Open-Source Personal Cloud for Privacy, Control & Simplicity

Imagine having a digital sanctuary where you store photos, notes, documents, and calendar events on hardware you control, without nosey corporations or hidden surveillance. Olares is the answer: a beautifully simple, open-source personal cloud platform crafted to give you full ownership over your data. With Olares, you get a clean, unified interface (Web, mobile-friendly), secure sync across devices, and a plug‑and‑play experience that doesn’t mock your privacy.

Whether you’re tired of walled gardens, tired of subscription fees, or just love open-source power you’ll find Olares refreshing, capable, and deeply user‑centric.

What Is Olares?

Olares is a self‑hosted personal cloud solution that runs as a web app. It gives you tools like:

• Encrypted sync for files and notes
• Cross‑device access through browser or mobile
• Calendar, contacts, snippets & bookmarks
• Built‑in user accounts and permissions
• A gorgeous, minimal interface with dark/light mode

It’s like having your simplified own CloudKit, Google Workspace, and note app without the vendor lock‑in.

Core Features & Why They Matter

1. Unified File and Note Management

Upload files, jot notes, bookmark URLs, or save snippets all in one place, with fast search and versioning support.

Why it matters:
It replaces scattered notes apps, file directories, and bookmark tools consolidating everything into one secure, portable hub.

2. Cross-Device Sync & Access

Your files and notes sync securely across all devices via end‑to‑end encryption. Access via browser or mobile apps ensures you’re always in touch with your content.

Why it matters:
Frustrated by version mismatches or dependence on third‑party servers? With Olares, you hold the keys and the infrastructure.

3. Metadata-Based Organization

Use tags, folders, timestamps and full-text indexing to organize content. Powerful filtering helps you find what you saved — fast.

Why it matters:
Folders aren’t enough being able to tag, search, and filter empowers better organization, especially for personal archives.

4. Self-Hosted Design

Deploy Olares on your own server (Raspberry Pi, VPS, local NAS). You never depend on third-party cloud providers or data brokers.

Why it matters:
Privacy and ownership are non-negotiable for many users; self‑hosting ensures your data stays yours.

5. Lightweight & Extendable

Written in Python (FastAPI) with a React frontend, Olares is designed for speed and pluggability.

Why it matters:
Want to add AI tools, integrations like WebDAV, or plugins for additional editors? The architecture allows customization and growth.

How to Install and Deploy Olares

Local Install (Development Mode)

git clone https://github.com/beclab/Olares.git
cd Olares
pip install -r requirements.txt
cp .env.example .env  # configure secrets
python app.py

Open http://localhost:8000 to start onboarding.

Production with Docker

docker build -t olares .
docker run -d -p 8000:8000 --name olares olares

For persistence, mount volumes for /app/data and /app/files, and optionally sit behind NGINX with HTTPS.

Daily Use

• Register your admin user
• Upload files or type notes
• Tag, edit, or search via the easy interface
• Invite family or friends as “users” with read/write rights

Interface Design and Experience

Olares strikes a beautiful balance between minimalism and functionality:

• Responsive layout that works in desktops and phones
• Drag-and-drop uploads, dark mode, and keyboard-first navigation
• Fast performance, even on modest hardware
• A unified UX for files, notes, calendar, and metadata browsing

Final Thoughts

Data ownership doesn’t have to be scary, complicated, or outdated. Olares proves that private personal clouds can be simple, elegant, and powerful. Whether you’re securing your journal, curating research, or bonding over shared family memories, this platform brings calm, clarity, and control back into your digital life.

No trackers. No lock in. Just your data safe, organized, and always accessible.