At a Glance:
Palmr is an open-source, self-hosted file transfer application providing a web-based alternative to services like WeTransfer and Send Anywhere with folder organization, no artificial limits, and optional S3-compatible object storage.
Overview:
Palmr is an open-source file transfer tool that allows users to self-host their own file-sharing service. It is designed as a flexible alternative to third-party platforms such as WeTransfer, SendGB, Send Anywhere, and Files.fm. The application provides a web interface for sharing files without artificial limits or fees, using a backend API built with Fastify and a SQLite database for simple deployment. It supports local filesystem storage with the option to scale using S3-compatible object storage. The project is currently in beta and has been archived by its solo maintainer, meaning no further updates are planned.
Key Decision Points:
Deployment model: Palmr is designed for self-hosting on a personal server or VPS, which requires technical setup and infrastructure management.
Browser-based interface: All file sharing and management happens through a web UI built with Next.js and TypeScript, with no mobile or desktop app mentioned.
Scalability option: While local filesystem storage is used by default, an optional S3-compatible object storage backend is available for larger-scale needs.
Project status: The project is archived and development has ceased, meaning no future updates, security patches, or community support are planned unless someone forks the project.
Core Features:
Web interface: A browser-based UI for uploading, organizing, and sharing files.
Folder organization: Users can create folders to organize shared content.
Reverse share: A mechanism for receiving files from others, similar to WeTransfer-style requests.
User management: An interface for managing users within the hosted instance.
SQLite database: Zero-configuration database for storing metadata and transactional data.
Optional S3 storage: Support for S3-compatible object storage as an alternative to local filesystem storage.
Use Cases:
Developers or system administrators who want to self-host a private file-sharing instance on their own infrastructure.
Users who need to share files without the file size or transfer limits imposed by free tiers of commercial services.
Open-Source Alternative Value:
Palmr provides a self-hosted alternative to commercial file transfer services, giving users the ability to run their own instance with no third-party dependencies. It uses a simple SQLite and filesystem-based architecture that avoids complex setup requirements while offering an optional upgrade path to S3-compatible storage. The source code is available, allowing others to fork and continue development if desired. However, the project is in beta and is not recommended for production use, and its archival means active maintenance has ended.
