Over the past few months I have been asked about creating forum templates that match the Revolution themes - so I released some phpBB3 forum templates which can be downloaded for free.
With the development of BuddyPress kicking into gear, I realized how important it is that I start working within the framework of Automattic’s infratructure, and decided to start playing around with bbPress.
I began by checking out the theme that Matt Mullenweg coded, to understand how bbPress works - only to realize how simple the code and software actually is.
After a few late nights, I’m pretty happy to announce that it looks like Revolution bbPress themes will be released - one by one. Right now I’m in the middle of coding the Revolution Magazine bbPress theme, it should be released relatively soon.
Go ahead and take a look and let me know what you think - please understand that the Magazine forum theme isn’t done yet, as I’m working to include a few more functions!
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Great Job! =)
Very cool Brian, you never stop, do you.
Yeah, we definitely relate to that. LOL
We actually looked at BBPress when we were trying to decided on the forums software for the Dating, Love, & Sex Forums earlier this year, but it just didn’t make the cut compared to vBulletin.
If you’d only made a vBulletin Revolution skin!! That week spent trying to port our HEAVILY customized Revolution to vBulletin is thankfully a complete blur at this point, but… damn. It was quite a week.
By the way we’re extremely happy with our choice going with vBulletin - since we launched our forums a month ago vBulletin has been really, really great.
Have an awesome day!
Dan
You make great themes. Thanks a million.
Ner
Thanks!
Richard
Thanks, and you’re welcome!
Dan
I think you and Jennifer made the right choice in going with vBulletin. As much as I like bbPress, it’s not meant to handle a lot of options, etc and I think what you guys want to do with your forum would be way too robust for bbPress. As you know, sometimes it’s a pain to go through, but once you’re through it, you reap the rewards of a fantastic decision!
Brian,
Definitely. We launched the forums exactly one month ago and they’re an amazing success… growing by leaps and bounds every day.
And as I recall, it was you who urged us to launch the forums right away, it was something we were planning for later in the year.
Like you (on the Revolution front), we were getting dozens of questions every day - the Dating, Love, & Sex variety of course - and this makes it possible for everyone to get their answers fast and really foster a great community that supports one another. Great stuff indeed.
Have a good weekend and a great 4th!
Dan
Looking good! There definitely is a need for some good-looking bbpress themes. Most everything available now looks the same except for slight mods like color schemes, header graphics and such. The typography needs your help!
I’ll be interested in keeping an eye out for this one to become available!
Looks good Brian.
As you might expect, I’m going to once again take the opportunity to lobby for vBulletin skins; there is a lot of potential there if you position Revolution as a bridge between the WordSkill and vBulletin, a powerful combination.
Of course, you can’t do everything and I do agree that Automattic are moving in an interesting direction with BuddyPress, I can understand the attraction of focusing on their inhouse line-up, including BBpress.
Keep up the good work!
Brian - bbpress needed some lively new threads and I’m glad to see the Rev brand stretching its wings. It might make some of us who have been sitting on the sidelines reconsider a forum.
Now that WP-United (which “unites” WordPress and phpBB) is no longer updated, I really want to convert Tinig.com Forums to BBPress. Your new theme would have been perfect for that. However, there is currently no way to convert phpBB 3 to BBPress.
I volunteered to update my daughter’s K-8 school website and will likely use Rev News. My question, prompted by your post, is whether I should use phpBB for the forum and grab your existing skin, or wait for the bbPress skin. I’ve been following WP for about six months and feel relatively comfortable with that platform, but I’m not up to speed on forum applications. Which way should I go for an audience of grade school parents in LA (slightly sophisticated, but surprisingly backward =-D)?? phpBB or bbPress?
Tracy
Hard to say, but if it’s for a few parents here or there, I’d suggest bbPress - much easier on both ends. Yours and theirs.
It’s a small-ish school and there are more than a few techno-phobes, so I will happily take your advice and go the bbPress route.
Any thoughts on when the Rev News bbPress skin will be ready?
Thank you for weighing in on the bb issue!
This is awesome. I was just look to see if anyone made matching themes for WordPress and bbPress, as I just learn about and installed bbPress this week. I wasn’t finding much, so I decided to check to see if you had anything—and I stumble across this exciting news.
I’m looking forward to seeing you work. I may just have to buy one of your WordPress themes after all. None of the freebies have satisfied my desire for a clean, sharp-looking theme. I’d love to learn how to build one myself, but no time to take it up for now.
bbPress serves my need and I wouldn’t go with any other forum software (well, maybe punBB). Beside Revolution Magazine theme, are you working on integrating bbPress with other Revolution themes?
Fantastic news !
Its great to see you Brian looking at BBPress (taht is severely lacking some strong attracting points).
Will you release a Revolution Blog version ?
Luc
I’m getting ready to launch the school website mentioned above with the city theme. Any thoughts on when the bbpress skin will be ready?