Easy self-hosting can matter as much as app features
An web app is trying to become easy to install like Radarr. Its current setup keeps the Next.js frontend and Node.js backend separate, then uses Docker and nginx so everything can be reached through one port. That works well during development, but it may still be too much work for regular users to deploy.
The main option being considered is moving the backend into Next.js, so the whole app can run in one container and be shipped as one . The real issue is not the app’s feature set, but how simple and reliable the install path feels for people who want to run it themselves.
Key points
- The app currently has a Next.js frontend and a separate Node.js backend.
- Docker and nginx are used so the app can be reached through one port.
- The goal is to make deployment feel simple, like common apps such as Radarr.
- Moving the backend into Next.js could make one container and one easier to ship.
- The key tradeoff is simpler installation now versus backend flexibility later.