Hosting is on a managed platform. Database, Authenticaton and File Storage live on cloud with a managed backend service.
Day to day admin is currently only sitting with me, ideally I would like 2 others to hold emergency access going forward but likelihood is there will be minimal problems with hosting and should there be a hosting issue, an admin logging in will have no powers to fix anyway - the managed service will take care of that and the site will return automatically.
Funding is via donations, which will be ringfenced to cover future needs, much the same way we did with boardhost. Contributions from users will keep the place alive and future admins will have visibility of the costs and donations situation at all times. Running costs include hosting charges, domain name and email delivery, they are modest but not zero.
Actually contributing is easy via the donate link on the site.
Data is backed up automatically and daily (posts, accounts, reactions etc) and they are retained on the managed platform. Uploaded images are stored in managed object storage with the same durability guarantees.
A full data export can be pulled from our admin panel at any time IF we need to migrate away.
In transit, everthing is served over HTTPS. Passwords are never stored in plain text, they're salted and hashed by the authentication service. We check for leaked passwords so those known to have appeared in public breaches are rejected at signup.
Database uses row level security policies so users can only read and write their own data. Only admin can can moderate or see reports.
For GDPR, I currently act as data controller for the forum, minimal information is collected to run it. Nothing is shared externally and no third part tracking exists on the site. Users can request deletion at any time (functionality to request this via the site will be coming soon!)
Site is built upon standard react/typescript front end with a Postgres database behind it. The code is currently synced to GitHub, code and database are exportable if we wanted to move to another provider or self-host - nothing is locked in.
The key to it all is having a sensible group of moderators and admins who would know what to do if a situation should arise. Once the changes are finished and the site is in full production use, I will document the whole thing, advertise for those interested in being key holders for the future and ensure everyone has access to everything they need for the ongoing success of this site for the next 30 years!
Hope that provides some clarification, more than happy to answer all and any questions.
Ste
Previous Message
Awesome work on the new forum - been checking it over the last few days and it’s really cleaning up
As a long time reader and very rare poster it’s starting to feel like home (I check at least twice a day here)
I am wondering a few practical things from my professional background with the plan to move off boardhost who cover lots of stuff
- what’s the hosting arrangement - who has access to it - without boardhost - how do we ensure its functioning if someone is sick / unavailable / whatever and its broke
- how is hosting funded etc - how do we contribute?
- how is the data backed up / protected, GDP considerations etc
- where’s the source code (I’m assuming you built this from scratch using AI ? ) - do other people have access to
Hope you don’t mind the questions and perhaps it’s been covered ?
My motivation is the forum continuing to be part of our lives as it has been in mine for nearly 27 years already (and many of you longer)
Happy to help if anything’s needed - also happy to leave it to the folks already involved. Previous Message
Do we consider a deadline to move across as it is very 'comfy' staying here and very easy to stick with whag yoh ard used to.
This will ensure we can stop thd need to check both sites?
Perhaps have a 'thread' on the new site that links to posts on the old one? Just a thought?
Have the old admins moved across to similar roles on here?
Is if worth considering 'threads' such as:
* Transfers
* Match analysis
* Polls
* Politics
Just a few suggestions, might keep the site cleaner to navigate?
Responses
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on July 13, 2026, 5:41 pm, in reply to "