Beginner

Before you touch any hardware or software, you need a plan. This chapter helps you understand what self-hosting is, what you'll build this weekend, and why it's worth doing.

Before you can truly escape Big Tech, you need your data back. This chapter walks you through exporting your photos, files, and documents from the major cloud services.

Docker is the reason self-hosting is accessible to beginners today. This chapter explains what Docker is, why it matters, and how to get it running on your server.

You don't need expensive hardware to self-host. This chapter walks you through what to look for, what to avoid, and how to get started with what you already have.

Linux is the foundation your entire home server runs on. This chapter walks you through choosing a distro, creating a bootable installer, and getting your server up and running — no Linux experience required.

Discover 25 cloud services you can replace with self-hosted alternatives — and take back control of your data, privacy, and monthly budget.