Build a personal cloud on old PCs or Raspberry Pi
You can organize files and install apps with a single click in your browser without needing server management experience. CasaOS is an open-source system that hides complex server configuration behind an intuitive interface to build a personal cloud. It offers an alternative to reduce SaaS costs while maintaining data sovereignty using a Raspberry Pi or an older PC.
Three trends that inspired the personal cloud
In 2020, the team identified trends where computing resources and storage costs were rapidly decreasing and the cloud was moving to the edge. They also noted that the ownership of consumer data was being overlooked. They believed that if a personal cloud could be built for under 100 dollars within five years, creators and small organizations could become personal data centers managing their own data. This system can form a cooperative network of distributed personal servers worldwide and connect smart devices to provide local intelligence services. It also serves as a foundation for training customized AI assistants by combining personal data.
A home environment interface without code
CasaOS provides a friendly UI designed for home environments. It can be operated intuitively without writing code or filling out complex forms. File and drive management works as it appears, making it easy to handle even without a technical background. System and app widgets allow you to check resource usage and app status at a glance. The app store allows one-click installation of selected apps such as Nextcloud, HomeAssistant, AdGuard, and Jellyfin.
Supported hardware and installation methods
ZimaBoard, Intel NUC, and Raspberry Pi are officially supported, covering amd64, arm64, and armv7 architectures. Debian 12, Ubuntu Server 20.04, and Raspberry Pi OS are tested and recommended. Elementary 6.1, Armbian 22.04, Alpine, OpenWrt, and ArchLinux are community-supported, with some not yet fully tested. The installation process is very simple. Updates can be performed via the settings menu in the UI or in the terminal using the command wget -qO- https://get.casaos.io/update | sudo bash.
A community project that started with ZimaBoard
The name Casa means 'house' in Spanish. This project began as a pre-installed system on the crowdfunding product ZimaBoard. The team discovered that there was no server system designed for home scenarios on the market and created this open-source project with the community. CasaOS is a community-driven open-source project where user contributions are essential. Development participation and idea sharing are done through the Discord community. All contributions follow the all-contributors specification, and various forms of participation are welcome.
Points to check before adoption
CasaOS is written in Go and supports Docker-based app installation. Stability is not guaranteed in environments other than officially supported systems, so additional testing is required when using Alpine, OpenWrt, or ArchLinux. For versions prior to v0.3.3, the removal command is different, so it is recommended to keep the latest version. Since this system focuses on personal data management and local service provision, it is suitable for individuals or small organizations rather than large-scale enterprise infrastructure. You must always check hardware architecture and operating system compatibility before installation.
