What are the first steps to get started with self-hosting?

09 Tem 07:43

Bro, I was thinking about the same questions recently and I was exactly where you are now. For VPS vs home server, I think both work, but it really depends on what you're trying to do. Like, I was running a few Node.js projects as a hobby on my old i5-4590 with 16GB RAM, and that was more than enough. But when it came to file storage or hosting databases, I switched to a VPS. Here's why: leaving my home machine on all the time meant risking power surges or internet outages messing up my projects. With a VPS (like Hetzner's AX10 model), I get stability and easy backups. So, if you just need a simple setup for learning, a home server works. But if you want something reliable and always-on, a VPS makes more sense. For security and maintenance, I'd recommend going with a Linux-based system and using Docker. Docker keeps your apps isolated from each other, making security updates way easier. For example, I run a Node.js app and occasionally refresh my system with `docker-compose down && docker-compose up -d`. I also use fail2ban to protect against brute force attacks. For maintenance, I set up weekly automated backups and store them in different locations (like Backblaze B2). So yeah, I think the smartest move is to start with something simple for self-hosting (like a home server + Docker) and then move to a VPS as your system gets more stable.