Hosting Portfolio Website on the Home Server

Results can be seen here: https://webhooks.rokaskasperavicius.dev/

Project Overview

Using a Raspberry Pi 5, this home server project establishes a self-hosted environment for my portfolio, integrating custom web solutions with Dokku for application deployment and DatoCMS for content management. This setup leverages Cloudflare tunneling to provide secure, remote access to the server while enabling an efficient, cloud-free hosting solution directly from my home network.

Technical Stack and Tools

The server utilizes Cloudflare's tunneling service, creating a secure pathway into your local network without exposing ports. This is essential for accessing your Dokku-managed applications, where Dokku acts as a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) on the Raspberry Pi. DatoCMS serves as the headless CMS for content management, offering a structured and flexible content delivery system that integrates seamlessly with the Dokku-hosted portfolio.

Automation and Custom Webhook System

To ensure that new content updates from DatoCMS reflect promptly on your live site, a custom webhook system was implemented. This webhook triggers a rebuild of the project on the home server whenever new content is published or updated in DatoCMS, automating the deployment process. This approach keeps the content fresh without requiring manual intervention, making the server fully autonomous and responsive to content changes.

Challenges and Achievements

Setting up a functional and secure home server on a Raspberry Pi 5 required overcoming unique challenges, such as network security and limited computational resources. However, by integrating Cloudflare for secure tunneling, Dokku for scalable deployment, and DatoCMS with custom webhook automation, this project not only demonstrates an efficient home server setup but also showcases a robust, self-hosted alternative to traditional cloud hosting.