VB4.2 V VB5.2

[Mark.B]

For new sites I actually do recommend vB5, UNLESS you are looking to have a heavily modified site, in which case it needs to be vB4.

There are not that many 'major' add-ons for vB5, though the number of 'mini-mods' is slowly increasing. It won't ever reach the levels of vB4 though, mainly because it's much harder to modify.

Also remember that some external stuff in vB4 is gradually breaking - notably Facebook integration, because Facebook move the goalposts every few months and vB4 is no longer being updated with those kind of changes. I fully expect PayPal might end up the same way at some point, if it hasn't already (I don't use PayPal so can't be sure). There's also some minor niggles with the editor in some browsers but that can be worked round quite easily.

[Master Of Unive]

Over three years and there is nothing.

[In Omnibus]

I've always been of the mindset that the default core software needs to serve the intended purpose. Purchasing software because of third party modifications is asking for trouble. Once a developer moves on from supporting a product you are stuck with any of the risks inherent to outdated software, including but not limited to script errors and security risks.

Don't get me wrong. I like some of the add ons and modifications a great deal. But I could strip every damn one of them from every site I own and still function perfectly well. Bells and whistles don't keep members around unless that's all a site has to offer. If that is the case they aren't around long.

I've been doing this for twenty-five years and, in my experience, the forums that last are those with substance over style. vB5 allows compete customization of the substance of a site without the time-consuming development of manual custom pages. If I were starting from scratch that would be my choice. If I were working with an existing site I would advise members not to get too comfortable with outdated software. vB4 is almost seven years old. That's an eternity in software development.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Mark.B

For new sites I actually do recommend vB5, UNLESS you are looking to have a heavily modified site, in which case it needs to be vB4.

There are not that many 'major' add-ons for vB5, though the number of 'mini-mods' is slowly increasing. It won't ever reach the levels of vB4 though, mainly because it's much harder to modify.

Also remember that some external stuff in vB4 is gradually breaking - notably Facebook integration, because Facebook move the goalposts every few months and vB4 is no longer being updated with those kind of changes. I fully expect PayPal might end up the same way at some point, if it hasn't already (I don't use PayPal so can't be sure). There's also some minor niggles with the editor in some browsers but that can be worked round quite easily.

That's when modders take over and update it themselves. :^)

[Big Kahuna]

Biggest mistake I made was upgrading to VB5

Lost members I've had for fifteen years and the addon development actually sux. I personally like 5 better the 4, but it became a yawner for its lack of features to the members. Once active boards are virtually dead.

Looks like there will be three licenses for sale cheap in near future.

[Mark.B]

Originally Posted by Big Kahuna

Biggest mistake I made was upgrading to VB5

Lost members I've had for fifteen years and the addon development actually sux. I personally like 5 better the 4, but it became a yawner for its lack of features to the members. Once active boards are virtually dead.

Looks like there will be three licenses for sale cheap in near future.

This illustrates why the key to any major uograde on any site is to ask this question:

"Why do I want to upgrade?"

If the answer is "to get the latest version", then that is the wrong answer.

Any upgrade should involve an evaluation of the features your site needs, and then an investigation into whether those features are present or available as addons in the version you want to upgrade to.

If you just rush in and upgrade then you risk ending up in the situation you find yourself in.

And indeed, the same applies to switching software. If you don't scope it out properly, you'll get bitten. That is not the fault of the software. Sorry to sound harsh but it is a reality.

[keyla31]

Bottom line for me is that people can not attach photos on mobile devices on any version except 5 unless using an outside app so I'm sticking to vb5, I had vb install it for 150 bucks its darn near perfection as far as functioning properly thou there is a few little tweaks that need to be addressed in permissions

[migratoria]

If the developers had taken as an example wordpress for the updates and the plugins all problems be solved.

[Paul M]

Huh ?

[migratoria]

Sorry paul for my bad english.. I use google for more phrases..

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You have to take as an example wordpress.
Updates are never a problem and the plugin always work.
All develop wordpress

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bbPress for example is the wordpress forum. There are many plugins for it.
If wordpress or bbpress plugins it's upgrades, the forum and the plugin are always compatible whit wordpress and developers make only tweaks

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Basically .. vb5 must be compatible with the vb4 plugin. if that is not possible, authors should develop VB6 and abandon vb5 otherwise vbulletin disappear shortly