Miscellaneous Hacks - vbNetwork - share forums with other boards

vbNetwork

Summary
This add-on gives you the ability to share forums with other message boards without having to share any database information. The plugin uses webservices to share posts.

Release Notes
Currently the installation is easy but if you want to set up and run your own network it will help if you're familiar with XML. Joining an already existing network is fairly simple.

If you would like my help writing versions for phpBB, IPB or other message board software, please feel free to contact me.

If you are interested you can join my existing network, but please note that it is mostly a trolling-based community of boards. Feel free to start your own network with other boards.

Product Specifications

1. several plugins
2. one cron job
3. file uploads
4. new DB tables
5. several phrases

Installation
Approx 2-5 mins

See the included installation instructions.

Upgrading/Updating

1. upload all files in the upload directory, overwriting any existing files
2. re-import the XML file, setting "Overwrite" to "Yes"

Configuration

See the included documentation for details.

Support

If you encounter problems or discover any bugs, please create a new issue at: http://code.google.com/p/vbnetwork/issues/list

Sample

This is one shared forum on three different boards (WARNING: the content of these forums may be NSFW).
http://www.anothermessageboard.com/f...splay.php?f=29
http://www.juot.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=50
http://www.drunkensquirrel.net/com/f...splay.php?f=28

PLEASE CLICK INSTALL!

[BirdOPrey5]

On mine (the 2nd one) you have to register to see it: http://www.juot.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=50

Same with AMB which is on the same network.

8th Legion is the newest one on this network (of 3 boards) I think they are open: http://www.the8thlegion.com/forums/70-The-Trollarium

[thecore762]

Tagged because I might be interested in looking to add this option.
The thing is, sometimes some of the content can be inappropriate.

[8thos]

Originally Posted by thecore762

Tagged because I might be interested in looking to add this option.
The thing is, sometimes some of the content can be inappropriate.

Only thing bad I've seen so far was a thread about a sex toy. Other than that, the Network seems to be full of random rants and youtube links. I've noticed that some of my members are viewing the threads and only a few occasionally post. Looks like they have to get used to it first. I like it because it is a nice break from the average forum thread on my site.

[BirdOPrey5]

The point of this mod is you can network any boards together, if you network with admins you trust you can trust the content of your network. It just so happens my forum and zethon's forum who have been networked for over a year have kind of "anything goes" off-topic so discussion of sex toys and other not-family-friendly topics are the usual on our network. Using this mod does not mean you get our threads- you can network with someone else.

[thecore762]

What about from a SEO point of view? Duplicated content?

[BirdOPrey5]

Originally Posted by thecore762

What about from a SEO point of view? Duplicated content?

One solution is to make the forum not visible to search engines... However my personal opinion is- I don't really care what Google thinks, my main concern is making a forum my members want to visit- SEO is a secondary concern.

[8thos]

User experience > SEO

I took a lot of old threads from the forums I used to post on and re-posted them on my site.

Instead of SEO going down, it went up. SEO is pretty unpredictable at times, so you shouldn't always depend on it.

[mavherzog]

Originally Posted by AtomicAcidbath

Oh yes, this has wonderful possibilities.
Anyone remember FidoNet from the BBS days?

I've been wanting this for a LONG time.

Any progress on other platforms? (phpBB would be nice)

[mavherzog]

Anyone have technology forums that would like to have a general geek networked forum?

I run geekhack.org

[8thos]

Originally Posted by mavherzog

Anyone have technology forums that would like to have a general geek networked forum?

I run geekhack.org

I'll join it.

Do you have a network setup already?




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Hey BOP, can different networks share the same subforum or does a new subforum have to be created?