Free Code Self-Hosting Packages

introduction

In response to the increasing concern among users about both the potential for surveillance, and the growing power of a handful of tech corporatieons (particularly Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo, Google, Amazon, and FaceBook), there has been explosion of activity over the last few years to develop free code software packages to allow users to host their own "cloud computing" services, or host services for other users without any dependencies on proprietary software. This list includes software that uses a server/ client approach, not software that runs only on the users computer using a peer-to-peer approach (eg FreeNet, BitTorrent, Tox, Ring). --Strypey (talk) 15:00, 1 May 2018 (UTC)

sources

Information for the original version of this page was sourced from Disintermedia pages on leaving FaceBook and leaving Google.

packages

web search

Common proprietary examples: Google, Bing, Yahoo

Free code packages:

• YaCY (GNU GPLv2+, GNU LGPLv2+ for Cora library, Java) - a free code P2P search engine (or "distributed search engine"), where each user installs and searches with their own copy of the YaCy progam, but all the copies form a P2P network that shares the index of websites they search through. There is a demo search portal but the project ask that you run a copy of YaCy on your own computer rather than using that as a replacement for Google.
• Searx (GNU AGPLv3, Python) - a free code packages that powers independent meta-search portals like Searx.me. A Searx instance can act as a meta-search portal for YaCy (P2P network - see above, technical details here). If there was a Searx instance that did that, and implemented !bang search, I would definitely make this my goto search engine.

document and file storage, synchronization, transfer, and publication

Common proprietary examples: DropBox, GoogleDrive, OneDrive

Free code packages:

• KloudSpeaker
• ownCloud
• NextCloud
• Reep: unlike most server apps in this categroy, Reep ("peer" backwards) uses WebRTC protocol to initiate a session between two peers, then leaves them to it. Can be used to download a permanent copy of a file, or if its an audio/ video file, it can be streamed.
• SeaFile
• SparkleShare
• Syncany
• SyncThing
• Tahoe-LAFS

document editing

Common proprietary examples: GoogleDocs, Office365

Free code packages:

• CryptPad (AGPL): collaborative document editing only, like Etherpad, but allows pads to be limited to an approved group of users
• EtherPad (Apache 2.0): collaborative document editing only
• FirePad("MIT")

See also: Authoring Platforms‎‎

online office suite

• LibreOffice Online: co-developed by the Document Foundation, who develop LibreOffice, and Collabora who provide commercial services to enterprise LibreOffice users
• Feng Office (AGPL): a full web-based office suite
• OnlyOffice: pitched as a full web-based office suite, server-side source code was released under the GNU AGPLv3 license in 2014 (according to Wikipedia article), and client-side desktop editors released in 2016.
• Zimbra(GPLv2 backend, Common Public Attribution License v1 frontend) - as well as the usual office suite apps, Zimbra also include email and calendar, providing the functions of both MS Office and Outlook Express in one web-based package

See also: Authoring Platforms‎‎

events calendars

Common proprietary examples: Google Calendar, Meetup

Free code packages:

• Cozy: also offers contact synchronization and webmail
• DAVical (GPL)
• Friendica
• getTogether: goals include enabling sharing of event data between GetTogether instances, and possible federation with ActivityPub has been mentioned
• Hubzilla
• [Mobilizon](https://joinmobilizon.org/): goals include enabling sharing of event data between instances and federation with ActivityPub
• Radicale: also offers contacts synchronization
• Upcoming:

group text chat

Common proprietary examples: Slack, Discord

Free code packages:

• MatterMost ("MIT" for compiled versions, GNU AGPL or Apache 2.0 or commercial for derivatives)
• Rocket.Chat ("MIT"): Demo available at open.rocket.chat. Messages can be edited after sending.

See Also: Disintermedia Fyre Exyt page on Slack replacements

voice/video chat

Common proprietary examples: Skype, Hangouts, FaceTime

• Jitsi Meet
• Wire

See also: Disintermedia Core-US page on voice and video conferencing

webmail

Common proprietary examples: GMail, Yahoo Mail

Free code packages:

• Mail-in-a-Box
• RainLoop
• RoundCube

social media

Common proprietary examples: Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn

Free code packages:

• Diaspora
• Friendica (formerly Friendika, Mistpark)
• GNU Social (GNU AGPL)
• Mastodon (GNU AGPL)
• Hubzilla
• Pump.io: replaced StatusNet (now GNU Social) as the new engine for Identi.ca

More examples: Distributed Social Network Projects fediverse.party

photo hosting

Common proprietary examples: Google Photos, PhotoBucket, FlickR

• Chevereto (PHP, AGPLv3) - free code version has only some of the features of the proprietary premium version, although all the essential ones are there.
• Coppermine Gallery (PHP, GPLv?)
• GNU MediaGoblin (Python/ SQL, GNU APGLv3) - created by hackers associated with the Free Software Foundation, aimed to support federation via ActivityPub, although as of 2019-05 development seems to have stalled.
• Jirafeau (AGPLv3)
• Lutim (AGPLv3) - originalled developed for use at Lut.im, now maintained by hackers associated with Framasoft.
• Lychee ("MIT") - originally developed by electerious.com
• PictShare (PHP, Apache 2.0)
• Piwigo (GPLv2)
• zenphoto (GPLv2+)

See also: Image Hosting Software on the Permageeks wiki.

video hosting

Common proprietary examples: YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion

• Plumi (Python/ Plone, GPL) - created by video activists EngageMedia.org, in association with Unweb.me.
• GNU MediaGoblin (Python/ SQL, GNU APGLv3) - supports video as well as photos, audio, and other types of media files
• MediaDrop (Python, GNU GPLv3+) - used by OpenStreamer.org.
• PeerTube - federated video hosting using WebTorrent and ActivityPub

See also: Video Hosting Software on the Permageeks wiki.

project management

Common proprietary examples: Asana

Free code packages:

• Crabgrass (GNU AGPL): developed by RiseUp Labs for use by activist groups
• Kune: an experimental fork of Apache Wave, created by the Comunes Association who also run OurProject.org

code forge

Common proprietary examples: GitHub

Free code packages:

• FusionForge: aimed at software project management, modeled on the 1990/2000s version of SourceForge, used by the Comunes Association to run OurProject.org
• Gitea
• GitLab: aimed at software project management, but like GH, can also be used to collaboratively write documentation, or create and deploy static websites. Like GH it has spaces for working on code/ text, discussing bugs/ issues with the project, and so on.
• GOGS
• Kunagi (GNU AGPL): aimed at software project management using Agile/ Scrum practices
• OpenProject: popular fork of RedMine
• RedMine

See also: List of Community-Hosted GitLab Instances

integrated library system (ILS)

Common proprietary examples: SirsiDynix, Apollo

Free code packages:

• Koha: founded by Horowhenua Library Trust and Katipo Communications in 1999.
• Evergreen
• OPALS

online portfolio

Free code packages:

• Mahara

platform

Combines a number of the packages and functions listed above into a unified package, complete with an OS, ready to install and use out-of-the-box on a spare desktop PC (or a blank virtual machine in a datacentre).

Common proprietary examples: Google Apps, FaceBook

Free code packages:

• FreedomBone: developed for BeagleBone Black, can also sit on top of a server OS (eg Debian Jesse)
• FreedomBox
• YUNOHost

hardware

Hardware projects supportive of software freedom and often used as personal "cloud" servers:

• BeagleBone Black
• CHIP
• CloudFleet: offers both a hardware device and a software platform offering a range of user services
• Rasberry Pi

See also:

• Authoring Platforms
• libreprojects.net - community directory of software that can be self-hosted

List of Community-Hosted GitLab Instances

• Self-hosted alternatives to popular services - directory of self-hosted, free code software, associated with the r/selfhosted subreddit