Open Source Social Network

Open Source Social Network is a self-hosted web application used to build community websites. It provides a framework for members to create profiles, establish social relationships, and engage with other users through various interaction tools. The software is designed to connect people with shared professional interests or personal passions by providing a dedicated space for networking and communication.

The software is developed in PHP and is deployed as a server-side application. It supports installation via a web installer, Docker, or VM images, and is available as a package for Ubuntu LTS distributions. It functions as a Progressive Web App to provide a responsive experience across different devices and browsers, ensuring that community members can access the platform from mobile or desktop environments.

Key features

• User profiles with cover photos, friends management, and wall posts
• Real-time messaging and live chat capabilities
• Group creation and management for community organization
• Photo albums, galleries, and video embedding
• Blog integration and custom site pages
• Admin dashboard with user management and site analytics
• Support for multiple languages including English, French, Spanish, and Japanese
• Integration with Microsoft Active Directory for user login

The platform includes a comprehensive backend administration suite that allows operators to manage components, configure cache settings, and monitor user growth through gender-based and monthly registration graphs. Administrators can manually validate users, manage advertisements through a dedicated manager, and customize the site layout using a menu builder and theme management system. The software also supports Giphy integration in comments and a poke system to increase user interaction.

For developers and system administrators, the software provides a WebServices API for extending functionality and requires specific directory permissions for the webserver to function correctly. It includes security features such as a block system and captcha to help moderators maintain the community environment. The architecture allows for the creation of custom menu items and the management of various community components from a central dashboard.

This software is intended for organizations or individuals seeking to host their own private or public social networking environment.