Uncommon Function Combination, Can it Be Done?

I have a great idea, but I'm having trouble finding the functionality...

[SniperRyan]

I was struck recently with a great idea for a community site which combines user created content with forum-like discussion. I know I have seen this type of site before, but it is uncommon, and my niche is begging for it.

As an example, let's say my site is about custom-made widgets. This type of widget has finite and measurable properties which, when combined differently, produce different effects. The idea is for users to come to my website to post their widget idea using a form-structure to define the different elements of their widget, and then upload a picture of it in action. I can easily accomplish this part with Noah's Classifieds (which is especially useful when combined with the Mambo wrapper).

The second part is user discussion. I would like other users to be able to discuss, critique and make recommendations about each custom widget design as it is posted, preferably at the bottom of the page. The idea being to inspire others to create their own designs based on suggestions they made or saw in other discussions. I have been through many Google results, as well as many different projects on that network concerning the forging of sourcecode.

I read through the posts in this forum and got some good ideas on where to start looking, but I didn't see any specific recommendations. I was hoping to get some input on three aspects:

1. Any recommendations for a comment script/software which could be applied to a classifieds system to create a running thread of discussion at the bottom of each entry?
2. Any recommendations as far as using the mod which allows Noah's to be run within a Mambo site? I am interested in doing this because of the additional functionality of polling, advertising (down the road), and easy content management.
3. Is there possibly a better system to begin with than Noah's? Maybe I'm starting from the wrong assumptions and there are excellent CMSs which can accomplish this without any need for additional functionality.

I appreciate any input. I have lurked this board for awhile and am excited to finally have something to discuss here.

[linear]

Would you possibly be better off starting with discussion board software, then adding the widget description fields? So instead of bolting discussion functionality on to a widget catalog, you're enriching a robust discussion tool with some widget metadata fields. May be less work if it meets your needs, plus less hassle at upgrade time.

[SniperRyan]

I do like the idea of people registering in order to comment on the design. Is there a board program out right now that has this kind of functionality (or something close)?

[rogerd]

Just about all forum software has user registration; usually, the forum admin can choose whether or not to require registration for posting.

[SniperRyan]

Oh, yes, of course I understand that. What I'm more worried about is forcing people to stick to the certain parameters provided for their widgets. I am afraid that the service would be less valuable (and too much like other communities out there) if it were just free-form posting for the initial post.

That is why I was really looking hard for the form functionality followed by a comments thread.

[Oldiesmann]

Just about any good forum software can allow you to accomplish this with some modifications (how much modification depends on which system you're using). In SMF for example, you can use the "boardNews" function in the included SSI.php to accomplish this (see [christianindieforums.com...] for an example). It would not be difficult to add additional fields to the post screen or to limit users to starting only one topic in a particular board.