FLOSS Weekly 755: Nextcloud - Frank Karlitschek, Nextcloud Growth and Updates
Oct 25, 2023
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Frank Karlitschek, co-creator of Nextcloud, discusses the growth and development of Nextcloud from OwnCloud, its surprising customer base in the public sector and education, and the features of Nextcloud including address book, file-sharing, office components, video calls, and chat. They also talk about the integration of the activity pub standard, the recent Nextcloud conference, and enabling personal control by running Nextcloud on personal hardware.
Nextcloud is a fast-growing open-source collaboration platform that provides a wide range of capabilities independent of giant gatekeepers.
Nextcloud can be run on personal servers, empowering individuals to have their own cloud and control their data.
Nextcloud is not just a cloud platform but also a suite of components, including integration with productivity tools, a diverse app store, and a remote-first culture.
Deep dives
Nextcloud: Open-source cloud platform for global collaboration
Nextcloud is an open-source cloud platform that enables global collaboration. It evolved from OwnCloud and has gained popularity among developers worldwide. It offers features like file sharing, storage, encryption, and more. Nextcloud is being used in unexpected verticals, such as ships at sea. The software allows individuals and organizations to decentralize the internet and host their own instances of Nextcloud. It has gained traction in the public sector, education, and as a white-labeled solution for cloud providers. Nextcloud also offers AI-powered features, including facial recognition, object detection, and text-to-speech capabilities, with the goal of providing a privacy-focused alternative to commercial cloud services.
Running Nextcloud on personal servers and unexpected use cases
Nextcloud can be run on personal servers, offering individuals the ability to have their own cloud and control their data. Users can repurpose old machines, such as Raspberry Pis or NAS devices, to host Nextcloud. The software is compatible with Linux-based operating systems and can be installed on laptops, desktops, or servers. Surprisingly, Nextcloud has found unique use cases on ships, where it can be used offline and synced once an internet connection is available. Additionally, Nextcloud has been adopted by human rights organizations to establish secure communication and collaboration infrastructure in countries with limited freedom of press.
The Nextcloud ecosystem and community-driven development
Nextcloud is not just a cloud platform but a suite of different components that work together. The Nextcloud Hub provides integration with productivity tools like calendars, contacts, and collaborative document editing, similar to the Google Suite or Microsoft 365. The Nextcloud App Store offers a wide range of community-developed applications and additional functionalities. While there are different trust levels for apps, Nextcloud prioritizes open-source development and transparency. The community actively contributes to the development and the security reviews of applications. The company operates with a remote-first culture, enabling its 90+ employees to work from different locations worldwide.
Open-source AI features and personal AI assistant
Nextcloud has been expanding its AI capabilities, offering features like face recognition, object detection, text-to-speech, and more. Users can generate AI-assisted content, create illustrations, or summarize email threads. With its open-source approach, Nextcloud enables users to have local AI models without relying on external cloud services for processing. The company has plans to further improve its AI capabilities, integrating a personal AI assistant that can understand local data and provide contextual information. Nextcloud's aim is to offer users a privacy-focused alternative to commercial cloud services while harnessing the power of AI.
Nextcloud's global impact and future possibilities
Nextcloud is making a significant impact globally, with a growing user base in the public sector, education, and cloud service providers. Its decentralization approach allows individuals and organizations to maintain control over their data and host their instances. Nextcloud's versatility and open-source nature have led to surprising use cases, such as on ships and in countries with restricted internet access. Looking ahead, Nextcloud plans to enhance its user experience, simplify app installation, and streamline its conference and community event formats. By continuing to innovate and foster collaboration, Nextcloud aims to shape the future of cloud computing.
Frank Karlitschek joins Doc Searls and Jonathan Bennett to talk about Nextcloud. Nextcloud is a fast-growing open source collaboration platform that gives customers a huge array of capabilities, all independent of giant gatekeepers.
