How to Install EpochTalk on macOS

EpochTalk is an open-source discussion platform that allows you to create a forum style website. This guide will teach you how to install EpochTalk on macOS.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure that your system has the following prerequisites:

• Node.js - this is required for running the EpochTalk platform. You can download and install it from the official website: https://nodejs.org/
• MongoDB - EpochTalk requires MongoDB for storing data. You can download and install it from the official website: https://www.mongodb.com/try/download/community

Installation

1. First, clone the EpochTalk repository from GitHub by running the following command in your terminal:

git clone https://github.com/epochtalk/epochtalk.git

2. Change your directory to the cloned EpochTalk repository:

cd epochtalk

3. Install the required dependencies by running the following command:

npm install

4. Once the installation process is complete, create a .env file in the root directory of the repository:

touch .env

5. Open the .env file in a text editor of your choice and add the following configuration parameters:

# MongoDB Connection String
MONGODB_URI=mongodb://localhost/epochtalk

# Server settings
SERVER_HOST=127.0.0.1
SERVER_PORT=8899

# Session Encryption Key (use your own random 256bit string)
SESSION_SECRET=<Your Secret Key>

# Email Settings (optional)
SMTP_HOST=
SMTP_PORT=
SMTP_USER=
SMTP_PASS=
SMTP_FROM=

6. Start the MongoDB service by running the following command:

mongod

7. Start the EpochTalk server by running the following command in the root directory of the repository:

npm start

8. Access the EpochTalk platform by opening your web browser and visiting http://localhost:8899/.

Conclusion

By following these simple steps, you can easily install EpochTalk on your macOS system. Once it is installed, you can start building your own forum style website and engage with your audience.