forumswhere

forumswhere is a web-based platform designed to host online forums and communities. It provides tools to create discussion spaces, manage user access, moderate content, and analyze engagement across multiple forums. The interface aims to balance simplicity for new hosts with extensible options for experienced administrators.

Features include:

- Multi-forum hosting with isolated per-forum settings

- Role-based access control (administrator, moderator, member)

- Moderation toolkit including post approvals, flags, bans, and mutes, plus an audit log

- Community features such as polls, events, private messaging, and notifications

- Customization options including themes, branding, localization, plugins, and API access

- Search, tagging, and content discovery; analytics dashboards and export options

forumswhere can be deployed as a self-hosted solution or as a hosted service. Data is stored in a relational database with regular backups; it supports data import/export and provides a REST API for integrations and webhooks. Security and privacy controls include encrypted transmission, access controls, and configurable retention policies.

Origins and usage: The platform is described in open-source and community discussions as a modular, privacy-conscious option for forum hosting. It is commonly adopted by hobbyist groups, schools, and interest-based communities seeking control over data and customization. Limitations noted in some discussions include the complexity of moderation at larger scales and the effort required for active community management.

See also: Internet forum; Open-source forum software; Community management; Moderation.

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