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Simple Machines Forum 299
Modifications
SMF has a modification base repository for free modification hosting and tracking via the Simple Machines main
site. Many modifications, or "mods" as they are usually called, have been created and distributed free of charge,
including an arcade, Helpdesk, profile additions, gallery, spam filter, various SEO features, and many more. Before
being listed on the SMF Mods site, the mod is validated by the SMF Team, to ensure that it complies with the SMF
Coding Guidelines.
The Package Manager included in SMF is one of the flagship features. It allows an administrator to install
modifications and updates to SMF without having to modify the code of the script, usually with only a few mouse
clicks.
The SMF team
The Simple Machines team includes developers, customization, documentation, internalization, marketing, and
management divisions. The SMF support staff and users provide free support on the official community forums.
Their duties include helping forum owners with troubleshooting and optimization.
Charter Members
People who wish to support Simple Machines with a donation of 49.95 USD yearly are rewarded with a Charter
Membership. This grants access to a hidden section on the forum and advanced beta versions to test before they go
public. Advanced support for SMF including installation and upgrades by the staff are also provided. Charter
Members also get access to a private Helpdesk staffed by the Simple Machines Support Team where Charter
Members can receive one-on-one support outside of the public forum. [14]
SMF and free software
SMF is occasionally criticized for not being available under a free software license; the developers acknowledge
this. [15] Redistribution of the software, even unmodified, is not allowed without written permission. The source code
is not redistributable either, although it is allowed to distribute instructions on how to modify it. The official
response is:
Sometimes people ask us: "Why do you care that people are redistributing it?" and the reason is that although
we believe in giving back to the Open Source community, we also believe that the volunteers that make up this
project deserve the credit. On top of that, allowing unlimited redistribution encourages project forking and
could lead to confusion about what versions are supported.
—Simple Machines LLC [15]