Discourse Test Site

[AWS]

I went ahead and fired up a Debian 12 VM and installed Discourse. Quick look at it and I like a lot about it. I haven't used it in a few years. I had an active community on it back when it was first released.

Install was what I remember. Not easy, not real hard either.

General Forums - Where People Converse

The place to talk about anything and everything.

www.general-forums.net

 

[AWS]

This is no longer a test site. I actually decided to start a general discussion forum. This is a temp domain though. I have another that I'll use.

 

[Tracy]

Discourse is nice.. I just am not crazy about how they push Docker for the installations.
I am busy enough learning still in my niche that I don't want to have to figure out an entire new process on how to run multiple sites on one VPS/server using docker images. If you have a large enough dedicated server (and enough IP's) you can use ProxMox or SolusVM or similar and create your own VPS's, which is easier.
I am thinking about grabbing another VPS to play with CentMin mod and NodeBB on at the same time, so may try out docker and then having CentMin running in front and set up one of the nginx vhosts as a proxy.
That way I could have NodeBB running in one proxied vhost, Discourse via another one and then direct intall of a PHP script site.

 

[Cedric]

That actually looks nice.

 

[AWS]

Discourse is nice.. I just am not crazy about how they push Docker for the installations.
I am busy enough learning still in my niche that I don't want to have to figure out an entire new process on how to run multiple sites on one VPS/server using docker images. If you have a large enough dedicated server (and enough IP's) you can use ProxMox or SolusVM or similar and create your own VPS's, which is easier.
I am thinking about grabbing another VPS to play with CentMin mod and NodeBB on at the same time, so may try out docker and then having CentMin running in front and set up one of the nginx vhosts as a proxy.
That way I could have NodeBB running in one proxied vhost, Discourse via another one and then direct intall of a PHP script site.

I installed it without Docker. It is a little more work. Have to install all the dependencies first. I can run multiple sites. You can do it with a docker install too. Just need to create a container for each site. The overhead isn't bad doing it that way. I can also run regular sites on the server if I want.

I have hyper-v running on the main server. I can add as many VM's as the server can handle. I haven't messed with Discourse in a while and when I got it running I was amazed at the advances. I have the new AI format installed. Still trying to get my head around all that's in it and what it can do.

 

[Tracy]

Have to install all the dependencies first. I can run multiple sites.

That was the hassle when I worked with it. Without Docker and you will get zero official support from the developers from what I read when I messed with it. They only support it when it is installed in a Docker environment. That itself was a turn off. And since I don't have a dedicated server to burn a VPS out with currently it can get expensive playing.
It's a nice package for sure. But I do like to have the ability to obtain support if I am running something. That is one of the reasons that I went ahead with Ubuntu with the NodeBB install instead of using AlmaLinux like I normally do. Ubuntu is the recommended install path so I am more likely to be able to get assistance if I need it.

 

[AWS]

They support installs without docker. I used the install they had on their site. They recommend docker. They will support any install though.

 

[Tracy]

They support installs without docker. I used the install they had on their site. They recommend docker. They will support any install though.

That's new then and a nice change. Last I read they only provided support when the docker system was used. I researched it about a 1/2 a year ago when looking at what other software Neo could run XFH on. I know they provide a GIT repository, but everything I found says they only support Docker installs.

Discourse standalone

Hi, is it possible to use discourse as a standalone without docker?

meta.discourse.org

discourse/docs/INSTALL.md at main · discourse/discourse

A platform for community discussion. Free, open, simple. - discourse/discourse

github.com

Why Docker?

Why did the devs choose docker ? Theres Linux Containers (LxC). Theres VM’s scripts. You could create an ISO installer. LxC are literally containers. For SysAdmins this docker nonsense is redundant and pointless if you have a network setup with firewalls. etc I understand that this is simple...

meta.discourse.org