Guides for people who run their own software
Practical guides and honest deep dives into open-source SaaS and self-hosting.
Latest
Backing Up a Self-Hosted App the Right Way: The 3-2-1 Rule in Practice
Most self-hosted backups are a cron job nobody has ever tested. Here is how to apply the 3-2-1 rule with real commands, and how to run a restore drill so you know it works.
Open-Source Licenses Explained for Founders: MIT, Apache, GPL, AGPL, SSPL
A plain-English guide to the licenses you will actually run into when picking open-source software for your startup, and what each one lets you do commercially.
A Docker Compose Starter Stack for Your First Self-Hosted Setup
The handful of pieces every self-hosted setup needs before the apps: a reverse proxy, automatic HTTPS, backups, and updates. A calm walkthrough you can finish in an afternoon.
Moving From Zapier to n8n: A Practical Walkthrough
How to move your automations from Zapier to self-hosted n8n one workflow at a time, what maps cleanly, what does not, and how to keep the lights on during the switch.
How to Tell if an Open-Source Project Is Safe to Depend On
A practical checklist for judging the health of an open-source project before you build on it, so you can spot the abandoned ones and the one-maintainer risks early.
How to Migrate Off Google Workspace Without Breaking Your Week
A calm, step-by-step approach to moving email, docs, calendar, and files away from Google Workspace to open-source and self-hosted tools, without a risky big-bang cutover.
Self-Hosting vs. SaaS in 2026: The Real Cost Breakdown
Self-hosting looks free until you add up your time. Here is a practical way to compare the true cost of running open-source software yourself versus paying for a SaaS subscription.
🚀 Introducing opensaas.directory: Your Gateway to Open Source SaaS Alternatives
In today's SaaS-driven world, finding the right software solutions for your business can be overwhelming. While proprietary SaaS tools dominate the market, there's a growing ecosystem of powerful open source alternatives that often go undiscovered.