HumHub

HumHub is a PHP‑based, open‑source social networking platform that can be self‑hosted or offered as SaaS. Built on Yii 2, it follows a clean MVC architecture with a strong emphasis on modularity and extensibility. At its core, the application is divided into four logical layers – User, Spaces, Content, and Modules – each exposing well‑defined APIs that developers can hook into or replace. The platform ships with an embedded RESTful API (version 1.x) that provides CRUD access to users, spaces, posts, and many other entities, making it straightforward to build custom integrations or mobile clients.

• Language & Framework – PHP 8.1+ powered by Yii 2, which supplies dependency injection, event handling, and a robust ActiveRecord ORM.
• Database – MySQL/MariaDB or PostgreSQL; schema is versioned via Yii migrations, allowing seamless upgrades.
• Front‑end – Responsive UI built with Bootstrap 4 and jQuery, but the view layer is largely component‑based so developers can swap in Vue.js or React if desired.
• Extension Model – Modules are Yii components packaged as Composer dependencies. Each module can declare its own controllers, models, and views, and can be enabled/disabled at runtime.
• Security – Role‑based access control (RBAC) is native, with granular permissions for every model. The platform also supports LDAP/AD authentication and JWT‑based SSO.

• Rich Content Types – Posts, wiki pages, file uploads, calendars, tasks, polls, and OnlyOffice documents are all first‑class citizens. Developers can add new content types by creating a module that implements the ContentInterface.
• Advanced Permissions – Fine‑grained ACLs per user, space, or content item. Permission checks are performed via Yii’s authManager.
• REST API – Exposes endpoints for users, spaces, posts, comments, and modules. Supports OAuth2 for secure third‑party access.
• Webhooks & Event System – Modules can subscribe to internal events (PostCreated, UserJoinedSpace) and trigger external webhooks, enabling real‑time integrations.
• Internationalization – Built‑in translation manager and support for 30+ languages out of the box.

HumHub runs on any LAMP/LEMP stack that supports PHP 8.1+. It is fully container‑friendly: the official Docker image ships with a ready‑to‑use Apache/PHP stack and can be orchestrated via Docker Compose or Kubernetes. For high availability, horizontal scaling is achieved by sharing a common database and file storage (e.g., NFS or S3). The application is stateless except for session data, which can be offloaded to Redis or Memcached.

The modular architecture means that adding new features often requires only a single Composer package. Custom themes are supported via Yii’s view overriding, and developers can create their own modules to expose new REST endpoints or UI components. The platform’s event bus allows deep integration with external services (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams) without modifying core code. Additionally, the “Mass User Import” and “Advanced LDAP” modules showcase how data can be ingested from external directories.

HumHub’s documentation is organized into a developer guide, class reference, and module tutorials. The community forum and GitHub issue tracker are active, providing quick support for API questions or module development. Configuration is largely YAML/INI based, with a web‑based admin console that exposes most settings. The codebase follows Yii conventions, making it approachable for developers familiar with MVC PHP frameworks.

• Enterprise Intranet – Combine HR data, project wikis, and team spaces in a single self‑hosted portal.
• Educational Campus Network – Student groups, course wikis, and event calendars all powered by HumHub.
• Municipal Communication – Public forums for citizens, internal task management for city staff, and document sharing.
• Non‑profit Collaboration – Volunteer coordination, fundraising event planning, and internal knowledge base.

HumHub offers a balance of performance (Yii’s caching, event‑driven architecture) and flexibility (module system, API access). Its GPLv3 license allows free internal use while encouraging community contributions. Compared to proprietary SaaS platforms, developers gain full control over data residency, custom authentication flows, and integration depth. The modular design keeps the core lightweight; only the modules you enable add overhead, making it easier to optimize for specific use cases.