I built a self-hosted notes app on a single Node.js file — no cloud, my own hardware

Description and use

The author built a fully self‑hosted notes app running on a single Node.js file, with local encrypted backups and phone access via Tailscale.

Problem

The author wanted a notes app that kept all data on personal hardware, was accessible from a phone anywhere, and provided real backups they control.

Outcome

The author achieved a fully self‑hosted notes application with markdown support, media attachments, full‑text search, encrypted backups, and local mirroring, all running on a single laptop for about $2/month in electricity.

Workflow

• Clone the repository
• Run npm install
• Run npm start
• Access the app from a phone via Tailscale

Evidence

I got tired of my notes living in someone else's cloud, so I built my own.

Source

A single-file Node.js server using the built-in node:sqlite — zero native dependencies, zero external services.

Source

It lives on an old laptop at home. The laptop lid stays closed, it auto‑starts on boot via a watchdog script, and I reach it from my phone over Tailscale.

Source

Total cost: $0 in services. No subscription, no VPS, no Docker.

Source