A modernized distribution of Invision Power Board 1.3, fully patched for PHP 8.x and MariaDB compatibility. This project preserves the classic, lightweight «pre-bloat» UI of the early 2000s while ensuring it runs securely and efficiently on modern server stacks.

Key Features

• PHP 8.x Ready: Comprehensive patches for legacy code to eliminate deprecated function errors and syntax issues.
• MySQLi Implementation: Replaced the legacy mysql driver with mysqli for modern database connectivity.
• MariaDB Support: Optimized for MariaDB and MySQL 8+ environments using utf8mb4 encoding by default.
• Slim Installer: A streamlined sm_install.php that handles environment checks, mysqli configuration, and admin setup.
• Performance Focused: Maintained the original lightweight footprint with native CSS and minimal JavaScript dependencies.

Modern Enhancements

• IBF Portal 4.0: Fully integrated portal system to transform your forum into a community hub.
• TinyMCE Integration: Replaced the legacy posting interface with a modernized TinyMCE editor for a better rich-text experience.
• HTML Purifier: Integrated a modernized standalone security engine to protect against XSS and fix broken HTML tags.
• Security Patches: Fixed legacy issues with search result insertions and anti-spam image generation.

Installation

1. Database: Create a new database and import the provided SQL dump via phpMyAdmin or Adminer.
2. Upload: Upload the repository files to your web directory.
3. Configure: Run sm_install.php in your browser.
4. Security: Once the conf_global.php is generated, delete sm_install.php from your server immediately.

UI/UX Philosophy

This project stays true to the «classic» aesthetic. We prioritize the original Invision Power Board 1.3 layout over «modern» social-media-style interfaces, ensuring the board remains fast, familiar, and highly customizable.

GitHub: https://github.com/madromas/IPB-1.3-PHP8-Modernized

Developed & Maintained for the Modern Web.