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by chrismorgan 1766 days ago
See, I wouldn’t call it self-hosted if you can’t actually… self-host it. Someone else’s server isn’t mine.
2 comments

come on, let's be a bit more inclusive about the term "self-hosting".

For instance, I run a few apps in Linode. I manage the virtual servers, and consider myself to be a self-hoster of these webapps (Nextcloud, Drupal, PixelFed, et cetera)

These aren't necessarily my servers but at some level, they are.

If you can install it on any recent Linux machine it is self-hostable. If you can't it is not.
The difference is you know what you set up, and could move it to another server if needed.

This detaspace thing is like saying that Amazon S3 is self hosted because you can upload your own files to it.

I would say your setup appears drastically more yours than Deta, however, which appears to only host apps on their own infrastructure. The software you're using is installed where you chose to put it, and can be installed in your home if you choose.
It does depend a bit on what you count as a “server”. I’d definitely count virtual servers where you control the software stack entirely (well, apart from ring −1), provided there’s nothing special about the hardware.
I totally get your point! Instead of self-hosting, you could call it a personal cloud.
My personal cloud is the rack sitting next to me, not someone elses box that other people are also hosted on.
You are not really helping yourself if you desperately attempt changing established words in a way that it would fit your business. You just alienate people and give yourself a bad reputation people will remember you by.