If you are moderately technical and want to create your own online services, there are special Linux-based operating systems you can install on a PC or VPS which let you set up your own services through a graphical interface.
Installing these OSes is the hardest part as it has to be done manually, but once that’s done the OS’s interface makes setting up your own online services much quicker and easier. There are lots of online services you can install through these OSes, and it is worth browsing the options for each OS in their app catalogues.
You can find out more about these special OS by clicking on their website links below:
- YunoHost ⧉: The most popular OS designed for setting up your own services. You can see which services are available through YunoHost on the YunoHost app catalogue ⧉.
- FreedomBox ⧉: Another OS designed to help set up online services. You can see which services are available through FreedomBox on the FreedomBox app catalogue ⧉.
- LibreServer ⧉: Perhaps the most low-key of these self-hosting OSes, but it is important to have alternatives and it’s worth having a look. Its available services are listed in the LibreServer app catalogue ⧉.
The websites for each OS include complete instructions on how to install and use them.
Which online services can I run via these OSes?
Check the app catalogues for each OS to see what services are available on it. Also bear in mind different services will have different technical requirements for the PC or VPS you are running them on.