My Top 5 Self-Hosted Tools Running on My Home Server via Docker (Part 2)

Source: Dev.to

After sharing my first list of self‑hosted tools, I realized I needed a second set that handles content consumption, learning, and utility tasks. These five services run daily on my home server, all self‑hosted with Docker.

What I care about now

• No algorithms deciding what I read
• Offline‑friendly content
• Tools that do one thing well
• Full control over my data
• Apps that don’t disappear behind a paywall

These tools fit that philosophy perfectly.

FreshRSS

What it replaces: Feedly, Inoreader, Twitter/X, Google News, etc.
Best for: News, blogs, YouTube channels, Reddit, updates.
Where: Browser, Android (via FeedMe).

FreshRSS is the backbone of how I consume information. Instead of relying on social media or algorithm‑driven feeds, I subscribe directly to blogs, YouTube channels, and news sources I actually care about.

Why FreshRSS Is a Game Changer

• Chronological, distraction‑free reading
• Tags, filters, and categories
• Supports thousands of feeds
• Extremely lightweight
• Works with almost any RSS client

Typical Use Cases

• Tech blogs
• Open‑source projects
• DevOps updates
• Personal blogs

No rage‑bait. No engagement tricks. Just content—on my terms.

Booklore

What it replaces: Goodreads, Kindle notes, random folders.
Best for: Tracking and organizing books.
Where: Browser.

Booklore feels small until you start using it.

Why I Love It

• Clean and simple UI
• Self‑hosted book tracking
• No ads, no social pressure
• Full control over metadata
• Easy backups

Planned Uses

• Track reading progress (currently two books)
• Plan future reading
• Keep notes on technical books
• Maintain a long‑term reading archive

It’s calm, focused, and does exactly what I need.

Audiobookshelf

What it replaces: Audible, cloud‑based audiobook apps.
Best for: Audiobooks and podcasts.
Where: Android, iOS, Browser.

Audiobookshelf turns your audiobook collection into a polished streaming platform, complete with progress syncing and mobile apps.

Why It’s Amazing

• Supports audiobooks and podcasts
• Beautiful UI
• Remembers listening position
• Mobile apps + web player
• Metadata fetching and organization

Planned Uses

• Tech and productivity audiobooks
• Long‑form learning
• Archived podcasts

No DRM. No subscriptions. Just my library, everywhere.

IT‑Tools

What it replaces: Random online tools, shady websites.
Best for: Dev utilities and quick conversions.
Where: Browser.

IT‑Tools is a collection of dozens of small utilities that developers constantly Google for.

Tools I Use the Most

• JSON formatter
• Base64 encoder/decoder
• UUID generator
• Hash generators
• Date/time tools
• Regex helpers

Why I Self‑Host It

• Works offline
• No tracking, no ads
• Instant access on my network
• Bookmarked on every device

Reactive Resume

What it replaces: Online resume builders.
Best for: Resume creation and versioning.
Where: Browser.

Reactive Resume solves a very specific problem: I want a great resume without locking my career data behind a SaaS platform.

Why It’s Worth Hosting

• Clean, modern resume templates
• JSON‑based resume data
• Multiple versions for different roles
• Export to PDF
• Fully self‑hosted

How I Use It

• Maintain different resumes
• Quickly tailor applications
• Keep my career history backed up

No watermarks. No subscriptions. No surprises.

Docker Setup Overview

All services run in Docker using Docker Compose, each with:

• Its own container
• Persistent volumes
• Reverse‑proxy routing
• HTTPS via Let’s Encrypt (optional)

Typical resource requirements are low:

• FreshRSS: extremely light
• IT‑Tools: negligible
• Booklore: very light
• Audiobookshelf: moderate (storage‑heavy, CPU‑light)
• Reactive Resume: minimal

The entire stack runs comfortably on a single home server.

How This Stack Complements My First List

If you’re building your own self‑hosted stack, this second wave of services is a fantastic set to try.