Finally a release candidate for phpbb 3

[Peter]

After several years in the making phpBB have finally released a release candidate for phpBB 3

Hello,

We are very pleased to announce the availability of the phpBB3 RC1
package. This is the first release candidate which is meant to become
the Gold release if no more bugs or problems arise. Of course there
may be more than one release candidate.

With this release we will give full support, allow uploading language
packs as well as modifications and styles. Please note that during the
first few weeks support questions may not be answered as fast as with
the 2.0.x line. We also only give support to those having a clean RC1
installation, previous conversions or updates *will not be supported*.
We encourage only those running the release candidate wanting to test
out the new version, it is still recommended to wait for the full
release; after all this is a release *candidate*.

To re-iterate the support guidelines, we won't support the following
installation types:

- Updates from phpBB3 Beta versions to phpBB3 RC1 and higher

- Conversions from phpBB 2.0.x to phpBB3 Beta versions

- phpBB3 Beta installations

We give support for the following installation types:

- Updates from phpBB3 RC1 to any higher version (not relevant at the
moment)

- Conversions from phpBB 2.0.x to phpBB3 RC1 and higher

- New installations of phpBB3 RC1 and higher[/list]

For all those not needing support and want to take the risks... the
database update file is present, though we were not able to provide a
full update path due to the style and database changes. If you are
running on mysql 4.0.3 or less you should completely re-install,
because the complete schema changed for these versions.

A short explanation of how to do a conversion is included within the
provided INSTALL.html file, please be sure to read it.

Conversions from 2.0.x to phpBB3 RC1 may be problematic, depending on
your setup and the amount of MODs you installed. If you want to be on
the safe side we suggest still waiting for later releases before you
fully convert your 2.0.x installation.

*Changes since Beta5*

Bug statistics for the timeframe between the Beta5 release and now:

http://www.phpbb.com/bugs/phpbb3/statistics.php?open_start=2007-01-28&end=-1

Bug statistics for the beta releases up till now:

http://www.phpbb.com/bugs/phpbb3/statistics.php?version_id=25,26,27,28,29,30&start=-1&end=-1

*Minimum Requirements*

phpBB3 has a few requirements which must be met before you are able
to install and use it.

- A webserver or web hosting account running on any major Operating
System with support for PHP

- A SQL database system, one of:

- MySQL 3.23 or above (MySQLi supported)

- PostgreSQL 7.3+

- SQLite 2.8.2+

- Firebird 2.0+

- MS SQL Server 2000 or above (directly or via ODBC)

- Oracle

- PHP 4.3.3+ (>=4.3.3, >4.4.x, >5.x.x, >6.0-dev (compatible)) with
support for the database you intend to use.

- getimagesize() function need to be enabled

- These optional presence of the following modules within PHP will
provide access to additional features, but they are not required.

- zlib Compression support

- Remote FTP support

- XML support

- Imagemagick support

- GD Support

The presence of each of these optional modules will be checked during
the installation process.

*Security*

Security issues found should be reported to our security tracker in
the ussual way, located at:

http://www.phpbb.com/bugs/security/

*Available packages*

With this release, there is one package available.

- Full Package: Contains entire phpBB3 source and english language
files.

*Please ensure you read the INSTALL and README documents in docs/
before proceeding with installation, updates or conversions!*

*Download/Documentation*

phpBB Downloads: http://www.phpbb.com/downloads/

phpBB3 development section: http://www.phpbb.com/development/

phpBB3 Documentation: http://www.phpbb.com/support/documentation/3.0/

phpBB3 support forum: http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=46

phpBB3 bug tracker: http://www.phpbb.com/bugs/phpbb3/

phpBB3 Coding Guidelines:
http://area51.phpbb.com/docs/coding-guidelines.html

phpBB3 Sourcecode Documentation: http://area51.phpbb.com/docs/code/

The original announcement is located at:

http://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=543015

Have fun with the release,

If you are planning on testing this DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE IT AS A LIVE FORUM. This is a release candidate and as such is meant for finding bugs etc. Before release most software go through about 3 release candidates before they are released and considered stable.

Hopefully this will be less bug prone than the previous versions.

 

[Barrucadu]

FINALLY!

Though upgrading will be a pain. I'll probably just stick with 2.2.x because I know the code relatively well, and i've made a few mods for my forums.

 

[Static]

Just saw it too. It's about time that we get a good free forum software.

 

[Matthew.]

Just saw it too. It's about time that we get a good free forum software.

Obviously not heard about SMF or MyBB

--------------------------

Having said that, phpBB is looking nice now-a-days, i have yet to try or be a member of a forum using phpbb3 however there is no denying there is an improvement GUI wise from just what i can see.

Pete, while i agree with your advice partially, Release Candidates are used to fix smaller issues that have not come to light during beta stages (beta is actually the stage used for most bug finding/fixing).

Matt

 

[Peter]

Pete, while i agree with your advice partially, Release Candidates are used to fix smaller issues that have not come to light during beta stages (beta is actually the stage used for most bug finding/fixing).

Matt

Yes that is generally the case but phpBB have not exactly got the best track record, also phpBB themselves advise not to run this as a standard install:-

We encourage only those running the release candidate wanting to test
out the new version, it is still recommended to wait for the full
release; after all this is a release *candidate*.

 

[Matthew.]

Yes that is generally the case but phpBB have not exactly got the best track record, also phpBB themselves advise not to run this as a standard install:-

Absolutely, on second thoughts considering phpbb's history lol. phpBB would be partly saying that just to cover themselves. Proceed with caution perhaps being a good message :D

Matt