Hi all,
question to you: How many of your selfhosted Apps are improving your life? Which apps are you really using on a daily/weekly basis?
Many of my running containers are just for … running containers.
Portainer, Nginx Proxy Manager, Authentik, Uptime-Kuma, Wireguard … they are not improving my life, they are only improving Selfhosting. But we are not doing selfhosting just for the sake of it? Do we? …
Many of my running containers … are getting replaced by Open Source client software eventually
- I’ve installed Trilium Notes - but I’m using Obsidian (more plugins, mobile apps, easy backup)
- I’ve installed Vikunja - but I’m using Obisdian (connecting tasks with notes is more powerful)
- I’ve installed Snapdrop - but I’m using LocalSend (more reliable)
- I’ve installed Bitwarden - but I’m using KeePass (easy backups, better for SSH credentials)
- I’ve installed AdGuard - but I’m using uBlock (more easy to disable for Shopping etc.)
- …
So the few Selfhosted Apps, that improve my life
File Management
- Paperless NGX - all my documents are scanned and archived here
- Nextcloud - all my files accessible via WebUI (& replaced Immich/Photoprism with Photos plugin)
- Syncthing - all my files synchroniced between devices and Nextcloud
- Kopia - Backup of all my files encrypted into the cloud
And that’s a little bit sad, right? The only “Job to be done” self-hosting is a solution for me is … file management. Nothing else.
What are your experiences? How makes self-hosting your life better?
( I’m not using selfhosting for musc / movies / series nowadays, as streaming is more convenient for me and I’m doing selfhosting mainly because of privacy and not piracy reasons - so that usecase is not included in my list ;)My only SmartHome usecase is Philips Hue - and I’m controlling it with Android Tasker )
Oh, I definitely have self hosted services that affect daily life. I don’t like when I’m not at home w/ pihole. I love paperless and mealie. Plex allowed me to move my DVD changers (400 each) to smart TVs and/or Fire Sticks which provide so much more in service. Every single user in the house can watch different content. It also allows recording of live content for later viewing. In the previous configuration, I never would have considered OTA content. I also have a service that backs up my Google Photos. I don’t usually think about my NVR as a service but I don’t want outsiders tempted to watch my cameras, even if I don’t point them inside the house. Home Assistant has changed so much of my life and it’d be so much less without Node Red and VS Code Server.
I have to say, I do IT for a living so I go to great lengths to not turn my home systems into a second job. I have undone several systems over the years that just required too much work with much less value in return. Typically, I spend 10-15 minutes a week doing what I call “Care and Feeding” of my systems. Normally, this would be just updating dockers and VMs. I may add work to my schedule when my notes from the previous week suggest that I investigate a new service. I will stand it up and play around with it to see if I can get it to work in a fashion I like and is useable.