Getting Started with Self-Hosting: A Complete Guide

Self-hosting gives you complete control over your data and applications. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to get started.

What is Self-Hosting?

Self-hosting means running applications on your own hardware or cloud infrastructure instead of relying on third-party services.

Why Self-Host?

• Data Privacy - Your data stays on your servers
• Cost Control - Predictable costs without per-user pricing
• Customization - Modify and extend as needed
• No Vendor Lock-in - Switch providers anytime

Prerequisites

Before you start, you'll need:

1. A server (VPS, dedicated, or local)
2. Basic command line knowledge
3. Docker installed
4. A domain name (optional but recommended)

Setting Up Your First Self-Hosted App

Let's deploy Plausible Analytics as an example:

git clone https://github.com/plausible/hosting
cd hosting
docker-compose up -d

Best Practices

• Always use HTTPS
• Set up automatic backups
• Keep your systems updated
• Monitor your services

Conclusion

Self-hosting empowers you to take control of your digital life. Start small with one application and expand from there.