NodeBB

NodeBB is an open-source forum software built on Node.js. It provides a real-time, scalable platform for online communities and is driven by a plugin-based architecture. NodeBB originated in the mid-2010s and is maintained by the community under the MIT license.

Its core platform integrates a flexible plugin system and a theming system. Real-time features are delivered via WebSockets, enabling live updates and notifications without page reloads. The administrative interface includes user roles, permissions, moderation tools, and built-in anti-spam measures. The user experience is modern and responsive, with a single-page-app style UI that works well on mobile devices. Functionality can be extended through plugins for social login, analytics, notifications, and integrations with external services.

Data storage for NodeBB relies on database adapters. Common backends include MongoDB and Redis for data persistence and caching/session management, with additional databases supported through community adapters. NodeBB is designed to be deployed behind load balancers and can run in containers or cloud environments.

Ecosystem and adoption: NodeBB has a large ecosystem of plugins and themes that allow customization of features and appearance. The project maintains an official plugin and theme directory and a public repository on GitHub, where contributors publish updates and security fixes. NodeBB is used by a variety of communities ranging from tech forums to support portals.