cloudreve/cloudreve - Detailed Review#

1. Overview & GitHub Stats#

URL: https://github.com/cloudreve/cloudreve
Stars: 24686

2. Project Description#

Cloudreve is a powerful, open-source, self-hosted file management and sharing system designed to give users complete control over their data. It supports integration with multiple storage providers, allowing seamless management of files across various cloud and local storage solutions. Built with performance and flexibility in mind, Cloudreve serves as a robust alternative to proprietary cloud storage services, offering features like user management, file previews, and sharing capabilities—all while keeping data on infrastructure you control.

3. What Software Does It Replace?#

Cloudreve can effectively replace several commercial and open-source solutions, including:

Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive for self-hosted file storage and sharing.
Nextcloud and ownCloud for users seeking a lightweight, Golang-based alternative.
Seafile for those prioritizing multi-storage backend support.
Commercial enterprise file sync and share (EFSS) platforms by providing a customizable, cost-free alternative.

4. Core Functionality#

Cloudreve offers a comprehensive set of features, such as:

Multi-Storage Support: Connect to local storage, AWS S3, Aliyun OSS, OneDrive, and more.
User and Group Management: Create users, set storage quotas, and manage permissions.
File Sharing: Generate shareable links with expiration dates and password protection.
File Previews: Supports previews for documents, images, audio, and video files.
WebDAV Support: Access and manage files via WebDAV clients.
Theming and Customization: Modify the UI to match branding or personal preference.
API Access: Extend functionality using a well-documented REST API.

5. Pros and Cons#

Pros:

Open Source and Free: No licensing costs, with full access to source code.
Self-Hosted: Complete data ownership and privacy.
Multi-Storage Flexibility: Use a mix of storage backends seamlessly.
Lightweight and Fast: Built in Go, ensuring high performance with low resource usage.
Active Community: Strong GitHub presence with regular updates and support.

Cons:

Self-Hosting Required: Requires technical knowledge to deploy and maintain.
Limited Mobile Support: Mobile app functionality may not be as polished as commercial alternatives.
Documentation Gaps: Some advanced features may have sparse documentation.

6. Detailed Installation Guide (Self-host)#

Follow these steps to deploy Cloudreve on an Ubuntu server (22.04 LTS recommended). This guide uses Docker for simplicity and reproducibility.

Prerequisites:#

Ubuntu server (22.04 LTS)
Docker and Docker Compose installed
Basic familiarity with Linux command line

Step 1: Update System and Install Docker#

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sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
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sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose -y
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sudo systemctl enable docker && sudo systemctl start docker

Step 2: Create a Directory for Cloudreve#

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mkdir ~/cloudreve && cd ~/cloudreve

Step 3: Create Docker Compose File#

Create a docker-compose.yml file with the following content:

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version: '3.8'
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services:
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  cloudreve:
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    image: cloudreve/cloudreve:latest
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    container_name: cloudreve
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    restart: unless-stopped
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    ports:
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      - "5212:5212"
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    volumes:
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      - ./uploads:/cloudreve/uploads
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      - ./conf.ini:/cloudreve/conf.ini
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      - ./cloudreve.db:/cloudreve/cloudreve.db
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    environment:
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      - TZ=Asia/Shanghai  # Adjust to your timezone

Step 4: Deploy Cloudreve#

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sudo docker-compose up -d

Step 5: Access and Configure#

Once deployed, access Cloudreve at http://your-server-ip:5212. The initial admin account and password will be displayed in the container logs. Retrieve them with:

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sudo docker logs cloudreve

Step 6 (Optional): Set Up Reverse Proxy#

For production use, set up a reverse proxy with Nginx or Apache and SSL for secure access.

This setup provides a functional instance of Cloudreve. For advanced configurations, refer to the official Cloudreve documentation.