> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/awesome-selfhosted/awesome-selfhosted/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Social Networks and Forums

> Self-hosted social networking platforms and forum software for building online communities

[Social Networking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_networking_service) and [Forum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_forum) software.

## Federated Social Networks

### Mastodon

Federated microblogging server.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon) | [Clients](https://github.com/hyperupcall/awesome-mastodon)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Ruby

### Akkoma

Federated microblogging server with Mastodon, GNU social, and ActivityPub compatibility.

* **Source Code:** [akkoma.dev](https://akkoma.dev/AkkomaGang/akkoma)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Elixir, Docker

### Pleroma

Federated microblogging server, Mastodon, GNU social, & ActivityPub compatible.

* **Source Code:** [git.pleroma.social](https://git.pleroma.social/pleroma/pleroma)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Elixir

### GoToSocial

ActivityPub federated social network server implementing the Mastodon client API.

* **Source Code:** [Codeberg](https://codeberg.org/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Docker, Go

### Misskey

Decentralized app-like microblogging server/SNS for the Fediverse, using the ActivityPub protocol like GNU social and Mastodon.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/misskey-dev/misskey)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Nodejs, Docker

### Iceshrimp.NET

Federated microblogging server that communicates over ActivityPub.

* **Source Code:** [iceshrimp.dev](https://iceshrimp.dev/iceshrimp/iceshrimp.net)
* **License:** EUPL-1.2
* **Tech Stack:** .NET, C#, Docker

### PixelFed

Ethical photo sharing platform, powered by ActivityPub federation (alternative to Instagram).

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/pixelfed/pixelfed)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** PHP

### Lemmy

Link aggregator for the fediverse (alternative to Reddit).

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/LemmyNet/lemmy)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Docker, Rust

### diaspora\*

Distributed social networking server.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/diaspora/diaspora)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Ruby

### Friendica

Social Communication Server.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/friendica/friendica)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** PHP

### Hubzilla

Decentralized identity, privacy, publishing, sharing, cloud storage, and communications/social platform.

* **Source Code:** [framagit.org](https://framagit.org/hubzilla/core)
* **License:** MIT
* **Tech Stack:** PHP

### Movim

Modern, federated social network based on XMPP, with a fully featured group-chat, subscriptions and microblogging.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/movim/movim)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** PHP, Docker

### Hatsu

Bridge that interacts with Fediverse on behalf of your static site.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/importantimport/hatsu)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Docker, Rust

### yarn.social

Self-Hosted, Twitter™-like Decentralised micro-logging platform. No ads, no tracking, your content, your data.

* **Source Code:** [git.mills.io](https://git.mills.io/yarnsocial/yarn)
* **License:** MIT
* **Tech Stack:** Go

## Modern Forums

### Discourse

Advanced forum / community solution based on Ruby and JS.

* **Demo:** [try.discourse.org](https://try.discourse.org/)
* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/discourse/discourse)
* **License:** GPL-2.0
* **Tech Stack:** Docker

### Flarum

Delightfully simple forums. Flarum is the next-generation forum software that makes online discussion fun again.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/flarum/flarum)
* **License:** MIT
* **Tech Stack:** PHP

### NodeBB

Forum software built for the modern web.

* **Demo:** [try.nodebb.org](https://try.nodebb.org/)
* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/NodeBB/NodeBB)
* **License:** GPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Nodejs, Docker

### Misago

Fully featured modern forum application that is fast, scalable and responsive.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/rafalp/Misago)
* **License:** GPL-2.0
* **Tech Stack:** Docker

### Talkyard

Create a community, where your users can suggest ideas and get questions answered. And have friendly open-ended discussions and chat (Slack/StackOverflow/Discourse/Reddit/Disqus hybrid).

* **Demo:** [talkyard.io/forum/latest](https://www.talkyard.io/forum/latest)
* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/debiki/talkyard)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Docker, Scala

## Traditional Forums

### phpBB

Flat-forum bulletin board software solution that can be used to stay in touch with a group of people or can power your entire website.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/phpbb/phpbb)
* **License:** GPL-2.0
* **Tech Stack:** PHP

### MyBB

Free, extensible forum software package.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/mybb/mybb)
* **License:** LGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** PHP

### Simple Machines Forum

Free, professional grade software package that allows you to set up your own online community within minutes.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/SimpleMachines/SMF)
* **License:** BSD-3-Clause
* **Tech Stack:** PHP

### AsmBB

Fast, SQLite-powered forum engine written in ASM.

* **Source Code:** [asm32.info](https://asm32.info/fossil/asmbb/index)
* **License:** EUPL-1.2
* **Tech Stack:** Assembly

## Niche Forums & BBS

### Enigma 1/2 BBS

Enigma 1/2 is a modern, multi-platform BBS engine with unlimited "callers" and legacy DOS door game support.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/NuSkooler/enigma-bbs)
* **License:** BSD-2-Clause
* **Tech Stack:** Shell, Docker, Nodejs

## Q\&A Platforms

### Answer

Knowledge-based community software. You can use it to quickly build your Q\&A community for product technical support, customer support, user communication, and more.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/apache/answer)
* **License:** Apache-2.0
* **Tech Stack:** Docker, Go

### Scoold

Stack Overflow in a JAR. An enterprise-ready Q\&A platform with full-text search, SAML, LDAP integration and social login support.

* **Demo:** [live.scoold.com](https://live.scoold.com)
* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/Erudika/scoold)
* **License:** Apache-2.0
* **Tech Stack:** Java, Docker, K8S

### qpixel

Q\&A-based community knowledge-sharing software.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/codidact/qpixel)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Ruby

## Comment Systems

### Isso

Lightweight commenting server written in Python and Javascript. It aims to be a drop-in replacement for Disqus.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/isso-comments/isso)
* **License:** MIT
* **Tech Stack:** Python, Docker

### remark42

Lightweight and simple comment engine, which doesn't spy on users. It can be embedded into blogs, articles or any other place where readers add comments.

* **Demo:** [remark42.com/demo](https://remark42.com/demo/)
* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/umputun/remark42)
* **License:** MIT
* **Tech Stack:** Docker, Go

### Coral

A better commenting experience from Vox Media.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/coralproject/talk)
* **License:** Apache-2.0
* **Tech Stack:** Docker, Nodejs

### Chirpy

Privacy-friendly and customizable Disqus (comment system) alternate.

* **Demo:** [chirpy.dev/play](https://chirpy.dev/play)
* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/devrsi0n/chirpy)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Docker, Nodejs

### Artalk

Comment system built in Golang, providing a lightweight and highly customizable solution for adding comments to your website.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/ArtalkJS/Artalk)
* **License:** MIT
* **Tech Stack:** Go, Docker

## Social Networking Platforms

### HumHub

Flexible kit for private social networks.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/humhub/humhub)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** PHP

### Elgg

Powerful open source social networking engine.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/Elgg/Elgg)
* **License:** GPL-2.0
* **Tech Stack:** PHP

### BuddyPress

Powerful plugin that takes your WordPress.org powered site beyond the blog with social-network features like user profiles, activity streams, user groups, and more.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/buddypress/BuddyPress)
* **License:** GPL-2.0
* **Tech Stack:** PHP

### OSSN

Social networking software that allows you to make a social networking website and helps your members build social relationships, with people who share similar professional or personal interests.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/opensource-socialnetwork/opensource-socialnetwork)
* **License:** CAL-1.0
* **Tech Stack:** PHP

### Socialhome

Federated and decentralized profile builder and social network engine.

* **Demo:** [socialhome.network](https://socialhome.network/)
* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/jaywink/socialhome)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Docker, Python

## Decision-Making & Collaboration

### Loomio

Collaborative decision-making tool that makes it easy for anyone to participate in decisions which affect them.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/loomio/loomio)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Docker

## Alternative Frontends

### Redlib

<Warning>
  This application has anti-features. Please review before deploying.
</Warning>

An alternative private front-end to Reddit, with its origins in Libreddit.

* **Source Code:** [GitHub](https://github.com/redlib-org/redlib)
* **License:** AGPL-3.0
* **Tech Stack:** Rust