The Future

[Brian Alvarez]

I like the idea, and I can put together a forum software in just a few days. The software itself would be free forever, no yearly subscriptions, no licenses, no expiration dates. It would start off simple, but we could expand it over time to fit whatever needs come up.

The only things that could "expire" are the external services required to run it online:

• Hosting (web server): This is where the forum’s files and data live. Hosting services are usually paid monthly or yearly, and if not renewed, the site would go offline.
  
• Domain name: This is the address people type to visit the forum (e.g., PowerBase.com). Domains are also registered for a limited period (typically one year) and need to be renewed to keep ownership.
  
  

So, the forum software itself is permanent and free, while the hosting and domain depend on third-party providers and must be renewed periodically.