Haven is a self-hostable private blogging system designed to offer the ease of social media posting without compromising privacy or handing over control to big tech companies. It addresses the common frustration of wanting to share personal content, like photos, privately, only to be met with spam and privacy concerns on mainstream platforms. The system is open-source, minimalist, and intentionally designed for sharing with a close circle, avoiding ads and tracking. A key feature is its robust spam prevention, as user accounts can only be created through explicit administrator invites, eliminating the possibility of unauthorized sign-ups. Haven supports various media types and includes private RSS feeds for updates. For self-hosting, it offers multiple options catering to different technical skill levels, from fully managed hosting and assisted platforms like Peekapods and CubeSale to DIY methods using Docker or cloud services like AWS. The core philosophy behind Haven is to empower users to own their digital space and content, shifting from being a product to being an owner. The cost of hosting is framed as a subscription fee for independence and genuine privacy, free from corporate monitoring and policy changes. The discussion concludes by prompting listeners to consider what they would share if their digital life were completely private and untracked.
