all aspects of your forum.

17. nextBBS

nextBBS multi-boards is currently running in public beta at clicdev.com. Single-board versions are running medium-to-big size communities, such as militate.com, sdglive.com, etc. Other organizations integrate nextBBS as part of their hosting offering, such as pearlgaming.com
In December 2006, Portals Magazine compiled the list of SourceForge's 10 most popular Web 2.0-related applications. nextBBS was number 5.

18. Quick Silver Forums

Quick Silver Forums is fast and light, rich in features, 3D permissions system, powerful admin controls, complete skinning, translated into 18 languages, pptimised MySQL interaction, easy to customise, released under the GPL license and free for commercial or personal use.

19. OvBB

Distributed under the open source MIT license, OvBB is a light-weight and fast discussion board system that mimics vBulletin 2.x.x in both look and behavior while incorporating new features and functionality.

20. Think Tank Forums

The TTF Project aims to produce extremely fast and clean web forum software. The forum lacks most features offered by other software—a fact of which we are extremely proud.

21. YaBB

YaBB is a leading FREE, Open Source community forum system (bulletin board, message board) written in Perl. Learn how it started, who is on the project team, and what the main features are.

Lankaa Achar(Green Chilli Pickle)

Ingredients:

Green chillies: 1 kg cut in 1/4 inch rounds
Ginger paste: 50gms
Shredded Ginger: 50gms
Chilli powder: 50gms
Garlic paste: 100gms
Turmeric powder: 30gms,
Mustard seeds: 60gms a tsp set aside and the rest ground to paste
Vinegar: 2 cups
Mustard oil: 3 cups
Non-Iodised salt to taste
Ordinary sea salt is a good preservative
Sugar: 2 tbsp

Method:

1. Add about a level tbsp of salt to the chillies, mix and set aside for a few hours or overnight.
2. Grind the masala paste with vinegar instead of water. Heat half the oil to smoking in a pan and fry the chillies in this for about 10 minutes.
3. Remove chillies to another dish. Add three- quaters of the remaining oil to the pan.
4. Allow this to become smoking hot. Add the teaspoon of mustard seed and when it stops spluttering, add the shredded ginger.
5. Fry for a minute and then add the other masala pastes, ginger and garlic. Fry for a good 10 minutes or more until the masalas change colour, then add the remaining vinegar and 2 tbsp of sugar.
6. Add the fried chillies to the masalas in the pan, fry for another ten minutes. Adjust seasoning.

Just before removing from fire, add the remaining oil and mix well. Cool and store in jars

Mirch ka Achaar (Instant Green Chilli Pickle)

Ingredients:

1 Cup chopped green chillies (medium hot variety)
3 tsp coarsely ground oriental mustard seeds
1 tsp coarsely ground methi (fenugreek) seeds
½ tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp salt
1/8-1/4 Cup refined peanut oil
Juice of 2 limes

Method:

In a bowl first place the ground mustard seeds. Top with ground
methi seeds. Place the turmeric powder to a side. Heat the oil in a pan
till very hot. Pour over the methi seeds; it will gradually soak the
mustard as it spreads (and cools).

Wash, pat dry, and chop the green chillies. Once the spices have
cooled, add the chopped chillies, salt and the lime juice. Mix. Store
in a clean dry jar. Let sit 24 hours before consuming.

The hot oil treatment of the spices is a very important step –
something I wasn’t aware of the first time I attempted this pickle. And
the mustard in the pickle was a heady experience after a couple of
days, if you know what I mean. The tempering partially cooks the spices
allowing for just a mellow sharpness, and stops the mustard from
developing into a full sensory onslaught.

Use the lower amount of oil specified if planning to refrigerate the
pickle and consume within a few weeks. Use the larger amount of oil if
you need longer shelf life. It does not need refrigeration.

This pickle is best made in small quantities to enjoy the chillies
in their crispier state. Serve with any Indian meal, burgers, hot dogs;
it perks up breakfast paranthas too!

Instant Chilli Pickle

Ingredients:

1 cup (65 grams) Bhavnagri chillies (big green chillies), cut into 12 mm. (?") roundels
1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
1/8 teaspoon fenugreek (methi) seeds
1 teaspoon asafoetida (hing)
1 teaspoon turmeric (haldi) powder
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon salt

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a pan, add the cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds. When the seeds crackle, add the asafoetida, turmeric powder and chillies and saut? for 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Add the sugar, lemon juice and salt and mix well. Allow to cool completely.
3. Serve immediately or store for upto 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator.

GREEN CHILI PICKLE - INSTANT ACHAR

Ingredient:

250 gm Green Chillies - hotter the best ( was and clean them - wipe them completely dry )
1 tea spoon cumin powder
3/4 spoon mustard seed powder
1 tea spoon turmeric powder ( haldi powder )
1  tea spoon coriander powder
1 Tea spoon maithi  seeds
1 Tea spoon Red chili powder
1 Tea spoon Dry Mango Powder
1/2 Tea spoon Black Salt
1 Tea spoon Fennel seeds coarse grounded
Lime Juice of two lime
1 spoon vinegar .
Oil

Method :

1. Mix all the Masala in a bowl
2. Heat oil in a pan till it smoke
3. Pour it over Masala
4. Mix the masala well
5. Fill this masala in the chillies or mix in the chillies cut in round shape or length wise.
6. Put vinegar and lime juice on top of it
7. Let it cool down and than keep in jar or refrigerate it .

Sooji Halwa (Kanjak Recipe)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Sooji (semolina)
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2.5 cup water
• 2 teaspoon Ghee
• 1 tablespoon lowfat butter (heart foundation recommended) or canola oil
• Almonds (grated)/Raisins
• 2-3 Cardamom, coarsely powdered

Preparation

1. Add sugar to water and mix well. Keep aside.
2. In a skillet (kadahi) take ghee and sooji and cook for 5
   minutes. Add oil/butter and cook for 20 minutes on medium heat, till
   the sooji turns light brown. With the skillet on the stove, add
   cardamom powder and raisins, grated almonds, then add water-sugar
   solution slowly, stirring with a spoon and allow the water to evaporate
   (it would take about 5-7 minute).
   Garnish with a few grated almond pieces.

The History of Mother's Day

The earliest
Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations
of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods.

During the 1600's, England celebrated a day called "Mothering
Sunday". Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent. "Mothering Sunday"
honored the mothers of England.

During this time many of England's poor worked as servants for the
wealthy. As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants
would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the
servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and
spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the mothering
cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch.

As Christianity spread throughout Europe the celebration changed to
honor the "Mother Church" - the spiritual power that gave them life and
protected them from harm. Over time the church festival blended with
the Mothering Sunday celebration . People began honoring their mothers
as well as the church.

In the United States Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by
Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the
Republic) as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organized
Mother's Day meetings in Boston, Mass ever year.

In 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish
a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in
Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second
anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next
year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.

Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers,
businessmen, and politicians in their quest to establish a national
Mother's Day. It was successful, by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in
almost every state. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the
official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday
that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.

While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day
at different times throughout the year, there are some countries such
as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium which also
celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.

A Little Mother's Day Trivia:

· In the United States, there are about 82.5 million mothers. (source: US Census Bureau)

· about 96% of American consumers take part in some way in Mother's Day (source: Hallmark)

· Mother's Day is widely reported as the peak day of the year for long distance telephone calls

· Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for many restaurants

· Retailers report that Mother's Day is the second highest gift-giving holiday in the United States (Christmas is the highest).

· Most popular month for having babies in the US is August, and most popular weekday is Tuesday.

-- An article by mothersclick.com