There is a specific kind of thrill that comes with the first successful "ping" on a new server, or the moment your self-hosted media library finally populates with cover art. It’s the feeling of digital independence.

Today, I am excited to share a new resource for those looking to embark on (or deepen) their own homelab journey:

This project isn’t just a theoretical guide; it is a documentation of my actual footprint in the self-hosting world. It is the story of how I built my setup, stripped of the fluff and grounded in the actual commands that made it work.

excavation: digging through the bash history

We’ve all been there: you spend three hours on a Saturday night tweaking a configuration file, you finally get it working, and then months later, you can’t quite remember how you did it.

To build self-hosted.info, I took a different approach. I didn't just write from memory. I carefully parsed my bash history files (okay, full disclosure: I had my AI help me parse them) to assemble the exact steps I took. I wanted to capture the reality of the setup process, creating a documentation trail that leads from a bare-metal install to a fully functioning digital ecosystem.

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the stack: what’s under the hood?

The core of this journey focuses on setting up a robust, modern environment. Here is a look at the architecture you will find documented on the site:

• The Foundation (Debian 13): We are living on the edge here. The setup is built on Debian 13 (Trixie), providing a forward-looking base for the system.
• Management & Virtualization: I cover configuring Cockpit for a web-based management interface, alongside Podman and Libvirt. This trio provides a powerful, container-native way to manage services without the overhead of heavier enterprise solutions.
• Network Hygiene: No homelab is complete without network-wide ad blocking and proper DNS configuration. This ensures that every device on the network runs smoother, faster, and with less clutter.

the applications: powering the daily drive

Infrastructure is fun, but the applications are where the utility lies. I’ve documented the setup for the services that run my digital life:

• Media Streaming: Getting Jellyfin up and running for a complete media experience—serving up MP3s, movies, and TV shows without monthly subscription fees.
• The Productivity Suite: A deep dive into Nextcloud. I use this for everything: Notes, Photos, Files, Calendars, and Contacts. It is the ultimate tool for de-Googling your life.
• Code & Creation: A private Git server to host my projects and code, keeping my development workflow entirely in-house.

a springboard, not a bible

I want to be clear about the intent of self-hosted.info. Please do not view this as the absolute, immutable Source of Truth. Tech moves fast; packages update, repositories change, and hardware varies.

Instead, I want you to use this site as a springboard.

It may be outdated in some regards by the time you read it, or it may need tweaking to fit your specific network architecture. And that’s okay. That is part of the fun. Use my bash history and my documentation to inspire your own build. Take what works, fix what doesn't, and let it launch you into your own homelab adventures.

Whether you are here to reclaim your data privacy, learn Linux administration, or just play around with cool tech, I hope this resource helps you navigate the edge of glory.

Check it out at self-hosted.info. Happy hosting.