FAQ

General Questions

What is the AutoBot Solutions Forum?

A self-hosted discussion platform for GitHub repositories with a futuristic sci-fi theme.

Is it free to use?

Yes, it's open-source under the MIT License.

Do I need GitHub?

No, GitHub integration is optional.

Can I customize the theme?

Yes, the CSS is fully customizable.

Installation & Setup

What are the system requirements?

Python 3.8+, PostgreSQL 12+, 2GB RAM minimum.

Can I use SQLite instead of PostgreSQL?

For development, yes. For production, PostgreSQL is recommended.

How do I reset the database?

bash
docker-compose down -v
docker-compose up -d
docker-compose exec app python init_db.py

Features

Does it support Markdown?

Yes, with syntax highlighting and tables.

Can users delete their own posts?

Yes, users can delete their own posts and comments.

Is there a mobile app?

Not yet, but it's responsive and works on mobile browsers.

Can I attach files to posts?

Yes, images, PDFs, and text files are supported.

Security

Is the forum secure?

Yes, with CSRF protection, rate limiting, password hashing, and more.

Should I use HTTPS?

Absolutely, HTTPS is essential for security.

How are passwords stored?

Hashed with PBKDF2 and SHA-256.

Authentication

I forgot my password, what do I do?

Use the password reset feature on the login page.

Can I change my username?

Yes, via your profile settings.

Why is email verification required?

To prevent fake accounts and ensure valid email addresses.

GitHub Integration

Do I need a GitHub token?

For private organizations or to avoid rate limits, yes.

How often are repositories synced?

Manually via the admin panel or API endpoint.

Can I sync from multiple organizations?

Currently one organization, but can be modified.

Admin

How do I become an admin?

Admins are created during initialization or promoted by existing admins.

Can admins see private messages?

Currently no, but audit logging is planned.

How do I delete a user?

Via the admin panel. This cascades to all user data.

Troubleshooting

CSS not loading?

This was fixed in the latest version. Clear your browser cache.

Database connection errors?

Check PostgreSQL is running and DATABASE_URL is correct.

Emails not sending?

Tokens are displayed in flash messages for testing. Configure SMTP for production.

Development

How do I contribute?

See CONTRIBUTING.md.

What's the tech stack?

Flask, SQLAlchemy, PostgreSQL, Jinja2, Docker.

How do I run tests?

bash
pytest

Support

Where can I get help?

• Check documentation in docs/
• Search GitHub issues
• Join Discord community
• Email support@autobotsolutions.com

Is professional support available?

Yes, contact enterprise@autobotsolutions.com.