Close to 6 years after the release of phpBB 2.0, we are given a new version which includes an enormous number of new features, tightened security, extensive bug fixes, optimisation for mobile devices and search engines, and remains free under the GPL.
You can view the feature changes from 2.0 to 3.0 here. Most notable changes include the removal of MS Access for data storage (who would want that anyway!), syntax highlighting, a lot of security improvement, caching, also a lot of user-centered features.
If the default phpBB 3.0 package contains all the features you need, go ahead. The biggest features missing is plugins or add-ons, whatever you want to call it. You still have the ability to add MOD’s, which are basically hacks to your phpBB codebase. I don’t mind hacking some code and getting my hands dirty, but every time there’s an upgrade, you get into trouble. You need re-apply all the MODs your site relies on.
In all, I think phpBB 3.0 is quite a nice package to replace the famous, but leaky phpBB 2.0 forum tool, but it just isn’t quite there yet. My recommendation would, at this moment be Vanilla. If you have any other kick-ass forum solution, feel free to drop a comment here.
