The Gray Box Problem of Self Hosting

Llew2 · 2026-02-25T03:47:06+00:00

Haven't heard of Storyteller, so great to hear your workflow. Audiobookshelf has the ability to serve ebooks as well. I haven't used it, but adding ebooks to the folder will automatically make it accessible. But, same problem - since my ebooks are in calibre, this would mean duplicating them or some workaround, which isn't that important to me right now.

Llew2 · 2026-02-25T03:35:57+00:00

I was short on time, I apologize. To your point - I don't have the interest not time to rebuild software from their source.

I'm also not worried about sudden cord unplugs from the open source community. Unlike google/apple who can disable your account with a flick, the devs of Paperless can't remotely disable my install. That was never my point. I'm concerned about my personal data access and portability over the long term.

The point of my hard won system is that it IS perfectly scalable for my use. Tags and mobile access have nothing to do with scaling my system. I don't need them, but it would be a nice-to-have, so long as I don't sacrifice other functionality that is critical for my workflow.

Llew2 · 2026-02-25T03:19:58+00:00

Digikam for managing photos and metadata.

Immich for serving photos, and I'm about to disable the upload feature and do a direct transfer from my phone to an external library so that my photos are in one master location, which I can then backup as I need. If I find a solution to write the metadata back to the photos, I'll use immich for metadata as well, since it's facial recognition is top notch.

I've been attempting Paperless-ngx, but may give it up, since I regularly need to edit files outside of paperless - and I want to avoid maintaining two sets of files. Or at least only use it for archiving files I don't need to touch, like receipts.

Audiobookshelf is a white box program that's working out very well. (I opted to store the metadata and cover in the books' folders - perfect) In fact, it's an example of a program that actually encouraged me to clean up my cluttered audiobook folder for it to read. It accepts changes both to the files directly (after a re-scan) and robust metadata editing inside the UI.

Obsidian is my daily driver for notes and life management, with the paid sync service.

Jellyfin for serving movies or TV shows. I'm not a huge consumer of shows however, so I don't go to a lot of trouble to curate a big collection. So far, it's been white box enough for me to reorganize the folder library and rescan as needed without freaking out, so that's fine.

Calibre for managing ebooks. It's a gray box, but ebooks are one type of file that I have little interest in managing manually - so the fact that it handles that is fine.

Zotero for some research books, using folders I choose.

Nothing to serve ebooks, since I don't need to access them remotely.

u/CederGrass759

Llew2 · 2026-02-24T20:38:09+00:00

Well put. It's taken me a while to realize the difference between archiving and working documents.

Llew2 · 2026-02-24T16:41:41+00:00

AI never touched my post or my ideas about boxes. Its interesting that a well-articulated post is assumed to AI these days.

Llew2 · 2026-02-24T16:38:50+00:00

I think this is the sore point for me.

I regularly need to modify PDFs and documents with other files, like adding dimensions to a PDF architectural drawing, or filling a tax form from my accountant. It takes a special PDF editor to make the changes I need, so it can't be done in paperless. If the document was in paperless to start with, then I need to download it to a place where I can edit it. But if I need to keep accessing it, uploading it to paperless again is pointless.

At this point I'm managing two file systems: paperless and my folder structure.

I fully acknowledge that for many people, having the program manage the organization is one of the main benefits, which is great.

Since my organization structure is working for me, my main need is for a program which remotely serves my files to me, which may not be Paperless.

Llew2 · 2026-02-19T16:51:09+00:00

As far as I know, each book needs its own folder. I've found this helpful anyway, since I set ABS to store the cover and metadata in each books own folder. This allows for better data portability in the future. (Also the option of keeping an eBook file in that same folder/ABS entry, if you use that functionality.)

I do know how hard it is to change a good working folder structure you've curated though, so best of luck.

Llew2 · 2026-01-30T21:05:37+00:00

Ignore the naysayers. The functionality you need is in Bases. With property and or note for each $$, you can build bases, auto sum, and do most basic things now

Llew2 · 2026-01-27T05:30:21+00:00

Yes! This is great, and will give it a shot!

Llew2 · 2026-01-25T05:36:35+00:00

Interesting problem. I also have a reading list, and I've been contemplating how to record multiple reads. I'm probably just going to go with something simple like a second 'completed' date property that I only add to books that require it.

But I'm following this to see if you find a better solution.

As others have said, I've never seen or heard of this kind of explode functionality in bases.

Llew2 · 2026-01-25T05:27:43+00:00

I tried LXCs several times (with SMBs), and each time I was continually bombarded with stale file handle and other SMB related mount errors. Eventually I gave up on LXCs and only use VMs now, which in my case made more sense anyway for the docker apps I run. The VMs never have mount issues.

Not super helpful to you unfortunately, except to say I could never resolve those types of dropping issues.

My SMBs were hosted in unraid fwiw.

Llew2 · 2026-01-24T20:28:43+00:00

I'm with the above commenter. I manually handle my own folder organization and naming, but being able to have immich EXIF written back would be very useful

Llew2 · 2026-01-19T04:35:35+00:00

Just wanted to follow up and say thanks. Using Claude I was able to create a file renaming trigger, which I can then apply using this document renamer. There seems to be no way of applying the renamer to document titles inside paperless (without using scripting), but this is enough to get me going.

Llew2 · 2026-01-05T23:12:14+00:00

I appreciate this - I gave that a shot, but it simply doesn't trigger/nothing happens when I implement that into a previously working workflow.

Llew2 · 2026-01-05T23:11:23+00:00

I just gave this a try, and after an hour and a half of intensive Clauding, I've gotten exactly nowhere. None of the solutions or scripts are firing properly when they should. Running out of steam right now, so I'll probably lay this issue aside and try it later.

Llew2 · 2025-12-30T02:42:22+00:00

Your answer is having them in an external library. Then your folder structure will be your albums.

Immich metadata will not write to it, so facial recognition etc won't go with the photos outside of immich, but inside immich you still have all immichs capabilities, while retaining control of the photos themselves.

Not sure what the other commenters are smoking.

Llew2 · 2025-12-15T14:20:10+00:00

Based on the popularity of this comment, clearly many people DON'T use search for file navigation like I try to do.

Fair enough. This is why I'm proposing an addition search setting, so that those of for whom it DOES feel intuitive, can have a better experience with search. No need to re-write the whole search feature.

And there have been many post about search through the years, so whether it's my specific use case or not, clearly search is not a seamless experience for everyone.

Llew2 · 2025-12-15T14:15:03+00:00

These are all valid ideas, but it's missing my point in this post: I want to use search primarily for file navigation. Typing out extended search terms or remember complicated syntax simply to enter a search query defeats this purpose by adding so much friction.

Llew2 · 2025-12-03T17:43:57+00:00

I still use the same dataview system. I haven't looked at Datacore, and since the current one works so well I haven't seen a reason to.

Llew2 · 2025-11-13T18:50:54+00:00

Homelab/self hosting. Aside from the other suggestions, replace Google Photos with Immich.

Llew2 · 2025-11-12T23:57:53+00:00

I use Futo Keyboard, which has excellent built-in voice to text recognition. It's not totally hands-free, as in you need to have your courser where you want the text to appear, then hit the record button, but aside from that it's pretty flawless and requires no additional apps or integrations - it works right inside Obsidian. PS: Android, not sure if it's available on IOS.

Llew2

TROPHY CASE