A quick peek at fora.com 's modified Xenforo community software

[Digital Doctor]

(1) INTRODUCTION to Fora.com community software

As discussed here in 2021, https://xenforo.com/community/threads/presale-question-fora-platform-including-xenforo.197555/ ...

Fora is software used by Verticalscope owned communities. Their stock ticker has fora in it.

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/FORA.TO/

It is a fairly customized version of Xenforo. I'm not sure of all the actual differences but let's review what it looks like vs. stock xenforo.

(from 2021) The Fora platform is a network of sites or a hosting service (not entirely clear) owned or managed by the company Vertical Scope. It is unclear what the availability of Fora is, what it consists of, or how to obtain it.

(from 2021) As Chris said, it's not totally clear. Vertical Scope buy up independet forums. They now use their own customised version of xenforo which is more or less exactly the same theme and templates across all their sites. It is (for obvious reasons) highly optimised for ads. I'm not sure if all their sites have been transferred to their customised xenforo platform, but it seems to be their plan to standardise them all.

The sites they buy often retain their own admins and mods as volunteers. However Verticalscope as owners set the main T & C and admin/mod permissions.

It is basically the same software, but their implementation appears quite simplified for users, quite a lot of the navigation items are reduced, the interface has been altered in some key repsects such as the text editor icons at the bottom instead of the top. User edit and report link at the top instead of the bottom.

(2) HOME PAGE / LANDING PAGE comparison
It is a fairly customized version of Xenforo. I'm not sure of all the actual differences but let's review what it looks like vs. stock xenforo

Spoiler: Stock Xenforo

Xenforo's landing page / home page is a plain list of subforums, and 25 characters of recent titles.

Fora (random demo site:

Acura World

A forum community dedicated to Honda Acura owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more! Open to all models including the Integra, RSX, RDX, and MDX

www.acuraworld.com

Spoiler: Fora.com site

I like the approach Fora has taken here. I like the prominent search bar. I like the full titles. The 2 images are ads, which are ACTUAL posts on the forum (if you click them they have forum URLs).

(3) Which parts of Xenforo do they have, what have they removed.

quick breakdown of what is under the hood.

Q - anyone know which marketplace addon they are using ?

Fora has added:
(1) Bob's Showcase Addon https://xenaddons.com/products/
(2) Xenforo's own Gallery
(3) Marketplace - not sure which one (likely a Xenforo addon).
(4) FAQ - the FAQ appears to a non stock element. It works quite well ... is it custom or an addon that is purchasable ?

Bob has 2 showcase addons ... not sure which one they use.

While trying to find out which Marketplace addon they use .... I noted their site while on a marketplace thread seemed to have alot of errors under the hood ?

EDIT - will be back later, heading out for the weekend !!

 

[Bob]

They also purchased a Corporate License from me for my Showcase Addon to use in their fora platform. Just like they heavily modified and stripped down XF, they did the same with Showcase, which their corporate license allows. Not a fan of what they did and are doing, but won't complain about how much I got paid to allow them to do it lol

 

[CedricV]

Gives me too much tapatalk vibes. Not a fan.

 

[James]

They also purchased a Corporate License from me for my Showcase Addon to use in their fora platform. Just like they heavily modified and stripped down XF, they did the same with Showcase, which their corporate license allows. Not a fan of what they did and are doing, but won't complain about how much I got paid to allow them to do it lol

Makes you wonder why they don't just hire a developer or 2 they clearly don't have many UX/UI requirements so just hire a dev and stop dismantling existing softwares!

 

[Ivancas]

They also purchased a Corporate License from me for my Showcase Addon to use in their fora platform.

How did you manage to agree on pricing? I mean, did you offer them a price taking into account how many forums the license was going to be used on?

 

[Bob]

How did you manage to agree on pricing? I mean, did you offer them a price taking into account how many forums the license was going to be used on?

Their legal team approached me and made me a very generous offer. Rob (Laidlaw) and I discussed all the fine details and came to an agreement that benefitted both of us. It was not a difficult business decision to make Not going to share any financials or any details about the license however, so please don't ask

 

[Old Nick]

Bob, answer! How many beer packs did you earn in this deal?

 

[CedricV]

Bob, answer! How many beer packs did you earn in this deal?

 

[MySiteGuy]

The FAQ appears to be the third party add-on written by @Painbaker and available at https://snogssite.com/resources/ozzmodz-frequently-asked-questions.256/

Great add-on.

 

[MattW]

Not going to share any financials or any details about the license however, so please don't ask

We won't, but I saw your new profile picture

 

[AjayJunkies]

Are you sure those 2 images are ads? They direct to the New Member Introductions board, which has a lot of spam.

 

[briansol]

The real takeaway from this... look at Acuraworld.

Other than the first 2 threads, the rest are spam or junk not related to acura's at all.
0 or 1replies.
left for dead.
0 care that the site even exists any more.

They don't give a **** about any community that they own. Vs/IB and perhaps a few other corporate entities with no love ruined forums as an industry. OF COURSE people these days prefer facebook/etc. I would too if this is what i keep finding...

 

[Digital Doctor]

look at Acuraworld.

I just picked it at random.

And you are right. It’s not doing well.

 

[TCG2007]

The only addon they use is s9 and an incredibly stripped down version of showcase, as mentioned. Everything else is likely developed in house.

 

[Opus X]

The real takeaway from this... look at Acuraworld.

the real takeaway is that sites owned by individuals will probably have more concern in the site itself.
sites tied to a large conglomerate are only out to make money.

 

[AjayJunkies]

the real takeaway is that sites owned by individuals will probably have more concern in the site itself.
sites tied to a large conglomerate are only out to make money.

Which would be okay if the sites were maintained. But these sites aren't being maintained with the bare minimum, which is sad.

 

[MySiteGuy]

the real takeaway is that sites owned by individuals will probably have more concern in the site itself.
sites tied to a large conglomerate are only out to make money.

It in this case, TAZ didn't die because of Vertical Scope.

In my opinion, TAZ died because the admin/mod staff ignored for a couple of years (IRRC) increasing instances and complaints of Invision's staff crapping on topics about Xenforo. Shortly after it began, Wolt's founder joined in the Xenforo shooting gallery. Towards the end, not a single topic about Xenforo could be made without them crapping on it.

It drove many away, most quietly, some more vocal like Tracy. And just like that, when the Xenforo posters all but stopped... Invision and Wolt no longer felt a need to post there.

 

[DarkGizmo]

It in this case, TAZ didn't die because of Vertical Scope.

In my opinion, TAZ died because the admin/mod staff ignored for a couple of years (IRRC) increasing instances and complaints of Invision's staff crapping on topics about Xenforo. Shortly after it began, Wolt's founder joined in the Xenforo shooting gallery. Towards the end, not a single topic about Xenforo could be made without them crapping on it.

It drove many away, most quietly, some more vocal like Tracy. And just like that, when the Xenforo posters all but stopped... Invision and Wolt no longer felt a need to post there.

Which is ironic since TAZ is powered BY Xenforo.

 

[zappaDPJ]

It in this case, TAZ didn't die because of Vertical Scope.

In my opinion, TAZ died because the admin/mod staff ignored for a couple of years (IRRC) increasing instances and complaints of Invision's staff crapping on topics about Xenforo. Shortly after it began, Wolt's founder joined in the Xenforo shooting gallery. Towards the end, not a single topic about Xenforo could be made without them crapping on it.

It drove many away, most quietly, some more vocal like Tracy. And just like that, when the Xenforo posters all but stopped... Invision and Wolt no longer felt a need to post there.

From a member point of view, I agree, that's how it appeared but from an admin/mod staff perspective that's not the case. The direction the forum took in terms of content and function during that time was entirely owner driven.

I suspect it was no coincidence that staff members like myself who would have acted on reported content lost the ability do so.

 

[AjayJunkies]

Shortly after it began, Wolt's founder joined in the Xenforo shooting gallery.

I always found Woltlab founded to be very well reasoned and measured in his thoughts. The reality is that both WBB and IPS had the same outlook in audience shift.

More for Xenforo to pick up