Web Hosting & Open Source

When I started rebuilding my website, I soon came to a question: where did I actually want to host my website?

Of course, I could have chosen a standard hosting package where almost everything is taken care of for you. That is convenient and probably the best choice for many people.

But that does not quite suit me.

I find it interesting to understand what happens behind a website. What does the website run on? How is the connection secured? Where are the files stored? How does a database work? And what happens when something goes wrong?

That is why I have gradually started managing more of my website myself.

From a Website to My Own Environment

My website does not simply run somewhere on a server on its own. It has become part of my own homelab.

I use different systems and open-source software to make everything work together.

This also means that I am responsible for maintenance, updates, security and backups.

That may sound more complicated than a regular hosting package, and sometimes it is.

But that is exactly what I find interesting.

I am learning more and more about how everything is connected.

Why Open Source Interests Me

Open source appeals to me mainly because you are not completely dependent on a single provider.

You can use software, modify it and, above all, learn how it works.

That does not mean I am going to examine the source code of everything. That is not the point for me.

For me, open source is mainly about freedom and control.

For example, I use Linux, Nginx, MariaDB and various other open-source solutions in my environment.

Working with them helps me learn more about servers, networks, databases and security.

And sometimes you learn the most when something does not work straight away.

Managing Everything Yourself Also Means Solving Problems Yourself

That may be the biggest difference compared with regular web hosting.

If a website hosted by a hosting provider does not work, you can often contact its support department.

When you manage much of it yourself, you are the support department.

I have experienced that several times by now.

An incorrect setting, a web server problem, an update that turns out differently than expected, or a security setting that causes trouble.

Then you have to find out where the problem lies.

That can be quite frustrating sometimes, especially during my recovery.

But when you eventually discover what happened and solve the problem, it is satisfying too.

That way, I learn not only how to configure something, but especially why it works the way it does.

Security Is Naturally Part of It

Running my own environment also means that I have to think carefully about security.

A website that is accessible from the internet automatically receives all kinds of requests and sometimes unwanted attempts to gain access.

That is why I regularly check my security, updates and logs.

Backups have also become increasingly important to me.

Not only because my website matters to me, but because I now know how frustrating it can be when data is lost.

A backup is therefore not a luxury.

It is simply part of managing your own environment.

My Homelab as a Learning Environment

What started as a website has actually become part of a much larger project.

My homelab is not just a collection of computers and servers.

Above all, it is a place where I can experiment and learn.

I can try something, see what happens and then make changes.

That is exactly what I like about self-hosting.

You do not have to understand everything at once.

You can learn step by step.

That is also how I started rebuilding my homelab.

Self-Hosting Is Not Necessary for Everyone

I do not think everyone needs to host their own website.

A good hosting package can actually be a very sensible choice.

If you mainly want to have a website and do not want to deal with servers, Linux, updates and security, managed hosting is probably much more convenient.

For me, things are different.

I find technology interesting and want to understand what I use.

That is why managing it myself suits me.

Open Source and Reuse

There is another side to this for me.

I think it is a shame to write off perfectly good hardware without a reason.

That is why I also use somewhat older hardware in my homelab.

A server does not have to be the latest model to be useful to me.

If the hardware still works well and is suitable for its purpose, it can often continue to be used for years.

That fits nicely with open source for me.

Not everything has to be new.

Sometimes you can build something worthwhile again using the resources you already have.

Moving Forward One Step at a Time

My website and my homelab are never really finished.

There is always something to improve, learn or figure out again. That is exactly what I enjoy.

I do not need everything to be perfect either. Above all, I want to understand what I am doing and keep making progress.

That is why web hosting and open source fit well with the way I work with technology.

Managing things myself, learning for myself and reusing existing resources wherever possible. Ultimately, that is what my homelab and website are about.

But there is something else that matters to me.

Because of my recovery, things do not move as quickly as they used to. And honestly, they do not have to.

I take things step by step and at my own pace. Sometimes I manage to do more than at other times. Sometimes I have to figure something out again, or stop for a while and continue later.

That is okay.

The most important thing for me is to keep doing something I enjoy. My curiosity about technology has remained, and my homelab gives me the opportunity to keep learning and discovering new things.

My website does not have to be finished tomorrow.

Things may not move as quickly as they used to. That is hardly surprising when you consider that I have taken quite a blow to the head. That is why I take things step by step, at my own pace.