As of May 2023, what current communities using SE software have non-standard features or use standard features in a unique non-standard way? [closed]

Question

TL;DR: Besides Ask Patents, CS50, Math Overflow, Meta Stack Exchange, and Stack Apps, what open communities that use the Stack Exchange software have non-standard features or use standard features in a unique non-standard way?

By Stack Exchange software, I mean the software that powers Ask Patents, CS50, Math Overflow and Meta Stack Exchange. Regarding the scope of this question, please consider Stack Overflow for Teams as different software.

^{This question came out while thinking about the current situation of some Stack Exchange Network sites that might take advantage of stuff found in the mentioned sites and other sites that use the same software.}

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As I understand, the Stack Exchange network was created after the success of the questions and answers community for programmers; Stack Overflow launched in 2008, then there was the "Trilogy" (Stack Overflow, Server Fault, Super User, and the first Meta) named after the Star Wars movies existing at that time. There was the possibility that people created their Q&A site using the same software, known as Stack Exchange 1.0. In 2010 a new process for Q&A site creation based on the "Trilogy" model was launched, requiring people to make a site proposal in Area 51, known as Stack Exchange 2.0.

Some sites use non-standard features or standard features in a non-standard way. By "non-standard way" I mean beyond what the Community Managers can tweak without requiring the intervention of a developer and beyond the recently defined process, like how to make a feature request to customize the Ask Question form.

So far, I have identified Math Overflow, Ask Patents, and Stack Apps.

Are there other sites that have non-standard features or use standard features in a unique non-standard way?

Related

• Can meta-style 'required tags' be implemented on non-meta sites?
• What is the Stack Exchange (Staff) process of launching a site?
• What is CS50 and why can't I access it?
• What tag is used for Stack Exchange rules and their respective enforcement instruments?

Answer 1

"Non-Standard" Features

• Sites have varying reputation thresholds for privileges. See the "Site-specific changes" section of What are the reputation requirements for privileges on sites, and how do they differ per site?.

• Some sites have custom domain names. See Why do some Stack Exchange sites have their own domain names?.

• Some sites have different edit queue sizes. See Why does the suggested edit queue have a fixed size, and what is its size on each site?.

• Some sites support MathJax/LaTeX. See Which Stack Exchange sites use MathJax?.

• Some sites convert YouTube links in posts to embedded players. See Which sites have YouTube embedding on?.

• Some sites have chat easter eggs. See What Easter eggs do the chat sites have?.

• On Math Overflow, Reputation and badges are not visible next to the users' names.

  Quoting @Makyen,

  The underlying difference for Math Overflow is that, unlike any other SE site, MO has the right for the moderators to provide JavaScript code to SE, which SE must include with the page. This was part of the agreement SE entered into when acquiring MO. See #4 in answer to: "What is MathOverflow's "agreement" with Stack Exchange?"

• Some sites have disclaimer notices. Ex. on Mi Yodeda. Also related on this point: Wanted: A standard way for a site to have a prominent professional advice disclaimer.

Some of those differences are historical and related to sites being created for already-existing communities. If you like history, have fun digging.

Stack Overflow has a bunch of extra things. A non exhaustive list: Collectives (and as part of that, Articles), had documentation, has the Staging Ground, special plagiarism flags, and (at the time of this writing) several ongoing experiments for content discovery.

"Non-Standard" usage of Features

There are too many to count, really. Each site may have slight differences in etiquette, difference in how much and what type of research effort is required (related to general policy: How should we deal with Google questions? and Embrace the non-Googlers), what types of questions should be closed for reasons to do with or not to do with on-topicality, etc.

But to name some that I find notable (subjectivity and non-exhaustiveness warning):

• Some sites have sandboxes to get extra review on questions before posting them as actual questions. Ex. Puzzling and Code Golf.

• Some sites allow crossposting. See What other Stack Exchange sites support crossposting like Mathematics and Math Overflow?.

• I personally find it interesting the way the following sites use the Stack Exchange model:

  • Puzzling, since presumably, the asker knows the answer (but intentionally does not self-answer)
  • Code Golf, since there's some inherent lack of focus in the language freedom of the common form of challenges there
  • Both the two above sites are also much more tolerable against the "You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face" and other guidance in /help/dont-ask.
  • Code Review, since questions tend to be more localized than is to taste on other sites.

Requests for Non-Standard Features

(that I am aware of and find noteworthy (subjectivity and non-exhaustiveness warning) (suggestions for additions welcome)):

• On Puzzling: Would we want to allow ... or spaces before question marks at the end of titles?

Answer 2

Part 1: Q&A Sites

Sites that use Q&A features. Area 51 and Stack Apps are included as they use the Q&A software; both use required-tags for discussions, bugs, feature requests and support questions.

Area 51

• The main site is entirely different.
• The per-site-meta is called Discussion Zone instead of Area 51 Meta.
• It doesn't have community moderators.

Network sites in private beta

• Not returned by the Data Explorer (SEDE).
• Not listed on the page listing all network sites.

Network sites in public beta

• Show the Site Stats sidebar box, which includes a link to a proposal in Area 51. For example, this is how Ask Patents Site Stats sidebar box looks like:
  
• Only have moderators appointed pro tempore until the site leaves beta, at which point a special graduation election is held.

Ask Patents

• It uses tag icons used on sponsored-tags on other sites.

prior-art-request tag

rejected tag

CS50

• It's an official community for students from a specific class, CS50 from Harvard^{CS50 meta post}.

Math Overflow

• We also encourage you to use your real name as your username.^MO/on-topic

  • Use of "top level tags"^MO-Meta-tags

Meta Stack Exchange

• It's simultaneously a main and meta site, with the standard required tags for per-site-meta.

Mi Yodeya

• It has a Hebrew-alphabet keyboard available when writing or editing posts.

Stack Apps

• It's simultaneously a main and meta site, with the standard required tags for per-site-meta.

• It has "top tags" for apps, libraries and scripts.

• It has a custom homepage showing unique filter buttons "Apps" (that shows questions tagged with apps and libraries, and "Scripts".

• It has a custom sidebar box: "Get Started"

  

• It has a unique form and view: "Register Your V2.0 Application" and "Your apps".

Part 2: Non Q&A Sites

Sites that don't use Q&A features are still part of Stack Exchange; the community creates content.

Data Explorer

• It's an entirely different site, as users create queries instead of questions and answers.