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Isso

Isso is a lightweight, self-hosted commenting server and a privacy-friendly alternative to Disqus. Built with Python and SQLite, it embeds directly into any static site or blog, supports Markdown formatting, nested replies, voting, and email notifications — all without external dependencies or tracking.

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Deployed0 times
Publisherfuturize.rush
Created2026-03-28
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Isso

A lightweight, self-hosted commenting server written in Python. Privacy-friendly alternative to Disqus — embed it on any static site or blog with a simple JavaScript snippet.

Getting Started

  1. Visit your domain — open the Isso admin interface at https://<your-domain>/admin
  2. Configure your site — set the ISSO_HOST environment variable to match the site embedding comments (e.g. https://example.com)
  3. Embed the script — add this snippet to your site:
    <script data-isso="https://<your-isso-domain>/" src="https://<your-isso-domain>/js/embed.min.js"></script>
    <section id="isso-thread"></section>
    
  4. Moderate comments — use the admin panel at /admin to review, approve, or delete comments

Key Features

  • Lightweight commenting system with SQLite storage
  • Markdown formatting in comments
  • Nested replies and threading
  • Anonymous commenting with optional email
  • Upvote/downvote system
  • Email notifications for new comments
  • Gravatar support
  • Admin panel for moderation
  • Simple JavaScript embed — works with any static site
  • No external database required

Environment Variables

VariableDescription
ISSO_HOSTThe URL of the site embedding Isso comments (e.g. https://example.com)

License

MIT — GitHub