creating a forum

[b_o_b]

I like to create a forum / start a community that might have commercial potential (could also fail horribly..). I don't mind spending some cash on this idea but certainly not a lot. 

The forum (software) should be: 

- fast / lean

- scalable

- easy to add ads

- easy to find for search engines / interact with social media

- easy to maintain / backup 

- as bulletproof as possible against spam / attacks. 

I prefer open source software (would phpBB work?) and do the maintenance myself (so good documentation - easy to setup - upgrade etc) 

Any advise? Rough estimate for costs? I like to have 2 scenario's, - setting it up myself or outsourcing.   

I am in the brainstorming phase so any suggestion is welcome

 

[Fzero]

How about a WordPress forum theme site?


Open source, though of course some themes might not be.


Super easy to upgrade and maintain.


I'd say fairly secure so long as you keep patching up to date.


Free, with some themes costing but not often much.


Backups easy.


...and a lot of decent SEO plugins to help you promote.


...likewise with adverts, plenty plugins to manage.


http://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/best-5-wordpress-forum-plugins-and-themes/

 

[TrashyMG]

How about a WordPress forum theme site?

I prefer open source software (would phpBB work?)

Both of these solutions are very popular and they're okay as long as you are vigilant on security updates and even if you are, they may still be easily exploited by some new found exploit. so yeah..