Showcase Friday #1: Nextcloud, your own private cloud

Welcome to Showcase Friday, put down those fish and listen up. Today is no ordinary Friday—it’s Showcase Friday, the day we plunge headfirst into the icy waters of Free and Open-Source Software. Showcase Friday is a new series of articles where I’ll be showcasing a FOSS project that I think deserves more attention. I’ll be covering a wide range of projects, from the well-known to the obscure. The only criteria are that the project must be FOSS, freedom-respecting and privacy preserving, and it must be something I either personally use and enjoy or will use in the future.

We’re kicking off this series with Nextcloud, a FOSS cloud storage platform that puts you in control of your data. Nextcloud is a powerful tool that can be used for a wide range of purposes, from file storage to collaborative document editing. It’s a great alternative to Big Tech cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox, and it’s a breeze to set up. Let’s dive in!

What is Nextcloud?⌗

“Nextcloud, what’s that?” I hear you chirp. Well, picture Google Drive and Dropbox, but without Big Tech’s grimy flippers all over your data. Nextcloud is a cloud storage platform that respects your privacy and doesn’t play fast and loose with your sensitive information. Oh yes, I said the ‘P’ word—Privacy!

This powerhouse of a platform allows you to do everything from hoarding your memes securely, to working collaboratively on documents with other penguins across the globe. It offers unparalleled versatility. Whether you’re storing your in-progress groundbreaking research on why sushi is objectively the best food, or you’re simply looking for a safe haven for your penguin family photos, this is the FOSS platform for you.

Nextcloud isn’t just a one-trick pony—or should I say, a one-trick penguin? Besides file storage, it offers features like calendar syncing, contact management, and even video conferencing. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of cloud platforms, except it’s not out to gouge your eyeballs with profit-driven motives.

I hear some of you in the back questioning, “Why not use Dropbox or Google Drive? They’re so convenient!” Well, my naive little penguins, that’s like asking why we shouldn’t let sharks guard the fish school. Convenience at the cost of control is a false bargain. We’re talking about companies whose business models involve monetizing your personal data. Don’t be their chum.

The Collaboration Revolution⌗

Nextcloud lets you work in tandem with other people without sacrificing your data sovereignty. Imagine being able to co-author that spicy expose on why polar bears are the worst, with your fellow penguins or collaboratively writing a book about the history of penguin fashion. Nextcloud makes it possible to do all that and more. It’s like a penguin party where everyone is invited, and no one is left out in the cold.

“But how does it benefit the average Joe, or in this case, the average Joe Penguin?” you might ask. Well, imagine you’re organizing the annual Penguin Prom and you need to collaborate on the list of fishy snacks, the invite list, and the playlist for the dance-off. Nextcloud is your ticket to doing all that without worrying about some corporate lackey snooping on your preferences for mackerel vs. anchovies.

Oh, Did I Mention the Apps? Sure, Nextcloud can store your files, but it can also host various apps to up the ante on functionality. Picture apps for note-taking, task management, or even reading your favorite e-books.

Don’t Be a Hermit, Share!⌗

Sharing with Nextcloud is like gossiping but without the guilt or the breach of trust. You can share files or folders with specific individuals, create public links, and set expirations and permissions. You know, so you can share your Grandma’s secret cookie recipe for a limited time and not worry it will become the next viral sensation, except in the way you want it to be.

Big Business Schmig Business⌗

Let’s face it, small businesses could also find a lot of value in using Nextcloud. It’s a David-vs-Goliath situation. Except here, David doesn’t just have a sling; he’s got a whole arsenal. No need to rely on giants who don’t give a hoot about you or your quaint little shop selling custom-knit penguin sweaters. No not sweaters made from penguins, sweaters for penguins. That would be barbaric.

Ah, The Sweet Taste of Independence⌗

In the end, Nextcloud offers you a level of independence that’s hard to find in our world of behemoth corporations and walled gardens. It’s a big step towards reclaiming your digital life and swimming freely in the ocean of online possibility.

So, folks, swim away from the corporate sharks and into the safer waters of Nextcloud. And remember, you’re not just a penguin in the sea; you’re a penguin with a FOSS-powered jetpack!

Contributing⌗

If you think using Nextcloud is as fun as belly sliding down an Antarctic hill, you’re gonna love being part of its ever-growing ice—err, I mean, user community.

Code Hunting: Penguin-Style⌗

Let’s start with what penguins do best—hunt! But we’re not diving for krill; we’re diving into code to sniff out bugs. Imagine you’re tracking down little code-sardines that are causing a ruckus in the digital sea. Snag them, tag them, or if you’re a PHP-wielding penguin, fix them up yourself. Who needs a beak when you have a keyboard?

The Bard of the Iceberg: Documentation and Tutorials⌗

Ever try to explain to your penguin pals why the sea isn’t just a giant fish dispenser? Not easy, right? That’s why we need the Shakespearean scribes of the penguin world to write the epics—or at least some how-tos. Pen some waddle-by-waddle guides that even a chick could follow.

The App Arctic: More than Just Ice Holes⌗

If you’re the inventive type who’s been rigging up ways to launch yourself off icebergs for maximum belly slide distance, why not channel that creativity into app development? Nextcloud could always use more features. Design an app that helps penguins keep track of their pebble collections or, dare I say, a fish inventory system?

Ice Scout Recon: Testing and Feedback⌗

Some brave penguins have to venture to the other ice floes to see if they’re ripe for sliding. Be that pioneering penguin! Slide into the beta versions, test the untested, and chirp loudly if you stumble upon thin ice (read: bugs and crashes). Your adventurous spirit will help make Nextcloud as sturdy as an age-old glacier.

Shiny Pebble Donations: Because Everyone needs to buy some Fish⌗

If you’ve amassed a pile of shiny pebbles and you’re feeling generous, consider donating some to keep Nextcloud’s developers churning. These pebbles may not be good for nesting, but they’re excellent for ensuring Nextcloud’s nest keeps expanding. Give a pebble, take a byte, as they say.

Note: Nextcloud accepts donations through their Nextcloud include program, please send them an email at [email protected] to learn more.

So there you have it, my feathered compatriots! Whether you’re a pecky programmer, a dapper documentarian, an app-artiste, a pebble philanthropist, or a daring explorer, your talents are needed. Now, flap those flippers and let’s make Nextcloud a sanctuary for penguins and privacy alike!

Links⌗

• Nextcloud
• Nextcloud GitHub
• Nextcloud Community

Showcase Friday⌗

If you have any suggestions for future articles, feel free to reach out to me on Matrix. I’m always on the lookout for new FOSS projects to showcase, so don’t be shy! Feel free to also leave a comment below and share this article with your friends to help spread the word.

Coming up next week: Purplix, a FOSS survey platform that offers end-to-end encryption for your data.

See you next week for another FOSS gem!