Free Code Self-Hosting Packages
In response to the increasing concern among users about both the potential for surveillance, and the growing power of a handful of tech corporations (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).
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
- 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:
- EtherPad (Apache 2.0): collaborative document editing only
- FirePad("MIT")
- LibreOffice Online: still in early stages of development, but based on the existing LibreOffice codebase gives them a headstart, and a solid development infrastructure.
- 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.
See also: Authoring Platforms
calendars
Common proprietary examples: Google Calendar
Free code packages:
- Cozy: also offers contacts synchronization and webmail
- DAVical (GPL)
- Friendica
- Hubzilla
- Radicale: also offers contacts synchronization
group chat
Common proprietary examples: Skype, Hangouts, FaceTime, Slack, Discord
Free code packages:
- MatterMost ("MIT" for compiled versions, GNU AGPL or Apache 2.0 or commercial for derivatives)
- see more at Disintermedia's Fyre Exyt page on Slack replacements
webmail
Common proprietary examples: GMail, Yahoo Mail
Free code packages:
social media
Common proprietary examples: Twitter, FaceBook, Google+, 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
video hosting
- Plumi (Python/ Plone, GPL) - created by video activists EngageMedia.org, in association with Unweb.me.
- GNU MediaGoblin (Python/ SQL, GNU APGLv3) - created by hackers associated with the Free Software Foundation, aims to support federation via ActivityPub. Project wiki has a list of live instances.
- MediaDrop (Python, GNU GPLv3+) - used by OpenStreamer.org.
project management
Common proprietary examples: Slack, Asana, GitHub
Free code packages:
- Crabgrass (GNU AGPL): developed by RiseUp Labs for use by activist groups
- FusionForge: aimed at software project management, modeled on the 1990/2000s version of SourceForge, used by the Comunes Association to run OurProject.org
- 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 son.
- Kunagi (GNU AGPL): aimed at software project management using Agile/ Scrum practices
- Kune: an experimental fork of Apache Wave, created by the Comunes Association who also run OurProject.org
- OpenProject: popular fork of RedMine
- RedMine
integrated library system (ILS)
Free code packages:
online portfolio
Free code packages:
platform
Combines a number of the packages and functions listed above into a unified package
Common proprietary examples: FaceBook, Google
Free code packages:
- FreedomBone: developed for BeagleBone Black, can also sit on top of a server OS (eg Debian Jesse)
- FreedomBox
- Hubzilla
- YUNOHost
- Zimbra(GPLv2 backend, Common Public Attribution License v1 frontend)
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