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Forem – Open‑Source Platform for Building Community Websites

Learn what Forem is, how to deploy and customize it, and why it’s the preferred open‑source solution for community‑driven platforms like DEV Community.
1 February 2026 by
Suraj Barman

What is Forem?

Forem is an open‑source software framework that powers DEV Community and other inclusive online communities. It provides a ready‑made, extensible stack for publishing articles, discussions, and resources while supporting sponsorship and partnership integrations.

  • Built with Ruby on Rails and React.
  • Supports user profiles, tags, reactions, and notifications.
  • Includes built‑in support for sponsors, partners, and paid features.

How to Deploy and Customize Forem

Deploying Forem involves a few key steps that can be performed on most cloud providers or on‑premise servers.

  • Prerequisites: Docker, PostgreSQL, and a domain name.
  • Clone the repository: git clone
  • Configure environment variables: Set database credentials, secret keys, and optional partner APIs (e.g., Google AI, Neon, Algolia).
  • Run Docker Compose: docker compose up -d to start the application stack.
  • Run migrations: docker compose exec web rails db:setup
  • Customize: Modify themes, add custom pages, or integrate additional sponsors via the admin dashboard.

Why Choose Forem for Your Community

Forem offers several advantages that make it a compelling choice for building sustainable, sponsor‑supported communities.

  • Open‑source freedom: No vendor lock‑in; you can modify any part of the codebase.
  • Proven scalability: Powers DEV Community, which handles millions of monthly active users.
  • Sponsorship ecosystem: Native support for diamond sponsors, official partners, and paid features.
  • Extensible architecture: Plug‑in APIs for search (Algolia), databases (Neon), and AI services (Google AI).
  • Community‑first ethos: Designed to foster inclusive discussions, education tracks, and career growth resources.