I don’t have a home server yet but I’m exploring and sometimes I get confused about some posts here.
For example I saw a post asking for recommendation for a “self hosted budget management app”. Can’t you just install this type of app to your phone or pc? What’s the purpose here, will you host it and access it from a browser? Or do you only want to backup its data to your server?
I hope I don’t sound stupid please enlighten me.
Total control. Let’s take the budgeting app for example. I started using Mint in 2009. There’s more than a decade worth of banking, spending, and investment information in there.
Mint is shuttering in about a month. They gave all their users a month and a half notice. When it’s gone, it’s gone.
When a self hosted app is used (with appropriate backups, orchestration, etc) YOU the user get to decide when you’re done.
If something isn’t working for your life anymore, you can find an alternative and migrate everything over on your own schedule.
That’s the real reason I would self host something like a budget app. I don’t want a company like Mint to have (and sell) my purchasing and financial history.
Also valid. I had to take a pragmatic approach with it to also meet SAF. The internet was also a very different place 14 years ago.
Too bad all the payment processors are already doing this anyways, regardless or not if you are using your own budgeting software.
Basically if you’ve ever used Plaid for anything, the company that you’re using Plaid for has all of your accounting history.
Not saying you shouldn’t use your own budgeting software too (I do) just pointing out how completely helpless the situation is if you are in the US.