Dropbox
Cloud file storage and sync for teams and individuals
OpenCloud
Scalable Go backend for secure file sync and sharing
A Go‑based server backend that provides OpenID Connect authentication, filesystem storage, and ready‑to‑run file sync & share services with simple local deployment and extensible identity provider options.
Overview
Overview
The OpenCloud server backend is a Go‑written platform that powers self‑hosted file synchronization and sharing. It authenticates users via OpenID Connect, supporting external providers such as Keycloak or the built‑in LibreGraph Connect identity service. All data is stored directly in the filesystem, eliminating the need for a separate database and simplifying backup and migration.
Deployment & Extensibility
A single binary is produced with make -C opencloud build. After generation of assets, the server can be initialized and started with opencloud/bin/opencloud init && opencloud/bin/opencloud server, creating a default configuration under $HOME/.opencloud. Developers can extend functionality through Go code, contribute patches, or add custom tests, benefiting from an active community and Apache‑2.0 licensing.
Who Should Use It
Ideal for teams and individuals seeking a lightweight, secure file‑share solution that integrates with existing SSO infrastructure, while keeping operational overhead low.
Highlights
OpenID Connect authentication with external IdPs or embedded LibreGraph Connect
Filesystem‑based storage eliminates database dependencies
Single Go binary for straightforward deployment
Extensible codebase with active community contributions
Pros
- Simple storage model reduces operational complexity
- Strong security through standard OIDC flows
- High performance native Go implementation
- Active open‑source community and clear contribution path
Considerations
- Lacks a relational database for complex queries
- Filesystem storage may limit massive data scalability
- No built‑in rich UI; focuses on backend services
- Custom extensions require Go development expertise
Managed products teams compare with
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Fit guide
Great for
- Self‑hosted file sync where minimal infrastructure is desired
- Organizations that already use OIDC‑compatible identity providers
- Developers looking to extend a Go backend for file services
- Small to medium deployments that can rely on filesystem storage
Not ideal when
- Enterprises needing high‑throughput, database‑backed storage
- Use cases requiring a full‑featured collaboration UI out of the box
- Teams without Go programming experience
- Very large scale deployments requiring distributed storage solutions
How teams use it
Corporate file share with Keycloak SSO
Secure, centralized file access for employees using existing SSO
Personal cloud storage on a home server
Simple, low‑maintenance file sync without a database
Automated test environment for sync applications
Quick spin‑up of a backend instance for integration testing
Custom metadata handling via Go plugins
Tailored functionality added to the backend without altering core code
Tech snapshot
Go48%
Gherkin36%
PHP12%
JavaScript1%
Starlark1%
Makefile1%
Frequently asked questions
How is data persisted?
All data is stored in the filesystem under the configured root directory, defaulting to $HOME/.opencloud.
Which identity providers are supported?
Any OpenID Connect provider, such as Keycloak, or the built‑in LibreGraph Connect identity service.
Do I need a database?
No, the server operates solely with filesystem storage.
How do I start a local instance?
Run `opencloud/bin/opencloud init && opencloud/bin/opencloud server` after building the binary.
What license is the project under?
The OpenCloud server backend is released under the Apache License 2.0.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 4,610
- Watchers
- 4,610
- Forks
- 158
LicenseApache-2.0
Repo age1 year old
Last commityesterday
Primary languageGo
Last synced yesterday