Open Source Social Network (OSSN)
PHP social networking software for building online communities
1.2k stars 563 forks last commit first released
Actively maintained
Last commit 26 Aug 2026.
Open Source Social Network (OSSN) is an open-source PHP application for creating a full social networking website. It provides core community features like profiles, a newsfeed, groups, and messaging, plus an extensible component system to add more functionality.
Key Features
- User accounts with profiles, cover photos, friends management, and privacy-related controls (blocking)
- Newsfeed with posts, comments, likes/reactions, mentions, and media embedding
- Groups, blogs, photo albums/gallery, search, and notifications
- Messaging and live chat features, including real-time updates
- Admin dashboard with user management, configuration, themes/components management, and cache settings
- Extensible “components” system for adding extra features, plus multilingual UI support
- Web services API for integrations and custom development
Use Cases
- Private or public community platform for clubs, schools, or interest groups
- Internal social network for teams and organizations
- Niche social site with custom features added via components
Limitations and Considerations
- Feature set and scalability depend heavily on chosen components and hosting resources
- Requires correct filesystem permissions for the web server to operate properly
OSSN is a practical option for teams that want a traditional social network experience with a PHP stack and the ability to extend functionality through modules. It fits well for community-centric sites that need common social features without building everything from scratch.
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