boastMachine

Author: Robert

I have installed hundreds of PHP/MySQL scripts in the past, and this is one of the most difficult ones I have ever tried to install. Yes, that's correct, "tried" to install. The description of the script states that it works on "windows", but doesn't give you any directions on how to set file permissions in windows. this isn't a problem for me, but it is a problem for people not familiar with it. there are also no directions for a manual install. most of the good scripts out there don't need anymore than a few connection parameters in a "config" page, and a mysql database to get going. after about 4 hours of trying to configure this, browsing their childish forums, and reinstalling it several times, I have decided to throw in my towel. i am sure this is a great script, if you can actually get it working without errors.

Author: May

The author and all the team are too childish. Criticisms and bad comment are deleted from the forum, to be sure to make good impression. They use too much superlative about their script which is ok and not the best of the world like according to the author or the staff (only?). This script isn't (unlike they claim): The most used script over the world, the best script, the simpliest script (sure not!!), and much more... I should have read jpotter's comment before using this one. Now I realized my mistake, I need to translate my SQL base for another blog script.

Author: Vishnu

Yea really its very cool. I havnt seen such an outstanding script and that too under GPL. I strongly recommend this for not only beginners but also to the professionals. Its very user friendly. You can even create your own Theme for your bMachine. You will never get such a blog from any other site.

Author: A7

I've tried at least 8 different blog systems, and I found this one to be the best by far. As of current 3.1 release, it has a great list of features. Previous comments are not quite accurate. If you know anything about MySQL databases, the install is incredibly simple. Took me under 10 minutes to have it running. Also, 777 permissions are NOT required on the entire directory to run this blog. Only a few specific files and subdirectories. (Unfortunately, not documented well, so found by trial and error. Not that hard.) The best part about this blog system? It is HIGHLY customizable. If you know PHP and CSS, you can modify virtually ANYTHING, from moving the login box anywhere on the page, to easily creating your own themes (as it has support for multiple blogs). If you are looking to custom build your own blogging system, this creates a great base to build off of. With a few more features and tweeks, it could potentially be the best blog system out there.

Author: Astav Sacheti

One of the greatest blogging scripts out there...Kailash is doing a wonderful job with boastMachine...It has a lot of features...and most of them are ones that SHOULD be there in a blog and some of them are "added" on features...stuff that you dont find in other blog scripts but is definately a big plus...I have tried two other blogging scripts before i switched to boastMachine and its been about a year now...with great support and a great team put together by kailash...

Author: mykkal mckoy

It's amazing this whole program is basically being designed by one person who recently got the help of other users in the developing community. The message board support is really good and the author makes himself available to answer questions, fix bugs, etc... The author adds need functions to the program all the time. And patches and new versions are released regularly. At the moment boastmachine is in it's infancy. Still it does compete with mainstream "pay for use" applications. And with it's forum mods and gallery mods will probably soon outshine them all.

Author: Tricia Meyer

I have been looking on Hotscrips for months to find a blog that suited my needs. I had unsuccessfully tried a couple of others. After looking at the extensive support forum that boastMachine had, I decided to give it a shot. It is fantastic! I was able to install it on the first try using the documentation, and I have very little php experience. I was also able to integrate it into my site to such an extent that you cannot even tell that I am running a separate script from the rest of my Frontpage html files. I love it!

Author: Oreb Nightchough

I installed and had this set up. I liked the interface and it was reasonably easy to work with. But I never could get comfortable with having to give full '777' permission to its root directory which, in my case, was my domain's root directory. I tried it without the permission but it wouldn't install. So I decided to pass on it. If that one thing were changed, I'd be using it and recommending it. If you want a blog in a subdirectory, this one's surely worth a shot!

Author:

BoastMachine is an outstanding feature-packed script. I have very little experience working with PHP and databases, but it took me less than half an hour to download the script and have it up and running on my site. The documentation is more than adequate for anyone with very basic knowledge to successfully install the script and there seems to be sufficient support on the programmer's website. The key point here is that if I can do it, anybody can. I was amazed that the programmer of this excellent script is a high school student. Certainly, when it comes to support issues, some allowances need to be made for someone balancing school work with script development. After all, the script is free and the documentation is good. Highly recommended!

Author: Paula Duggan

This is a nice little blog with straight forward features. I was encouraged that in the directions they say it takes less then ten minutes to install. It actually took me about four hours and my server support to set up the script. The directions entirely skip over the MySql part assuming that every webmaster knows how to set the MySql settings. My server admin helped me out with this, but it wasn’t obvious from my Cpanel or the directions what I should enter into the install fields. Also if you don’t know about setting permissions this script could be difficult. The directions neglect to tell you at all that the folder blog has to be set to 777, but if it isn’t the script won’t set up. I finally had the script up and working great for myself so I tried to make my friend a blog. The blog was created okay, but would not let anyone post to it, returning an error. The admin portion is a bit hard to navigate, I found myself relying on the back button to move around in it. The blog looks nice and it does what it says, it's a lean straightforward blog. I like the calendar display, the login on the side bar,and design. It would work well with article publishing and a single person blog who gets feedback.

Author: Marcos Della

I have been playing with the scripts since 2.9 all the way through the betas to the recient 3.0 release. This is a very functional script that is intended specifically for a single user doing a blog on their system. There are some features that allow other users to access the same blogging system, but does not include real user access/seperation yet. As of v3.0, the code has been released under the GPL. Prior to 3.0 it was written and maintained by a single contributor (Kailash) and has reciently had efforts by several users of the scripts to set up a CVS system, begin the workings of a support group. Documentation is currently extremely lacking, but there is a huge following of users that do their best to help as a wiki is set up to answer these and many more questions. Overall, a very good start for a simple set of scripts to create your own Blog. Needs lots of polishing (several other programmers have already done quite a bit even with the 3.0 release) but definately has a bright and positive future! Marcos

Author: John P

The script is ok, but the support is horrible. The moderators are useless and they make excuses that it is free and it's under GPL what do you expect excuse. The moderators delete negative posts and this is fact, so it looks like they never have any negative posts. If you look at the posts they go unanswered, because most of the times no one knows the answer, this includes the so called actual creator of the script. The moderators make fun of the users my calling them "NO OBS" just because they can not install the script.. They are very childish in everyway. If you offer a free script you should expect allot comments and be prepared to answer those questions. These guys make up more excuses than any other forum I have ever seen. I've never been to forum where the moderators would delete the posts , to make it look like there are never any real complaints., until I became a forum member here. This script is just ok and you should really think about it before you start using this script. The name of the script is about all it can boast about. If you like your posts deleted and if you need help with the script be prepared to wait weeks and weeks just to get an answer I don't know. There are to many other blog systems that provide much better support and a better script after looking at the code. I should have investigated more before I even used this script, I made a big mistake.

Author:

Don't limit yourself to just a blog; this is a highly configurable set of scripts. I've modified it to act as a "sermons and stories" listing where people click on titles and see the entire story. Blog, news listings, magazine articles, personal stories, or anything like these--this is what you need!