Localhoster
Self-hosted building blocks for the web. Each service is as simple as one folder, runs on your own server, and is synchronised automatically from your local machine.
About
Localhoster is a small family of self-hosted services built on a single idea: describe what you want as a plain local folder, and a tiny stateless client mirrors it to your own server, which serves it over HTTPS automatically. No platform to sign up for, no lock-in, and no per-project setup, just a folder named for its domain.
Publishing a website, exposing an API, running a multiplayer game, storing member accounts or scheduling background scripts all follow the same workflow, and each service runs independently on hardware you control. Start with the one you need and add the others as you grow.
One workflow
Each service is independent, but they're cut from the same cloth, so learning one is most of learning them all.
A folder is the source
A folder named for a domain, or for the newer services a folder of named scripts, is the whole declaration of what should run.
A stateless client syncs it
A tiny client compares your folder with the server using a Merkle diff and uploads only what changed. Run it on a timer, or leave it watching.
Your own server runs it
One box per service, on hardware you control, with automatic HTTPS in front, turns each folder into the live service.
Ownership, not tenancy
Your data and services sit on your own server, with no vendor between you and the people you serve.
Flat, predictable cost
A service hosts every domain of its kind on one machine. You pay for the box, not per request, project or seat.
No lock-in
The truth is a folder of plain files on your disc. Walk away at any time and take everything with you.
The family
Sitehoster
Drop a folder, get an HTTPS site.
Datahoster
Drop a folder, get an API for your data.
Gamehoster
Realtime multiplayer, hosted: rooms, presence and live updates over WebSockets.
Userhoster
Accounts and member data: sign-up, login and each member's private data.
Cronhoster
Drop a script, get a schedule. Name a JavaScript file for when it should run.
Taskhoster
Durable task queues. Producers post tasks; workers claim them by capability.
Screenshots
Each service has its own site, built the same way and explaining its folder, its client and its server.
Localhoster
Six independent services, each as simple as one folder, all running on your own server. Visit localhoster.org ↗
The idea
Describe what you want as a plain local folder, and a tiny stateless client mirrors it to your own server. About Localhoster ↗
Gamehoster
Realtime multiplayer: rooms, presence and live state over WebSockets, with several games on one domain. Visit gamehoster.org ↗
Userhoster
Real accounts and member data: sign-up and login, private data for each member, and public listings. Visit userhoster.org ↗
Cronhoster
Scheduled scripts: a folder of crons, each a handler and its settings, run by the server on their schedules. Visit cronhoster.org ↗
Taskhoster
Durable task queues: apps post tasks, workers pull and process them, and every task is a file on disc. Visit taskhoster.org ↗
Contents
The sections of localhoster.org, and the pages in each.
About ↗
The idea, one workflow for every service, why self-host, the family, and who it's for.
Technologies
More development
- Frontend Development - A studio for fast, accessible, standards-based frontends
- Stylesheet.css - A CSS framework for semantic HTML, with no JavaScript
- PHP Framework - A PHP framework assembled from around 130 small modules
- Datahoster - Drop a folder, get an API
- Sitehoster - Static hosting that serves every site over HTTPS automatically