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VBulletin
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| vBulletin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | MH Sub I, LLC d/b/a vBulletin |
| Initial release | 2000 |
| Stable release | 6.1.1[1] 
/ 26 March 2025; 10 months ago |
| Written in | PHP |
| Platform | PHP, MySQL |
| Type | Forum software |
| License | Commercial proprietary software[2] |
| Website | vbulletin |
vBulletin is a proprietary Internet forum software package sold by MH Sub I, LLC doing business as vBulletin (formerly Jelsoft Enterprises and vBulletin Solutions). It is written in PHP and uses a MariaDB or MySQL database server.[3] Similar products include XenForo, WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, MyBB, and phpBB.
History
[edit]vBulletin was first launched in 2000 by James Limm and John Percival. Its successor, vBulletin 2, was released in 2001. A third version was launched in 2004.
Internet Brands acquired the product from JelSoft in 2007.[4]
vBulletin 4 was released in late 2009. The StyleVars system was added to draw CSS variables directly from the vBulletin Template code.[5] [unreliable source?]
In July 2010, the BBC reported that there was a serious flaw in vBulletin software that allows anyone to easily access the database username and password.[6]
In October 2010, Internet Brands sued three former employees, just as their new competing software XenForo was to be launched,[4] as well as a second lawsuit in the United States claiming breach of contract, copyright infringement, and misappropriation of trade secrets.[7] In May 2011 it was announced that vBulletin had abandoned an attempt at preventing XenForo doing business,[8] and in 2013 the claims were dismissed.
vBulletin 5 was released in 2012.
In late 2017, a post by Technical Support Lead, Wayne Luke, confirmed that vBulletin 3 and vBulletin 4 were now considered to be "End of Life" software, with no further development of the series planned.[9][10][11]
On 22 August 2023, vBulletin 6 was announced.[12]
On 18 September 2023, Wayne Luke confirmed that the previously-community run modifications website, vBulletin.org, would be sunsetted and shut down on 24 August 2024; modification creators were advised to post their content on the main vbulletin.com website via the Social Groups feature, or to host them via other means.[13]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "vBulletin 6.1.1 is now available". 26 March 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ "Software License Agreement for Downloaded Version". vBulletin. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "vBulletin System Requirements". vBulletin Community Forum. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
- ^ a b Metz, Cade. "vBulletin sues ex-devs over 'from scratch' competitor". The Register. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "vBulletin Skins". TalkTemplate.com. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ^ Fildes, Jonathan (2010-07-22). "BBC News". British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
- ^ Metz, Cade (2010-11-04). "Forumware giant vBulletin sues ex-devs (again)". The Register. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ^ Metz, Cade. "vBulletin abandons bid for injunction against ex-devs". The Register. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ Fildes, Jonathan (2017-12-28). "vBulletin 3.X End of Life". vBulletin. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
- ^ Goodin, Dan (September 25, 2019). "High-severity vulnerability in vBulletin is being actively exploited". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
- ^ "vBulletin 4.X Publishing Suite End of Life". vBulletin Community Forum. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Announcing the launch of vBulletin 6.0.0". vBulletin Community Forum. 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
- ^ "Home". Archived from the original on 2024-08-02.
VBulletin
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Introduction
Overview
vBulletin is a proprietary PHP-based forum software designed for building and managing online communities, utilizing MySQL or MariaDB databases to store and retrieve data.[14] First released in 2000, it enables website owners to create structured platforms for user interaction.[3] The software targets use cases such as discussion forums, blogs, and social groups, providing tools for moderated conversations and community engagement on websites.[9] Its primary competitors include XenForo, phpBB, and Discourse, which offer similar forum functionalities with varying open-source and proprietary models.[15] As of November 2025, the stable release is vBulletin 6.1.5, focusing on modern community building with enhanced social and mobile features.[16] During its peak in the 2000s, vBulletin powered thousands of sites worldwide, and it remains in use by niche communities today, supporting over 65,000 live installations.[17] The official website is https://www.vbulletin.com/.[9]Technical Foundation
vBulletin is developed primarily in PHP, with version 6 requiring PHP 8.1.0 or higher for compatibility and performance. It uses MariaDB 10.4.0 or MySQL 5.7.10 as its relational database backend to manage user data, content, and configurations.[16] The software's system requirements include a compatible web server such as Apache, Nginx, or Microsoft IIS, with Linux distributions preferred for stability and efficiency. While exact hardware minima vary by community size, installations typically need at least 100 MB of disk space, 1 GB of RAM, and a multi-core CPU to handle concurrent users effectively.[18][19] At its core, vBulletin employs a Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture to distinctly separate data handling, user interface rendering, and request processing. This modular templating system combines XHTML fragments embedded with PHP variables to generate pages, augmented by StyleVars—a mechanism that defines CSS-like variables for themes, allowing administrators to adjust colors, fonts, and layouts dynamically without altering underlying code. Real-time interactions are facilitated through AJAX components for asynchronous updates, such as inline editing or notifications, while a built-in WYSIWYG editor supports formatted content creation using HTML5-compatible tools.[20][21][22] Deployment occurs via self-hosting, where administrators download the software package, upload files to the web server directory, and execute the installation script (install.php) to initialize the setup. This process prompts for database creation or selection, populating necessary tables for forums, users, and permissions, followed by editing the core config.php file to input database host, username, password, and other site-specific parameters like technical email addresses.[23] User posts, threads, and permissions follow a straightforward data flow: incoming requests are routed through PHP controllers that query the database to verify user authentication and group-based access rights from tables like 'usergroup'; approved actions then insert or retrieve data from specialized tables—such as 'post' for individual messages and 'thread' for discussion containers—ensuring content persistence and retrieval efficiency via indexed queries.[24]History
Founding and Early Development
vBulletin originated from the efforts of James E. Limm and John Percival, who founded Jelsoft Enterprises Limited in 2000 as a UK-based company dedicated to developing forum software.[25] Recognizing the demand for a more robust solution to flat-file systems like UBB.threads, they transitioned to a full forum system, releasing vBulletin 1.0 in 2000 as a paid, PHP- and MySQL-based successor, marking Jelsoft's entry into commercial software development.[3] The early development emphasized building a reliable alternative to flat-file systems like UBB, with vBulletin 2 launching in 2001 to introduce core advancements such as threaded discussion views and customizable user profiles.[3] This version also pioneered user-friendly features like BBCode for rich text formatting and the ability to upload personal avatars, setting vBulletin apart by enabling more engaging and personalized community interactions without requiring advanced technical skills.[3] Jelsoft's approach prioritized accessibility for non-technical administrators and users, incorporating rapid iterations driven by direct feedback from the burgeoning vBulletin.org support community, which served as a key testing ground for improvements.[3] Throughout the early 2000s, vBulletin experienced rapid growth, becoming a preferred choice for online forums in gaming and technology sectors due to its stability and feature set.[26] By 2005, it had achieved widespread adoption among major sites, solidifying its position as a dominant platform for community building before subsequent ownership transitions.[3]Ownership Changes
In July 2007, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited, the original developer of vBulletin, was acquired by Internet Brands, Inc. for an undisclosed amount, integrating the forum software into the company's portfolio of online media and community platforms.[6] Internet Brands itself underwent several ownership transitions in the following years. In December 2010, the company was taken private through an acquisition by investment funds managed by Hellman & Friedman LLC for approximately $640 million. This deal marked a shift toward private equity oversight, with vBulletin continuing as a key asset in Internet Brands' digital properties. In June 2014, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR) acquired Internet Brands from Hellman & Friedman for $1.1 billion, partnering with the company's management to support ongoing operations and growth. KKR retained majority ownership through subsequent developments, including a 2022 recapitalization valued at over $12 billion, which involved continued investment from KKR and Temasek alongside a minority stake led by Warburg Pincus.[27] By the late 2010s, vBulletin operations had transitioned under MH Sub I, LLC, doing business as vBulletin, a Delaware limited liability company and subsidiary of Internet Brands based in El Segundo, California.[8] This entity handles licensing, support, and development, with no further major ownership changes reported as of 2025.[28] The corporate integrations following the 2007 acquisition shifted vBulletin from an independent development model to one embedded within a larger media conglomerate, influencing resource allocation and update cadences during the vBulletin 4 and 5 eras. Under the current structure, efforts have emphasized modernization, culminating in the release of vBulletin 6 in August 2023.[29] Key events tied to ownership include 2010 legal proceedings initiated by Internet Brands against former Jelsoft employees over intellectual property, which briefly disrupted community relations but did not alter corporate control. Additionally, vBulletin.org—the community-driven site for modifications and add-ons—was managed under Internet Brands' oversight until its shutdown announcement in September 2023, with operations ceasing in August 2024 to consolidate resources on the official platform.[30]Major Releases and Milestones
vBulletin 3, released in March 2004 as its gold version, represented a major overhaul from prior iterations, featuring enhanced performance optimizations and the introduction of AJAX-based previews for quicker user interactions without full page reloads.[31][32] This version solidified vBulletin's position in the forum software market by improving scalability for larger communities. Its end-of-life was declared in late December 2017, after which no further updates or security patches were provided.[33] vBulletin 4 launched on December 21, 2009, introducing the StyleVars system for streamlined CSS management directly within templates and support for mobile themes to better accommodate emerging mobile browsing trends.[34][35] These additions aimed to simplify customization while enhancing cross-device compatibility. Like its predecessor, vBulletin 4 reached end-of-life in late December 2017, ceasing all development and support.[33] vBulletin 5, initially released in beta form on September 12, 2012, and fully launched in early 2013 as vBulletin Connect, integrated CMS capabilities for broader site management alongside enhanced social features such as improved group interactions and content sharing tools.[36][37] This version extended support for legacy users through the v6 transition, with security patches available until August 31, 2024.[38] On August 22, 2023, vBulletin Solutions announced and launched vBulletin 6, a significant evolution emphasizing the Site Builder for drag-and-drop page creation and real-time updates for dynamic content delivery, such as live thread counters.[10][12][20] The platform reached version 6.1.5 as of November 3, 2025, incorporating further refinements including security enhancements and performance improvements for smoother deployment.[16] To assist legacy users, official upgrader tools and documentation facilitate migrations from versions 3, 4, and 5, ensuring data integrity during transitions.[39] Key milestones post-vBulletin 3 include the September 2023 announcement of vBulletin.org's shutdown— the long-standing community modifications site—effective August 24, 2024, prompting developers to relocate resources to the official forum.[30] Subsequent vBulletin 6 updates after 2023 have prioritized SEO enhancements like improved meta tagging, mobile optimization for responsive design, and content syndication options via RSS and API integrations to boost discoverability and cross-platform sharing.[9]Features and Functionality
Core Community Tools
vBulletin provides a robust forum structure that supports an unlimited hierarchy of forums and sub-forums, allowing administrators to organize discussions into categories, normal forums for posting, sub-forums, link forums to external content, and archive forums for older threads.[1][40] Private forums and channels, such as those for private messages, ensure controlled access to sensitive discussions.[1] Users can subscribe to forums or individual threads via email notifications or RSS feeds for updates on new posts.[1] User engagement is facilitated through extensible profiles that include custom fields, photos, and displays of birthdays, with options for friends lists in profile blocks.[1] Private messaging supports tracking, custom folders, and secure communication, integrated into a central hub.[1] Polls enable interactive voting within threads, with configurable time limits and editing permissions for moderators.[1] Multi-tier moderation includes unlimited moderators, super moderators, and administrators, with tools like moderation queues, post reporting, and granular permissions per user group.[1] Content posting incorporates BBCode for formatting, limited HTML support, smilies for expressions, and avatars for user identification, all editable via a WYSIWYG or standard editor with preview functionality.[1] Attachments allow uploads of photos and videos in various formats, with configurable limits (default of 5 attachments per post); vBulletin 6 supports additional media types for richer integration.[1][41] Group features encompass member groups with customizable permissions for access and actions, alongside social groups as dedicated channels that support owners, moderators, subscribers, and private settings.[1][40] Blogs function as user-owned channels with categories, draft saving, comment moderation, and integration into the overall templating system.[1][40] As of vBulletin 6.1.0 (January 2025), users can bookmark individual posts via an icon, accessible from their profile, and collapse forum categories for personalized navigation (stored locally, with admin-set defaults).[11] Real-time interaction is supported by an AJAX-based chat system featuring rich text input, image and emoticon sharing, and multi-window or multi-participant sessions.[1]Customization and Integration Options
vBulletin's templating system allows administrators to modify the presentation layer through editable HTML templates, which support conditional logic using tags such as<if> and <else> to dynamically control content display based on user permissions, forum settings, or other variables. Templates inherit from parent styles, enabling multiple style variations where child styles can override specific elements without affecting the base design, and changes are tracked with color-coded indicators for unmodified, parent-modified, or locally customized templates.[42] In vBulletin 6, the drag-and-drop Site Builder further enhances customization by allowing users to assemble pages using pre-built modules and layouts without coding, supporting the creation of custom interfaces for forums, blogs, or external content sections.
Permissions in vBulletin provide granular control through user groups and roles, where administrators can define access levels for actions like posting, editing, or moderating on a per-forum basis, with options to create unlimited custom user groups that inherit or override default settings.[43] This system includes global ignore features, enabling users to block content from specific individuals or groups site-wide, reducing unwanted interactions across all forums and channels.[44] Custom roles extend this flexibility, allowing tailored permissions for specialized users such as event organizers or content approvers, distinct from core community tools like standard posting rights.
Integrations in vBulletin facilitate connectivity with external services, including RSS, Atom, and XML syndication for exporting forum threads, announcements, and user content to other platforms or aggregators, configurable via the External Data Provider settings with options for cache duration and format selection.[45] Anti-spam protection integrates with Akismet through API keys, automatically filtering guest posts and registrations against WordPress's spam database to prevent automated abuse.[46] The third-party developer ecosystem supports extensions via PHP-based plugins and hooks, enabling additions like custom fields or analytics tools, though compatibility requires adherence to vBulletin's core standards.[47]
Specific to vBulletin 6, custom modules within Site Builder allow for enhanced content discovery, such as activity streams or search widgets that surface relevant discussions and user contributions dynamically. As of vBulletin 6.1.0, a natural language processing (NLP)-based related topics feature displays suggested content, configurable in the AdminCP.[48][11] API hooks provide endpoints for integrating external applications, supporting data exchange for single sign-on, analytics, or e-commerce tie-ins while maintaining security through authentication.[20] Mobile and SEO optimizations include responsive themes that adapt to device screens and built-in meta tag management for improved search engine indexing, ensuring better visibility without additional plugins.
Extension methods in vBulletin emphasize a plugin architecture that, while robust in legacy versions for direct code modifications, is more limited in v6 to prioritize stability, relying instead on template hooks and Site Builder for most customizations.[47] Theme imports are handled via XML files uploaded through the AdminCP, allowing seamless migration of styles from compatible sources while automatically resolving conflicts during upgrades.