discourseJust

discourseJust is an open-source software platform designed to facilitate online discussions and community engagement. Built on the principles of accessibility, inclusivity, and user-centric design, it provides a flexible and customizable forum solution for organizations, educational institutions, and public-facing communities. The platform emphasizes structured discourse, enabling users to organize conversations through topics, tags, and hierarchical threads while incorporating features like voting, moderation tools, and integration with external services.

Developed as a fork of the popular Discourse forum software, discourseJust retains many of its core functionalities—such as real-time collaboration, mobile responsiveness, and a clean, distraction-free interface—while introducing modifications to enhance usability and ethical considerations. The project prioritizes privacy by default, offering granular control over data handling and compliance with regulations like GDPR. It also includes built-in mechanisms to combat harassment and misinformation, such as automated content warnings and moderation workflows.

discourseJust is licensed under the MIT License, making it freely available for deployment on self-hosted servers or cloud platforms. Its modular architecture allows administrators to extend functionality through plugins, while its API supports integration with other tools like single sign-on (SSO) providers, analytics platforms, and content management systems. The community-driven development model encourages contributions from developers, designers, and users, fostering continuous improvement.

The platform is particularly suited for environments requiring structured debate, such as academic institutions, nonprofits, and civic organizations. Its emphasis on accessibility—including support for screen readers and keyboard navigation—ensures broader participation. While it shares technical foundations with Discourse, discourseJust distinguishes itself through its focus on ethical discourse, transparency, and community governance. Documentation and community support are provided through public forums and documentation hosted on its official website.