Creating a Free Forum Host

[Matthew]

Hey,

I'm a PHP newbie and have decided on a project to increase my knowledge of PHP, I know echos, can do a VERY simple function and that sort of stuff. I usually learn by editing scripts other people have made and changing it to suit my needs. The project I've decided on is to create a free forum host, the forum software will be IPB V1.3 (yes it's legal).

What will happen, is a user will come to my site and click register, they'll choose a forum name and enter their general details. Their forum url will be http://mydomain.com/forumname. So, I personally think that it would be best to have a blank default forum setup on my domain which people don't know about and a script to copy the files to a directory (their chosen forum name). This script would also create the SQL tables to make the forum work, however then it would have to be their details for the main admin login.

As I'm a newbie, I've no idea how to do this. If someone wants to help, and by help I mean create the scripts for me then go ahead, I'll use them and learn from them. Otherwise, please help me to do it in other ways. By the way, I'm not sure this is the best way to do it, it just seems the logical way. If you have ANY other suggestions or feedback then please let me know.

Thanks

[Matthew]

Ok, thanks. I'll take a look at php.net.

[mburt]

Well... I made my own forum with PHP (not the greatest, I might add):

http://www.mikeburt.net/forum

[BLiZZaRD]

Well... I made my own forum with PHP (not the greatest, I might add):

Yes, but you're an over-achiever!

[mburt]

Haha... But yeah, (to the OP) you can download it if you want, and take a look at the code.

[Matthew]

Thanks, am I allowed to modify the code and use the actual forum for my host? I'll of course give credit and a link to your website.