Self-Hosted System Overview

SelfHosted system overview

SelfHosted Nostos runs the public Nostos application with local SQLite persistence and local file storage. It does not require a hosted account or subscription.

Hosted Nostos uses the same product model and frontend while adding managed account, storage, billing, backup, and AI services behind a separate hosted composition.

For the hosted boundary, see Hosted Architecture.

Backend

• Runtime: .NET 10
• API: HTTP APIs plus streaming endpoints used by the application
• Database: SQLite
• Media processing: FFmpeg is included in the official container image

Frontend

• Framework: Angular standalone application
• Reactive model: Signals
• Installation: Browser application with PWA support
• Core deployment: The application and your local server can operate without a Hosted Nostos account

Features that deliberately call external services — such as free-source acquisition, metadata lookup, or optional AI — naturally require network access when you use them.

Database and persistent data

The official container stores persistent SelfHosted state under one mounted data root:

/data/
├── nostos.db
├── books/
└── backups/

• nostos.db contains relational library state.
• books/ contains imported book media and generated book assets.
• backups/ contains local .nostos backup archives.

The container configures these locations explicitly; the committed Compose file persists the whole /data root in one Docker volume.

Supported library material

Nostos can represent physical books and stores supported digital material including EPUB, PDF, text, MOBI, and common audiobook files.

The current add-book interface accepts EPUB, PDF, TXT, MOBI, MP3, M4A, and M4B uploads. Source acquisition can also add supported material from configured free catalogues.

Deployment shape

Browser / PWA
      |
      v
SelfHosted Nostos container
      |
      +---- SQLite database   /data/nostos.db
      |
      +---- book media        /data/books
      |
      '---- local backups     /data/backups

Keep the persistent data root on storage with reliable local filesystem semantics. See Volume Mounts and Safe SQLite Storage.