Hey all! I’m still in the somewhat early stages of setting up my home server. I have Nextcloud installed for file storage/management. However, realizing that it would be nice to have access to the entire storage drive for the server, I installed File Browser.

Now I’m having a hard time justifying having both. I have a handful of services that could be run as individual services (calDav, notes, news, etc… although, phonetrack seems to be hard to replace).

I’ve noticed lists that people have posted of the “must-have” services on their home servers have included both. My question is “why?” It seems like, at a basic level, they serve similar roles. If you remove the app-platform role from Nextcloud by separately hosting the individual apps, what benefit do you get from having both Nextcloud and File Browser?

I really like NextCloud, but i’m having a hard time justifying the resource usage if its functionality can be replaced by a handful of containers. Or, is that the reason to have it, so you don’t have to do that?

Any opinions on the subject would be appreciated.

  • @[email protected]English
    11•1 year ago

    Nextcloud can sync between devices,so you can even use files while offline. There is recycle bin and many more features and apps available. I mostly use filebrowser just to manage files on the server. Both apps are amazing

    • @TCB13English
      5•1 year ago

      Nextcloud can sync between devices,so you can even use files while offline

      Until it fails. If you want reliable sync just pair FileBrowser with Syncthing and have something that actually works fine.

      • @[email protected]English
        4•1 year ago

        Tbh Im using syncthing for obsidian notes, but android app is disconnecting from server quite a lot. I have to open syncthing app on my phone to make connection again. Also keeping all files on the phone would fill up storage.

        • @TCB13English
          1•1 year ago

          For mobile I access my files with SFTP pointed to the same folders I sync my desktops with Syncthing. I don’t want to sync all my files to the phone as that may lead to a stolen phone with all my data on it.

      • @AuxEnglish
        0•1 year ago

        Syncthing is not a good solution at all. It requires a persistent connection. That means you will have crazy battery drain and you will have issues when your mobile devices roam between networks. Syncthing is not a replacement for Google Drive/Nextcloud, it solves a different problem.

        • @TCB13English
          1•1 year ago

          Personally, for mobile, I access my files with SFTP pointed to the same folders I sync my desktops with Syncthing.

          Also, what stops you from having syncthing without a persistent connection? You can set it to just sync whenever the phone is plugged in and/or you manually open the thing.

          • @AuxEnglish
            0•1 year ago

            SFTP is not the same as Drive functionality, that’s the thing. Again, Syncthing solves a different problem, it’s not applicable here.

            • @TCB13English
              0•1 year ago

              SFTP is not the same as Drive functionality

              If you’re a good client it is.

              • @AuxEnglish
                0•1 year ago

                Ok, show me a good SFTP client which auto-uploads the photos I take on Android an iOS devices, let’s me share them with anyone I wish and creates a photo library with tags, date grouping, etc.