How to connect Discourse to Binom: forum search, answers by topic, new topics and replies. Available on request.
The Discourse integration connects your community to the conversation: the AI employee finds an answer on the forum, suggests a suitable topic, and creates a new topic or reply. Discourse is available on request in the Binom dashboard: Integrations → More integrations → Discourse.
What Binom can do in Discourse
Binom here means your AI employee. Once Discourse is connected, it calls the service's actions when the conversation needs that data. You decide which actions it has access to. In the dashboard, each action is labeled: read (Binom only views data), write or delete (Binom changes or deletes data in Discourse).
| Section | What Binom can view | What Binom can change |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | Topics, latest and popular, by category | Create, edit, status, timer |
| Posts | Posts and replies | Create, edit, delete, like |
| Search | Search across topics, posts, people and categories | None |
| Private messages | Private messages | Send |
| Users and groups | Users, groups, badges | Create and edit |
Can Binom answer questions from the Discourse forum?
Yes. Binom searches the forum ("Search"), opens a relevant topic ("Get Topic"), and answers based on it, providing a link to the discussion.
New topic or reply
If there is no answer, Binom creates a topic ("Create Topic") or writes a reply in an existing one ("Create Post") so the community sees the question.
What access you will need
Connection method: API key. You will need an API key from the admin panel and a username. Details for each method are shown in the "Authentication" block on the Discourse page in the dashboard.
How to get the Discourse integration
Discourse is connected on request: first, the Binom team sets up the integration for your account. The general catalog rules are described in the instructions how to connect a service from "More integrations".
- Open Integrations → More integrations, enter "Discourse" in the "Search integrations" field, and open the Discourse card.
- On the "Discourse integration for assistant" page, you will see the message "Integration is available on request. Request it now, and we will set it up for you as a priority." The assistant here is your Binom. The "Authentication" block shows what access will be needed, and the "Actions" list shows everything Binom can do in Discourse.
- Click "Request integration". The message "Request sent. You will receive a notification when the integration is available." appears, and the button changes to "Requested".
- A Binom setup specialist will contact you. When the integration is ready, a "Connect" button will appear on the Discourse page.
- Click "Connect," go through the steps in the "Connecting Discourse" window, and click "Done". After "Connecting…", the status will change to "Connected". If you see "Confirmation has not arrived yet. The connection may still complete, so check again in a minute.", click "Check again".
How to choose what Binom can do in Discourse
A connected integration does nothing until you allow actions. The dashboard states this clearly: "Select the actions the assistant may trigger. Until something is selected, it has access to nothing."
- On the Discourse page, tick the actions you need in the Actions list. The Filter by actions field helps you find them by name. The counter shows how many are selected.
- Check the "Ask before changing data" toggle. It is on by default: before any write or delete action, Binom will describe what it is about to do and wait for your approval.
- Click "Save". The message "Allowed actions saved" confirms your changes.
To start, "Search", "Get Topic", "Create Topic" and "Create Post" are enough. Add the edit and delete actions when you are ready to let Binom make changes in Discourse.
How to check that the integration works
- Start a new conversation with your Binom, for example through a public chat link, ask a question that has been discussed on the forum, and check the answer.
Possible problems
Binom does not use Discourse data in its answers
What to check: that the Discourse status says "Connected" and the needed actions are ticked (for example "Get Topic").
What to do: tick the actions and click "Save".
How to tell it is fixed: the message "Allowed actions saved" appears, and in a new conversation Binom answers using Discourse data.
"Could not save the request. Please try again."
What to do: click "Request integration" again. If the message keeps appearing, write to support@binomai.com with the name of your Binom and the integration (Discourse).
How to tell it is fixed: the button shows "Requested".
"Integration is temporarily unavailable – your request has been saved."
Nothing else is needed: your request is saved, and you will receive a notification when Discourse can be connected.
"Reconnection required"
What it means: "The service no longer accepts saved access, so the assistant does not use it."
What to do: open the Discourse page under More integrations, click "Reconnect" and go through the connection window again.
How to tell it is fixed: the status shows "Connected".
"Could not start the connection. Please try again."
What to do: click "Connect" again. If the message keeps appearing, write to support@binomai.com with the name of your Binom, the integration (Discourse) and a screenshot of the message.
How to tell it is fixed: the "Connect Discourse" window opens.
"Paid plan" instead of the connect button
The page will show "Available on a paid plan. Tell us what you need, and we will let you know when it launches." For what each plan includes, see the plans and subscription pricing page, and for how to change your plan, see the guide how to change or upgrade your plan. After changing your plan, return to More integrations and open Discourse again.
"You do not have permission to manage this section."
What it means: only users with the Owner or Admin access level can manage integrations.
What to do: ask the account owner to give you the Admin access level or to connect Discourse themselves. More: access levels in a team.
How to tell it is fixed: after refreshing the page, the integration settings open.
If the problem is not resolved, write to support@binomai.com or send the message "I want to talk to a human" in the chat with Tutor. Provide the name of the Binom, the integration, and attach a screenshot of the message.
How to disconnect Discourse
On the Discourse page, click "Disconnect". The "Disconnect Discourse?" window will show a warning: "The assistant will lose access to the service. To restore it, you will need to connect the integration again and re-enter the access details." Confirm, and "Integration disconnected" will appear.
Other common questions
Do I need a programmer to integrate Discourse?
No. You request Discourse in the Integrations → More integrations section, the Binom team sets up the integration, and then you connect the account yourself and choose the actions.
What's next
Updated October 22, 2026
