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Elgg
Rapid PHP framework for building socially aware web applications
Elgg provides a modular, OOP PHP framework with a rich API, event system, and built‑in security, enabling developers to quickly launch social networks, groups, and custom community platforms.
Overview
Overview
Elgg is a modular, object‑oriented PHP framework designed for developers who need to build socially aware web applications quickly. Its well‑documented core API, flexible event system, and extendable view layer let you prototype new content types, groups, and interaction models with minimal boilerplate. Built‑in security features—including CSRF protection, XSS filtering, HMAC signatures, and modern password hashing—ensure that applications start on a solid foundation.
Capabilities & Deployment
The framework ships with pluggable authentication, granular access control, file storage APIs, and a notifications service that works both on‑site and via email. Developers can leverage Composer for straightforward installation and dependency management, while caching of static assets and support for Memcached or Redis help scale performance. Elgg runs on any NGINX or Apache server and uses Symfony2 HTTP Foundation for request handling. With a vibrant community offering over a thousand plugins, teams can extend functionality—from custom themes to RPC web services for mobile clients—without reinventing the wheel.
Highlights
Well‑documented core API with low learning curve
Flexible event and view systems for deep plugin extensibility
Built‑in security (CSRF, XSS, HMAC, modern password hashing)
Scalable asset caching and support for Memcached/Redis
Pros
- Rapid development of social features
- Extensive plugin ecosystem (1000+ plugins)
- Modular OOP architecture with DI services
- Compatible with NGINX or Apache and modern PHP stack
Considerations
- Steeper learning for PHP newcomers
- GPLv2/MIT dual licensing may limit some commercial use cases
- Documentation spread across multiple sites
- High‑traffic sites often need additional caching layers
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Fit guide
Great for
- Teams building custom social networks or intranets
- Developers needing granular access control and group features
- Projects that benefit from a mature PHP ecosystem
- Organizations wanting a community‑driven framework with a plugin marketplace
Not ideal when
- Small static sites without social interaction
- Teams preferring a JavaScript‑only stack
- Projects requiring a BSD‑style permissive license only
- Applications needing out‑of‑the‑box mobile SDKs
How teams use it
University alumni portal
Self‑hosted, secure network fostering alumni engagement with profiles, groups, and resource sharing.
Corporate intranet
Private groups, file storage, and notifications streamline internal communication with fine‑grained access control.
Niche hobby community
Custom content types and themes create an engaged user base tailored to specific interests.
Mobile‑first social app backend
Scalable RPC web services integrate with native iOS/Android clients for real‑time interaction.
Tech snapshot
PHP97%
JavaScript2%
CSS1%
HTML1%
Hack1%
Frequently asked questions
What languages and databases does Elgg support?
Elgg is written in PHP and works with MySQL/MariaDB, using a DBAL layer for database abstraction.
How are plugins installed and managed?
Composer is the recommended package manager; plugins can be added via Composer or placed manually in the plugins directory.
Does Elgg provide built‑in authentication options?
Yes, it includes pluggable authentication modules and supports custom authentication protocols.
What caching mechanisms are available?
Elgg can cache static assets and supports persistent caching with Memcached or Redis.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 1,674
- Watchers
- 1,674
- Forks
- 663
Repo age16 years old
Last commityesterday
Primary languagePHP
Last synced yesterday