OpenCloud is an open source platform designed for secure, sovereign file management and team collaboration. Built in Go, it emphasizes data control by storing all files and metadata directly on the filesystem instead of relying on a traditional database. This architecture ensures transparency, simplicity, and full user ownership over data—ideal for organizations requiring compliance with data sovereignty regulations. OpenCloud supports external identity providers via OpenID Connect and includes an embedded identity provider (LibreGraph Connect) for self-hosted authentication. It’s targeted at developers, DevOps teams, and privacy-conscious organizations seeking an alternative to cloud-based file services that trade control for convenience.
The platform is designed to be lightweight and self-contained, with a single binary that initializes its configuration directory in $HOME/.opencloud/ by default. This makes deployment and debugging straightforward, especially for small to medium teams or individuals who want full control over their data without the overhead of database maintenance. OpenCloud is not a drop-in replacement for enterprise-grade systems like Nextcloud or SharePoint, but rather a minimalist, transparent option for those who prioritize sovereignty and simplicity.
What You Get
- Filesystem-based storage - All files and metadata are stored directly on the filesystem under $HOME/.opencloud/, eliminating database dependencies and enabling easy backups, inspection, and migration.
- OpenID Connect authentication - Supports external identity providers like Keycloak or uses the embedded LibreGraph Connect IDP for secure, standards-based user authentication without custom user management.
- Single-binary server - The entire backend runs as a single Go binary (opencloud/bin/opencloud) with no external dependencies beyond the filesystem, simplifying deployment and maintenance.
- Built-in init and server commands - Simple two-step setup:
opencloud/bin/opencloud init && opencloud/bin/opencloud server creates config and starts the service with defaults.
- Apache 2.0 licensed - Fully open source with permissive licensing, encouraging community contributions and commercial use without restrictions.
Common Use Cases
- Building a sovereign file-sharing platform for GDPR compliance - A European healthcare provider uses OpenCloud to host patient document sharing internally, ensuring data never leaves their on-premises server and meets GDPR requirements through full control of storage and authentication.
- Creating a private team workspace for developers - A small dev team replaces Dropbox with OpenCloud to avoid vendor lock-in, using the embedded LibreGraph Connect IDP for user logins and storing all project files directly on their NFS-mounted storage.
- Problem → Solution flow: Avoiding database complexity in file servers - Traditional file servers require MySQL or PostgreSQL for metadata, increasing maintenance overhead. OpenCloud solves this by using the filesystem as the primary data store, reducing infrastructure complexity and point-of-failure.
- Team/workflow scenario: DevOps teams managing internal tools - DevOps engineers deploy OpenCloud on a dedicated VM to serve as a centralized, secure file repository for internal scripts and documentation, using CI/CD pipelines to automate restarts after config changes.
Under The Hood
The OpenCloud repository is a cloud-native platform designed to support multi-tenant deployments with integrated identity management, user authentication, and infrastructure automation. It combines modern web technologies with modular backend services to enable scalable and extensible cloud environments.
Architecture
This system follows a layered architecture that separates frontend UI from backend services, ensuring clear boundaries between components.
- The architecture uses a layered pattern with React-based UI components interacting with Go-powered backend services, promoting separation of concerns.
- Modules such as identity provider, configuration manager, and deployment tools are organized into distinct directories with well-defined responsibilities.
- Component-based rendering in the frontend and structured service composition in the backend reflect thoughtful design patterns for maintainability.
- Inter-module communication is facilitated through Docker-based deployments and configuration-driven integrations with tools like Keycloak and Traefik.
Tech Stack
The project leverages a multi-language tech stack emphasizing modern web development and infrastructure automation.
- The codebase is primarily written in Go and PHP, with a React-based frontend using Material-UI and i18next for internationalization.
- Key dependencies include the React ecosystem (react-router, redux), Material-UI components, and open-source services such as LDAP, Keycloak, and MinIO.
- Development workflows integrate Webpack for frontend bundling, Makefiles for build orchestration, and Docker for containerized deployments.
- Testing is supported by Jest, ESLint, and Golang CI, with comprehensive test coverage and documentation practices in place.
Code Quality
The codebase reflects a mature approach to testing and error handling with consistent patterns across modules.
- Extensive acceptance test suites and helper utilities demonstrate a strong commitment to quality assurance and maintainable code practices.
- Error handling is implemented through try/catch constructs and exception mechanisms in both frontend and backend components.
- Code consistency is maintained through established naming conventions and adherence to PHP and Go standards, despite some technical debt in deployment configurations.
What Makes It Unique
The OpenCloud project stands out with its unique integration of multi-tenant cloud infrastructure and identity management.
- It provides a modular, extensible framework for deploying cloud environments that combine open-source tools with custom configurations.
- Its deep integration of identity management and authentication systems offers a cohesive solution for enterprise-grade cloud deployments.
- The platform enables scalable, multi-language support while maintaining a clean separation of concerns across its modular architecture.