Right now I'm using utterances for comments. This system is backed by GitHub issues. It works great, but the main drawback is that people need a GitHub account to post comments. (Also, GitHub lock-in.)
Self-hosted, custom-made
Maybe a small comment system backed by SQLite (stored locally alongside the Python code at runtime) could suffice. Doesn't need user accounts (see how isso solves this - possibility to edit/delete comments within 15min).
isso
https://github.com/posativ/isso/
A commenting server built with SQLite / Python (Werkzeug) / JS, with support for moderation queue, admin interface, etc. Maybe a bit too many features.
Seems possible to make a Docker container out of it (for deploying on Dokku).
Mastodon-as-a-backend
An interesting alternative could be to use Mastodon as a comments backend.
https://carlschwan.eu/2020/12/29/adding-comments-to-your-static-blog-with-mastodon/
- Post a toot about the article when published.
- Add script to retrieve answers to the toot.
- Add button to answer to the toot on Mastodon. (The user is thus invited to connect via Mastodon, and post their answer as a comment to the toot.)
Cons:
- We keep a certain form of lock-in (will toots be there forever?)
- People need a Mastodon account somewhere.
Pros:
- Now anyone with a Mastodon account can post comments, rather than anyone with a GitHub account.
- Still no third party tracking cookies at all.
- Allows only loading comments after user clicks a button. This reduces load on mastodon servers, but also saves up some page size (fitting the sobriety mindset). Utterances doesn't allow this - it always loads comments.
Other alternatives and discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25570268
Webmentions + Bridgy
Interesting reads:
Tools:
Right now I'm using utterances for comments. This system is backed by GitHub issues. It works great, but the main drawback is that people need a GitHub account to post comments. (Also, GitHub lock-in.)
Self-hosted, custom-made
Maybe a small comment system backed by SQLite (stored locally alongside the Python code at runtime) could suffice. Doesn't need user accounts (see how isso solves this - possibility to edit/delete comments within 15min).
isso
https://github.com/posativ/isso/
A commenting server built with SQLite / Python (Werkzeug) / JS, with support for moderation queue, admin interface, etc. Maybe a bit too many features.
Seems possible to make a Docker container out of it (for deploying on Dokku).
Mastodon-as-a-backend
An interesting alternative could be to use Mastodon as a comments backend.
https://carlschwan.eu/2020/12/29/adding-comments-to-your-static-blog-with-mastodon/
Cons:
Pros:
Other alternatives and discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25570268
Webmentions + Bridgy
Interesting reads:
Tools: