Discourse vs Wavelog
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted social networks options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Discourse
Modern open-source community discussion platform
VS
Wavelog
Amateur radio logging software
| Feature | Discourse | Wavelog |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Networks | Social Networks |
| License | GPL-2.0 | free |
| Language | Ruby | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 47,619 | ★ 498 |
| First released | 2013 | 2022 |
| Replaces | phpBB, Reddit | — |
Why pick each one
Choose Wavelog if…
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- One-click install on common self-host platforms
- Written in PHP
Frequently asked questions
Is Discourse or Wavelog better?
Neither is universally better. Discourse has the larger community, while Wavelog is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Discourse and Wavelog free and open-source?
Yes. Discourse is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Wavelog under free. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Discourse and Wavelog with Docker?
Discourse: yes. Wavelog: yes.