What It’s Like to Try Nextcloud — A New User’s Perspective
A Splash into Something Different
Normally my projects involve improving some aspect of my home to make my everyday life a little easier. The same concept applies to my digital life with the technology and software I use.
Unlike with home improvement projects, my digital life is not something I normally discuss. Sure, there is the review of the Rocket Money app, which is one way I have simplified my digital life.
However, Rocket Money is very different from the Nextcloud server I will be talking about. Unlike the Rocket Money app, where a person logs in and everything instantly works, Nextcloud needs to be set up and takes a good amount of time to make everything work correctly.
The Nextcloud Server
For those that are not familiar with Nextcloud, I will do my best to explain. Nextcloud is a type of server a person hosts on their hardware. Basically, a person sets up a dedicated computer to receive, send, and store data.
Additionally, there are different types of servers, such as a website, an application such as a grocery list application, or a piece of software. In the case of Nextcloud, it is a piece of software that allows a person to create a cloud storage solution.
Think of Nextcloud as an at-home solution to Google Drive or iCloud. The main benefit here is the added privacy and peace of mind knowing the data is not on a tech company’s computers.
Now not everyone needs to go through the steps of setting up a Nextcloud server to gain more privacy. Nextcloud is a great piece of software, but it can be difficult to set up.
The Likely Better Alternatives
For most individuals, a more privacy-focused cloud storage solution is probably best. The two that I have tested in the past are pCloud and Proton Drive. Out of the two, I really like Proton Drive, as it has a modern-feeling app (especially compared to pCloud), and everything just works.
If a person wants a more privacy-friendly way to store their data but does not have the hardware or time to set up Nextcloud, both pCloud and Proton Drive are great alternatives to Google Drive and iCloud.
However, if a person wants the most privacy-focused solution with minimal setup, a NAS might make sense for them. A NAS, for those wondering, is a network-attached storage. The benefits of using a NAS are many, such as dedicated firmware and hardware to streamline the network file backup process.
I went against the route of using a NAS simply because the cost to buy the hardware was too great. For example, the NAS device alone can cost a minimum of $200, and that is only for two storage drive bays. Additionally, my storage needs are minimal, so having a NAS with terabytes of storage was not necessary.
Okay, a NAS is too costly, so why not Proton Drive?about
There were two issues with Proton Drive that made me seek a Nextcloud server. First, even though Proton Drive is more secure than big tech companies, the data is still on a company’s computers. I also was lucky enough to have a few old hard drives and a computer that I could use for the Nextcloud server.
My second issue with Proton Drive is that the word processor is too basic for my needs. I understand that not everyone will need a cloud solution to have a document editor, so this might only be an issue for a niche minority. The main reason I seek a word processor built into my cloud storage is due to being accustomed to Google Docs.
What I need in an editor
While I could use open-source options like LibreOffice to keep my files more secure, this would be a tedious endeavor. I would have to make sure my cloud storage is working on every computer and that LibreOffice is set up on those computers. I would then have to download a copy of my document to open it on another computer.
Additionally, LibreOffice does not have all the features I want, such as auto-save, which Google Docs has. For those that have never used a word processor with auto-save, it is a feature that once you use it, you never want to go back to constantly saving your files.
How Nextcloud Solves the Issues
The first issue Nextcloud fixes is that the data mostly stays on your computer, which is a huge privacy bump even when switching from Proton Drive or other privacy-focused cloud solutions. Nextcloud also has a built-in editor, which resolves the second issue of needing cloud storage with a feature-rich editor.
However, I will state that this is only kind of true. Nextcloud does have a built-in editor, but it is not good. The way the built-in editor works is extremely inefficient and lags even with my computer, which should be more than powerful enough.
Luckily, Nextcloud is not like other types of software that would lock a person into the built-in. With Nextcloud, a person can simply replace the built-in feature, such as the editor in my case.
Here is an analogy that I think helps make sense of Nextcloud:
Nextcloud is like a person doing their oil changes. Sure, an oil change can be done by a shop but when you do it yourself, it comes with unique benefits.
As for myself, the benefit in control over the type of oil and filter that my car uses is enough that I do it myself. The same can be said about hosting your own cloud storage. Sure I could use Proton Drive but then I would not get to pick the editor I use.
Nextcloud is about your mindset.
Nextcloud’s default document editor was terrible, and so I felt frustrated as though I had wasted the time setting it up. I fell into the mindset of using company-controlled software, which meant if a feature was bad, there was nothing I could do about it.
Then I discovered I could host an OnlyOffice server and link my Nextcloud server to it. Although the process wasn’t without issues, the new editor changed my perspective on Nextcloud.
The combination of a Nextcloud and OnlyOffice server is the true replacement for my habit of using Google Docs. OnlyOffice auto-saves straight to my Nextcloud server, and to access that file, I just need to log into my server, which I can do on any computer.
Before We Conclude: A Brief Moment to Talk About My BuyMeaCoffee
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Conclusion
To compare my Nextcloud experience to the world of home improvement,
In writing this article I felt like I was writing on a complex topic like building a house. Whereas, normally my articles focus on simpler topics like wiring a new outlet.
For example, with a house, you have carpentry, electrical, and plumbing to contend with, and thus one would need to discuss each to get the full house-building experience.
The overlap here is that the Nextcloud server has multiple components, such as networking, security, and operating system, to contend with. Due to the complexity of the article. This was not the first version I had written. The original version of this article focused on setting up the Nextcloud server and the pitfalls I had along the way.
The original version did a much better job at looking at each individual component but at the cost of being far too long of an article. For example, the article was twice this length and still lacked details on the operating system I chose and the initial install of Nextcloud.
After much contemplation, I decided this article will stand on its own as a non-technical write-up of my experience with Nextcloud.
As far as my recommendation goes on Nextcloud, I would recommend it, but with an asterisk beside it. Although the Nextcloud server is a great piece of software, it is far too complicated for most individuals.
If you are interested in the idea of setting up a Nextcloud server, a good next step would be reading my in-depth write-up, which will be coming out soon.
A Look Into the Future
Considering that I have already written up a great deal of information on my Nextcloud server, the next article will be a technical deep dive into Nextcloud. The deep dive will include more details on the operating system of choice, the encryption I went with, and the issues I had along the way.
I know for those that have read my articles in the past, my next article will be a big departure from what I normally work on. Luckily, for those that enjoy home improvement content, the next article, after the deep dive, will be written on wiring new Romex to my bathroom.
