Self-Hosting StudioBrain
StudioBrain can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure for full control over data, performance, and security.
Deployment Modes
StudioBrain supports three deployment modes:
| Mode | Database | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop (default) | SQLite (local file) | Single user, no server required |
| Self-Hosted | Single PostgreSQL instance | Small teams, on-premise |
| Cloud | Separate Auth + Content PostgreSQL instances | Multi-tenant SaaS |
Quick Start
The recommended self-hosted deployment uses Docker Compose with Caddy as the reverse proxy:
- Clone the repository and copy the example environment file
- Configure your environment variables (database URLs, JWT secret, AI service URL)
- Run
docker compose up -din thedocker/directory - Caddy automatically handles HTTPS via Let’s Encrypt
Architecture Overview
A full production deployment separates the application server from the AI/GPU server:
- App Server: Docker Compose stack running Frontend (Next.js), Backend (FastAPI), and Caddy (HTTPS)
- AI Server (optional): GPU-accelerated AI service for local model inference
- Databases (cloud mode): Separate PostgreSQL instances for auth data (PII) and content data
Requirements
- Docker and Docker Compose
- A domain name with DNS pointing to your server
- 4 GB RAM minimum (8 GB+ recommended for AI features)
- (Optional) NVIDIA GPU for local AI inference
Full deployment details, infrastructure configuration, network topology, and security hardening are documented in the internal operations guide (requires authentication).
Next Steps
- Getting Started — Set up your first project
- Settings and Configuration — Configure your StudioBrain instance
- Sync and Collaboration — Set up cloud sync and team access