The man behind the Google Photos killer and the Google Photos replacement developer discuss Immich, a self-hosted backup solution for photos and videos. They also cover topics like CPU and motherboard options, power consumption, open source sustainability, consolidating services, storage solutions, reliability of used computer components, listener feedback, and 3D printing a rack mount.
The podcast discusses the features and limitations of a home lab server, including build quality, CPU choice, pricing, and competitors.
The interview with the lead developer of the Image project highlights the recent updates, their goal of replacing Google Photos, and the importance of open-source sustainability through donations.
The discussion on storage considerations explores the use of ZFS for data integrity, suggestions for purchasing new drives, and the importance of drive history and reliability.
Deep dives
Summary of Episode
In this podcast episode, the hosts are joined by Brent, who shares his recent trip to El Salvador and his experience with a new 3D printer and home lab server. They discuss the build quality and features of the server, such as the captive thumb screws and the pre-wired drive bays. They also analyze the choice of a Xeon CPU and its limitations in terms of media encoding. The hosts consider the pricing and competitors of the server, comparing it to other options in the market. They also discuss the out-of-the-box software experience and the need for better documentation. Finally, they talk about energy consumption, noise level, and potential alternatives like Nix OS.
The Future of Image Project
The hosts interview Alex, the lead developer behind the Image project. They discuss the recent release of version 1.8.6, which introduced unified sharing for partners and the move to a new map tile server. They explore the audacity of the project in trying to replace Google Photos and its growing popularity among users. Alex emphasizes the goal of keeping the project open-source and not pivoting towards a paywall approach. They discuss potential plans for building a hosting solution for those who don't want to self-host the Image project. The conversation shifts to open-source sustainability and the importance of donations to support the project financially.
Storage Solutions & Buying New Drives
The hosts dive into Brent's storage dilemma, as he contemplates upgrading his hard drives. They discuss the option of using ZFS for data integrity and suggesting a pair of disks in a ZFS mirror. They also explore the idea of using merger FS for storing replaceable data while using ZFS for more critical data. The hosts provide insights into the now-vs-later question and offer suggestions for purchasing new drives and avoiding used drives. They also delve into the importance of drive history and reliability when choosing new hardware.
Consolidating Services and Improving Performance
The podcast discusses the goal of consolidating some services like the proxy container and the web container into the server container to simplify the Docker compose file. Additionally, they have found a way to make the web not server-side rendering while maintaining good performance. With the microservice architecture, there is potential for distributing tasks across multiple machines, which can be beneficial for handling large amounts of data or complex operations.
Enabling Secure Sharing of Images
The podcast explores the idea of enabling image sharing while keeping the images safe and secure from a backend perspective. They discuss the possibility of using an intermediary service or a remote cloud solution to facilitate image sharing without exposing home machines or personal infrastructure. They also mention the potential of building a plugin system around the image application to extend its functionality, allowing users to create custom solutions for image sharing and management.
⚡ Self-Hosted on the Podcastindex.org — Send a Boost into the show via the web. First, top-up Alby, then head over to our entry on the Podcast Index.
Immich — Self-hosted Backup Solution for Photos and Videos on Mobile Devices.
Immich Release v1.86.0 — In this release we have added an option to enable parter-shared photos to be displayed in the main timeline. This feature can be enabled on a per-partner basis and can be viewed and updated on both the web and mobile app.
45HomeLab - Staff Pick Applications — 45HomeLab provides a platform to run whatever applications you want on your server. For your convenience, our staff picked their favorite applications, tested and assembled them here.
