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build a lightweight PHP forum and extend community workflows through a flexible extension system

OSS scale score 255.9OSS health 79Update pace 0 commits/30d
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OSS scale score is an unbounded metric that log-compresses and weights Stars, Watchers, Forks, and Contributors. Discovery score is the current OSS scale score minus the score at discovery. Update pace is commits in the last 30 days, growth momentum is the OSS scale score difference within the recent observation window, and OSS health is a 0–100 rating based on available recency, Community Health, and release data.

Stars
16,411
Primary language
PHP
License
MIT
Repository last updated
Aug 27, 2026
On this page

Overview

Flarum is a self-hosted discussion platform for adding forum functionality to a website. It combines a PHP backend, responsive interface, and extension API so communities can add features without turning the base installation into a broad all-purpose CMS. The flarum/flarum repository is the application skeleton; most implementation work lives in flarum/core.

Features and best fit

Based on official documentation; not hands-on tested · Content checked:

Key features

Provide focused forum workflows in a lightweight application

Flarum centers on threaded discussion and a responsive interface intended to stay consistent across desktop and mobile. It can be deployed as a PHP application without requiring a large integrated application suite.

Sources: [1]

Extend the forum through Composer-managed packages

The architecture is designed around extensions, with Composer used to add and update packages so community-specific capabilities can be composed without heavily modifying the base application.

Sources: [1][2]

Self-host through Composer or a packaged archive

The official documentation supports both Composer-based command-line installation and downloadable archives for environments without SSH. The web root points at the public directory and browser-based setup completes the installation.

Sources: [3]

Best fit

Fits communities that want a forum-first platform with optional extensions

It is relevant when discussion is the primary workflow and teams prefer to add only the extensions they need rather than adopting a feature-heavy general CMS.

Sources: [1]

Before adoption

Do not mix the stable 1.8 line with the 2.0 release-candidate line

As of October 2026, 1.8.19 is the latest stable release. The default branch and current documentation target the 2.0 release-candidate line, with 2.0.0-rc.8 marked as a prerelease. Production deployments should pin a release line and verify extension compatibility.

Sources: [5][6][4]

Review deprecations from the older 1.x framework stack

The 1.x documentation says it runs through PHP 8.5 but notes that some older framework dependencies emit deprecation notices on modern PHP. Long-lived deployments should include a 2.0 migration plan.

Sources: [3]

Treat Extension Manager as privileged package-install access

The official installation guide warns that Extension Manager lets an administrator install Composer packages and should only be enabled when all forum administrators are trusted with that capability.

Sources: [3][4]

Official sources

  1. [1]Flarum README(2026-10-03)
  2. [2]Flarum Composer guide(2026-10-03)
  3. [3]Flarum 1.x installation guide(2026-10-03)
  4. [4]Flarum 2.x installation guide(2026-10-03)
  5. [5]Flarum v1.8.19 release(2026-10-03)
  6. [6]Flarum v2.0.0-rc.8 release(2026-10-03)
  7. [7]Flarum MIT license(2026-10-03)
Supplemental curator note

Flarum is a useful comparison point for communities that want a focused forum rather than a broad CMS. As of October 2026, 1.8.19 is the stable release while 2.0 remains in release-candidate status, so choose the release line deliberately.

Try it in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Install the stable 1.8 line with Composer

    Run the command in an empty directory after meeting the documented PHP, Composer, and database requirements.

    composer create-project flarum/flarum:^1.8.0 .
  2. 2

    Point the web server at the public directory

    Configure Apache or Nginx to serve Flarum's public directory and enable URL rewriting as documented.

    Set webroot to /path/to/your/forum/public
  3. 3

    Complete the browser installer

    Enter the database and administrator details to finish setup. Evaluate the 2.0 release candidate separately from a stable 1.x deployment.

    Open your configured forum URL
Check the official README

Growth

Growth trends · Last 30 days

16,411 Stars

Trend data is still being collected.

Development activity

Last 90 days · weekly

Commits (last 30 days)
0
Open PRs
0

Development activity is still being collected.

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GitHub data

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GitHub Topics

  • php
  • forum
  • flarum
  • laravel
Stars
16,411
Forks
1,666
Watchers
505
Open issues
0
Contributors
30
Owner type
Organization
Primary language
PHP
License
MIT
Repository last updated
Aug 27, 2026
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