# Isso — Lightweight Self-Hosted Commenting Server

> A Python-based commenting server that stores comments in SQLite and embeds on any website with a simple script tag.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# Isso — Lightweight Self-Hosted Commenting Server

## Quick Use
```bash
pip install isso
isso -c /etc/isso.cfg run
```

## Introduction
Isso is a commenting server written in Python that aims to be a drop-in replacement for Disqus. It stores all comments in a local SQLite database, requires minimal configuration, and provides a clean JavaScript widget that site owners embed with a single script tag. Isso prioritizes simplicity and low resource usage.

## What Isso Does
- Serves a commenting widget embeddable on static sites, blogs, and documentation pages
- Stores comments in an SQLite database with no external dependencies
- Supports nested replies, Markdown formatting, and comment voting
- Provides email notifications to site admins and comment authors on new replies
- Offers a built-in Disqus and WordPress comment import tool

## Architecture Overview
Isso runs as a WSGI Python application backed by SQLite for storage. The server exposes a REST API that the bundled JavaScript client consumes. Comments are rendered server-side and cached. The application can be deployed behind any WSGI-compatible server such as Gunicorn or uWSGI, and reverse-proxied through Nginx or Caddy.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install via pip or deploy the official Docker image
- Create a configuration file specifying your site's URL and database path
- Place the Isso JavaScript snippet on pages where comments should appear
- Configure SMTP settings for email notifications on new comments
- Run behind a reverse proxy with HTTPS for production deployments

## Key Features
- SQLite storage means zero database administration overhead
- Gravatar support for commenter avatars
- Built-in spam guard with rate limiting and comment moderation queue
- Lightweight JavaScript client under 40 KB
- Import tool for migrating from Disqus or WordPress

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Remark42** — Go-based with BoltDB; Isso uses Python and SQLite for a different operational profile
- **Disqus** — hosted with tracking and ads; Isso is fully self-hosted and private
- **Commento** — requires PostgreSQL; Isso needs only SQLite
- **Utterances** — uses GitHub Issues for storage; Isso stores data on your own server

## FAQ
**Q: Can Isso handle high-traffic sites?**
A: Isso works well for blogs and documentation sites. For very high volumes, consider running multiple workers behind a load balancer.

**Q: Does it support anonymous comments?**
A: Yes. Commenters can post without any account, though admins can require email addresses.

**Q: How do I moderate comments?**
A: Isso provides an admin interface and email-based moderation links. New comments can be held for approval.

**Q: Can I customize the comment widget appearance?**
A: Yes. The widget uses standard CSS that you can override to match your site's design.

## Sources
- https://github.com/isso-comments/isso
- https://isso-comments.de

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-42b44f1c
Author: Script Depot