Answers.Body: <p>You could do it yourself (Craft is quite capable of it), but I wouldn't recommend it. It's a decent bit of work to do a forum properly, especially things like moderation, spam handling, etc. Instead, I'd use off-the-shelf forum software, and an SSO with Craft.</p>
  <p>Vanilla Forums is one I've used successfully in the past, and I wrote a free plugin to do the SSO part of it: <a href="https://plugins.craftcms.com/vanillaforums?craft4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vanilla Forums</a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2022-11-10T12:55:31.653Z
Answers.Text: Thanks, it seems like I have to implement it as a custom plugin. The issue with Vanilla Forums that backend panel is not compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (when Craft CMS 4 is), which is in my case a requirement. Also it is better to have one admin panel for everything, and not additional one for forums.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Alex Kuzmin
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2024-02-27T15:33:24.610Z
Answers.Text: Is there meanwhile a better solution?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Dave Driesmans
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2022-11-09T17:24:36.610Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2022-11-09T17:24:36.610Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: andrew.welch
Body: <p>I'm currently develop a website using CraftCMS 4 and one part of it is forum, where users can ask and answer questions. What is the best way to create it? I've found a plugin &quot;Website Toolbox Forum&quot;, but it uses some third-party service which does not suit my requirements.
  Frontend part is not a big deal, the main thing is how it should be managed on backend panel. I thought to use Structure Channel, and from the first view it looks appropriate, but has some stopping points:</p>
  <ul>
  <li>The first structure level should have only entry type &quot;Themes&quot;, and editing of this level should be blocked for non-admins</li>
  <li>2 and 3 structure level should have only entry type &quot;Messages&quot; (2nd level are initial messages, and 3rd level are answers)</li>
  <li>2 level can have 1000+ entries, so it should be paginated</li>
  </ul>
  <p>Is it possible to create such with native Craft functionality? Or I should use other way e.g. create own plugin/module? Thanks.</p>
  
Tags: <plugin-development>
Title: Best way to create forum using CraftCMS 4
ThreadText: # Best way to create forum using CraftCMS 4
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2022-11-09)
  
  I'm currently develop a website using CraftCMS 4 and one part of it is forum, where users can ask and answer questions. What is the best way to create it? I've found a plugin "Website Toolbox Forum", but it uses some third-party service which does not suit my requirements.
  Frontend part is not a big deal, the main thing is how it should be managed on backend panel. I thought to use Structure Channel, and from the first view it looks appropriate, but has some stopping points:
  
  * The first structure level should have only entry type "Themes", and editing of this level should be blocked for non-admins
  * 2 and 3 structure level should have only entry type "Messages" (2nd level are initial messages, and 3rd level are answers)
  * 2 level can have 1000+ entries, so it should be paginated
  
  Is it possible to create such with native Craft functionality? Or I should use other way e.g. create own plugin/module? Thanks.
  
  **Tags:** plugin-development
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2022-11-09. Score: 2
  
  You could do it yourself (Craft is quite capable of it), but I wouldn't recommend it. It's a decent bit of work to do a forum properly, especially things like moderation, spam handling, etc. Instead, I'd use off-the-shelf forum software, and an SSO with Craft.
  
  Vanilla Forums is one I've used successfully in the past, and I wrote a free plugin to do the SSO part of it: [Vanilla Forums](https://plugins.craftcms.com/vanillaforums?craft4)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Thanks, it seems like I have to implement it as a custom plugin. The issue with Vanilla Forums that backend panel is not compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (when Craft CMS 4 is), which is in my case a requirement. Also it is better to have one admin panel for everything, and not additional one for forums.  
  > **username_2**: Is there meanwhile a better solution?  
  
  ---
  
  