I wrote:

Make sure apache and postgres are both started. You should be logged in as root

Unpacking
1. Copy pointy-whatever-ver.tgz to the /home/httpd (or wherever your webserver's home dir is)
2. "tar zxvf pointy-whatever-ver.tgz"

Setting up the web symlinks
1. "ln -s pointy pointy-whatever-ver-dir"
2. "cd htdocs"
3. "ln -s pointy.php /home/httpd/pointy/pointy.php"
4. "ln -s forum-purple.css /home/httpd/pointy/forum-purple.css"

Setting up the db
1. "su - postgres" (substitute your postgresql db user name is here if it's different)
2. "createdb caltrops"
3. "psql -d caltrops -" connect to the db via the psql command line
4. (you are now in the psql command line) "\i /home/httpd/pointy/install/createTables.sql"
5. Watch the pretty scrolling text
6. "\q" to exit psql
7. "exit" to un-su yourself

Setting up Pointy
1. "cd /home/httpd/pointy"
2. Open pointy.php in an editor.You will see:

// Set this to the Pointy install dir
$pointyHome = '/home/httpd/pointy';

at the top. Change pointyHome to the dir you installed it in (duh). Save & exit.
3. "cd etc/" (NOT cd /etc)

It should theoretically work at this point (browse to http://localhost/pointy.php). And by "work" I mean throw an error about not being able to find any forums. Let's add some!!@!@121111

Adding a forum
1. "su - postgres"
2. "psql -d caltrops"
3. Type the following:

insert into forums (sid, forum_name, num_posts, forum_sticky, forum_last_updated) values ('1', 'Wookie Hairdressers\' Union #2018', 0, 'true', now());

4. You will have a wookie hairdresser's forum in the attic (sticky forum top part). change true to false in that example, and you'll get a basement forum. I believe Pointy needs at least one sticky attic forum to work. Notice the backslash in front of the single quote used to escape it.