Samrc Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 (edited) Just wanted to say how easy it was to install and setup a forum using the Fantastico SMF installation on one of my TCH sites. The forum software was up-to-date and took just minutes to tweak. A week to customize but only minutes to install! Thanks BILL for giving us this goodie! Edited January 29, 2007 by Samrc Quote
carbonize Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 Hate to be blunt but SMF is simple to install using their single file webinstaller. All you would need to do is supply the database details. Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 Yes, for a seasoned veteran of installing applications that have a database. But in general most people that want to install a forum only have basic knowledge of HTML if any (those using FrontPage or some other web editing package). That's where the one click install from Fantastico makes it easy for anyone with little or no knowledge to install a forum or any other database application found in Fantastico. Quote
carbonize Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 Yes but I find things like Fantastico also encourage laziness. People install scripts using Fantastico or similar and then forget about them until they find there version is very out of date and ful of exploits (not that I'm saying SMF 1.1.1 has exploits). I encourage people to do things for themselves otherwise they will never learn. Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted January 29, 2007 Posted January 29, 2007 Couldn't agree more. It's always better to learn how to do a manual install. Or at least verify Fantastico installed the most recent version. Quote
Samrc Posted January 30, 2007 Author Posted January 30, 2007 (edited) Oh...didn't mean to stir anything here. I am someone that likes to know HOW to do it manually. I like to tweak code and learn from each project. I customize and tear apart and find that FUN, pure play time when I have time for it. I understand HTML and am learning CSS and PHP. I CAN write web pages from scratch if I must. I don't enjoy that and choose to use tools (HTML editors and generators) to assist me to speed the process. I see Fantastico as such a tool. There are times that having Fantastico do the install for me, set up a database for me, etc is VERY NICE and a time saver. Even when I install that way, I check immediately to make sure I have the most current version and don't take it for granted. Yes but I find things like Fantastico also encourage laziness. I respectfully disagree. It can actually encourage growth. Some people will never TRY to install a script on their own. Too scary. These folks would not have a forum, chat, poll, or other fun feature on their site if it were not for that easy interface. Once they do install they find they must keep up to date and need to stretch their abilities to keep up. With that their confidence goes up and might actually try to put in a form script or something small on their own! Have seen it happen. I am thankful that TCH offers such a tool for everyone, experienced or not. Edited January 30, 2007 by Samrc Quote
TCH-Bruce Posted January 30, 2007 Posted January 30, 2007 Nothing stirred Sami, just a discussion about the merits of having Fantastico. And I agree it's a time saver and helps those that wouldn't know where to start to do an install. And hopefully they will go a step further and figure out how to maintain the package they install. Quote
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