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One of the biggest lost opportunities for the robustness of the Web has been people not running servers at their homes, even though they do have a connected com

One of the biggest lost opportunities for the robustness of the Web has been people not running servers at their homes, even though they do have a connected computer running 24x7 - the Router. It will probably take a Google or Apple to turn routers into standardized platforms with its own "app store", but by then it will be too late.

toomuchtodo 8y ago
Can OpenWRT not run containers? I’d argue that’s be an amazing use case similar to how my Synology NAS has a GUI and cli for running containers. Open source router firmware having the ability to run persistent containers would be a powerful feature (such as an IPFS node).
- simula67 8y ago
  OpenWRT routers may not have enough power (RAM/CPU) to run complicated server software. Also the router may be running MIPS which is not that well supported by many apps and containerization is not going to solve that problem. Admittedly, it was a few years since I last tested this. These days I try to run any apps on a Raspberry Pi connected to my OpenWrt router
NDizzle 8y ago
I've ran servers at home since I had a BBS in the mid 90s. I'm not even sure how many computers I own these days...
flukus 8y ago
Many of the most used online services like email and dropbox and maybe even federated social media alternatives amongst others could be well handled by home servers. I suspect they made it hard so they could be something more than dumb pipes, but instead they ceded those opportunities to google and other SaaS providers.
tdb7893 8y ago
I know people who are literally rocket scientists (most of them actually work on fighter jets) that have trouble correctly configuring video game servers. In my experience for most people trying to run any sort of server themselves is quite a hassle (I mean my work has a lot of experts whose sole job is to make sure the servers are all running correctly and they still get it wrong sometimes).
- xenihn 8y ago
  I know a few people who work on fighter jets. They have nothing good to say about most of their coworkers.
- mathnmusic 8y ago
  > for most people trying to run any sort of server themselves is quite a hassle Yet we run background apps on our phones quite easily.
deleted 8y ago
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bo1024 8y ago
I agree that it would be awesome if running servers at home would be commonplace. I think two main obstacles are (1) getting a static IP address, (2) ISPs terms forbid business use. But for personal sites, I guess both can be overcome. I think I disagree that the router is the best way to do this. Keep components of the system simple and modular - a Pi type computer plus 'dumb' router seems like a better choice to me.

toomuchtodo 8y ago

Can OpenWRT not run containers? I’d argue that’s be an amazing use case similar to how my Synology NAS has a GUI and cli for running containers. Open source router firmware having the ability to run persistent containers would be a powerful feature (such as an IPFS node).

simula67 8y ago
OpenWRT routers may not have enough power (RAM/CPU) to run complicated server software. Also the router may be running MIPS which is not that well supported by many apps and containerization is not going to solve that problem. Admittedly, it was a few years since I last tested this. These days I try to run any apps on a Raspberry Pi connected to my OpenWrt router

NDizzle 8y ago

I've ran servers at home since I had a BBS in the mid 90s. I'm not even sure how many computers I own these days...

flukus 8y ago

Many of the most used online services like email and dropbox and maybe even federated social media alternatives amongst others could be well handled by home servers. I suspect they made it hard so they could be something more than dumb pipes, but instead they ceded those opportunities to google and other SaaS providers.

tdb7893 8y ago

I know people who are literally rocket scientists (most of them actually work on fighter jets) that have trouble correctly configuring video game servers. In my experience for most people trying to run any sort of server themselves is quite a hassle (I mean my work has a lot of experts whose sole job is to make sure the servers are all running correctly and they still get it wrong sometimes).

xenihn 8y ago
I know a few people who work on fighter jets. They have nothing good to say about most of their coworkers.
mathnmusic 8y ago
> for most people trying to run any sort of server themselves is quite a hassle Yet we run background apps on our phones quite easily.

deleted 8y ago

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bo1024 8y ago

I agree that it would be awesome if running servers at home would be commonplace. I think two main obstacles are (1) getting a static IP address, (2) ISPs terms forbid business use. But for personal sites, I guess both can be overcome. I think I disagree that the router is the best way to do this. Keep components of the system simple and modular - a Pi type computer plus 'dumb' router seems like a better choice to me.