Self-Hosted Stack Builder
Self-Hosted App Installer
Generate bootable Linux stacks for media, photos, files, passwords, DNS, smart homes, documents, and homelab services.
OpenFactory is a self-hosted app installer for cases where the app needs an operating system shape around it: a bootable image, a VM topology, network assumptions, service checks, and operator runbooks.
From app list to bootable stack
Most self-hosting guides stop at a compose file or a package install. OpenFactory is useful when you want the full lab shape: app node, database, cache, reverse proxy, monitoring, backups, DNS, and a set of assertions that prove the stack is wired after boot.
Popular self-hosted build prompts
Jellyfin media stack
Jellyfin, Sonarr, Radarr, nginx, and observability.
Nextcloud stack
Nextcloud, Postgres, Redis, and Collabora Online.
Immich photo vault
Immich app, ML worker, Postgres-pgvector, and Redis.
Vaultwarden password vault
Vaultwarden, Caddy TLS edge, and Postgres.
Pi-hole DNS cluster
Primary Pi-hole, failover node, and Unbound resolver.
Home Assistant lab
Home Assistant, MQTT, Zigbee2MQTT, and Node-RED.
Paperless-ngx document lab
Paperless-ngx, Tika, Gotenberg, Postgres, and Redis.
Plex media stack
Plex, Tdarr, nginx, and Prometheus observability.
nginx TLS reverse proxy
A hardened edge gateway pattern for self-hosted apps.
*arr media automation
Sonarr, Radarr, Prowlarr, and Bazarr as separate nodes.
When to use OpenFactory instead of a one-command installer
- You want a bootable VM or ISO, not only containers on a host.
- You need a repeatable topology across lab, staging, and production.
- You want health checks and scenario assertions to travel with the build.
- You are standardizing a stack for multiple machines or customers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a self-hosted app installer?
A self-hosted app installer helps deploy server applications on infrastructure you control. OpenFactory's angle is to generate a bootable Linux stack, so the operating system, service layout, and validation checks are packaged together.
Does OpenFactory replace Docker Compose?
No. Docker Compose is excellent for many app stacks. OpenFactory is useful when you want a whole Linux image or multi-node lab around the app, including system packages, startup services, networking assumptions, and tests.
Which self-hosted apps are good first OpenFactory builds?
Jellyfin, Nextcloud, Immich, Vaultwarden, Pi-hole, Home Assistant, Paperless-ngx, Plex, nginx reverse proxies, and Proxmox-adjacent services are good first targets because their topology and operator responsibilities are well understood.
Related OpenFactory pages
Proxmox homelab setup
Build the virtualization layer beneath self-hosted app stacks.
Custom Linux ISO builder
Turn a single app stack prompt into a bootable Linux image.
Build ISO from GitHub
Package a self-hosted app repository into a Linux system.
Own your VPN
Use OpenFactory to build your own VPN appliance instead of renting one.
Build the image instead of hand-assembling it
Use OpenFactory to turn the same requirements into a bootable, testable Linux system.