๐Ÿš€ Introducing CloudX: Your Private, Secure, and Self-Hosted Cloud Storage Solution

Atharva KolekarAtharva Kolekar
5 min read

In an age where digital privacy is under constant threat, data ownership has become more crucial than ever. The convenience of public cloud services often comes at the cost of user privacy, data mining, and lack of control. Thatโ€™s why I decided to take a stand and build CloudX โ€” a privacy-first, self-hosted cloud storage and collaboration platform powered by ownCloud 10 and the sleek, modern ownCloud Web UI 7.0.3.

CloudX isnโ€™t just another cloud platform โ€” itโ€™s my personal vision for a digital workspace where you own your data, not some third-party service. Hosted entirely on cPanel, using PHP and MySQL, itโ€™s designed to be fast, flexible, and most importantly, private.


๐Ÿ’ก The Motivation Behind CloudX

As a developer, Iโ€™ve always valued open-source solutions that offer transparency and freedom. But most importantly, I believe in data sovereignty โ€” the idea that individuals should have complete control over their digital information.

While services like Google Drive and Dropbox are convenient, they don't always align with this philosophy. CloudX is my response: a platform that blends usability, security, and control โ€” all hosted on infrastructure I own.

Whether you're a developer, student, researcher, or privacy-conscious user, CloudX offers the tools you need to stay productive without giving up your data rights.


๐ŸŒŸ Key Features of CloudX

CloudX is built with the user in mind. Hereโ€™s a detailed look at what makes it a robust cloud solution:

๐Ÿ“ 1. Secure File Storage and Sharing

Upload and manage files of any type โ€” from documents to videos and code files. Every file can be shared securely, even with password protection.

Whether you're storing personal notes or team documents, youโ€™ll find CloudX efficient and dependable.

๐Ÿ” 2. Encrypted User Data

Security is central to CloudX. All user data is encrypted and protected against unauthorized access. This ensures your files remain safe โ€” whether you're working alone or collaborating with others.

๐Ÿ‘ฅ 3. IAM (Identity and Access Management)

CloudX includes an integrated IAM system that allows administrators to control user roles and access levels. You can assign permissions for reading, writing, or sharing โ€” perfect for multi-user environments or organizations.

โœจ 4. Modern UI

Thanks to the ownCloud Web UI 7.0.3, CloudX provides a smooth, responsive, and modern interface that works beautifully across desktop and mobile. No bloat, just clean and intuitive design.

๐ŸŒ 5. External Storage Integration

Connect CloudX with your existing external storage solutions like Google Drive, WebDAV, or SFTP. This gives you the flexibility to expand storage or link your data sources while maintaining a unified interface.

๐Ÿ“„ 6. Live Markdown Previews

Writers, developers, and documentation creators will love this feature. Markdown files render live within the UI, making it a powerful tool for taking notes, writing blogs, or drafting documentation.

Photos, images, and media files are displayed in an elegant gallery view โ€” ideal for photographers, designers, or anyone managing visual content.

๐Ÿ”— 8. Seamless and Secure File Sharing

With CloudX, sharing files with colleagues or clients is simple and secure. You can generate public or private links with optional password protection and expiry times.

๐Ÿ—‘๏ธ 9. Trash Bin and Recovery

Accidentally deleted something important? CloudX includes a built-in trash bin system, so you can recover lost files without stress.

๐Ÿ•’ 10. Version Control

Track changes, view file history, and restore previous versions. Perfect for collaborative work or when you need to undo changes.

๐Ÿ›ฐ๏ธ 11. Remote Access from Anywhere

Your files go wherever you go. Access CloudX securely from any device, anywhere in the world, using just a browser.


๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Under the Hood: How CloudX Works

CloudX is powered by ownCloud 10, one of the most trusted open-source cloud platforms. Hereโ€™s a quick overview of the stack:

  • Hosting: Shared cPanel server (yes, itโ€™s entirely possible!)

  • Backend: PHP (7.x or 8.x)

  • Database: MySQL

  • Frontend: ownCloud Web UI 7.0.3

  • Security: SSL (HTTPS), user data encryption, file-level permissions

  • Storage Options: Cloud Storage, Google Drive, WebDAV, SFTP

The platform is lightweight, fast, and can run efficiently on modest hosting plans โ€” no enterprise server required.


๐Ÿงช Try It Out โ€“ Live Demo Available!

Want to see CloudX in action?

You can explore a live demo at:
๐Ÿ”— https://cloudx.athrva.in

Username: demo

Password: demo

Feel free to upload, explore, preview documents, try markdown editing, and check out the collaboration tools.

Your feedback is incredibly valuable โ€” Iโ€™m actively improving CloudX and would love to hear your thoughts on usability, performance, or features youโ€™d like to see.


๐Ÿ“ธ ScreenShots


๐Ÿ”ฎ What's Next for CloudX?

This is just the beginning. Planned future improvements include:

  • ๐Ÿ”ง Mobile App Optimization
    Better support and UI enhancements for mobile devices.

  • ๐Ÿ“ฒ Progressive Web App (PWA)
    So you can โ€œinstallโ€ CloudX as a native-like app on your device.

  • โ˜๏ธ Self-Updating Mechanism
    Easily upgrade CloudX and its components with a single click.

  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
    For added security on sensitive accounts.

  • ๐ŸŒ Multilingual Support
    To reach a global audience and make the UI friendlier for non-English speakers.

  • ๐Ÿค Collaboration Tools
    Real-time document co-editing, comments, and version merge options.


๐Ÿ™Œ Final Thoughts

Creating CloudX has been an incredible journey โ€” from setting up ownCloud on cPanel to fine-tuning the UI and securing user data. This project is a testament to what's possible with open-source software, a little curiosity, and a drive to build solutions that prioritize privacy and ownership.

In a world increasingly dependent on cloud storage, CloudX is my contribution to making that world safer, more transparent, and more in your control.

If you're someone who values open-source, cares about data privacy, or simply wants a flexible and powerful cloud solution โ€” give CloudX a try. Letโ€™s make privacy-first cloud computing accessible for everyone.


๐Ÿ”— Explore CloudX: https://cloudx.athrva.in

๐Ÿ“ฃ Feedback Welcome โ€“ reach out via LinkedIn or reply directly!


#CloudX #ownCloud #SelfHosted #OpenSource #WebDev #PHP #MySQL #PrivacyFirst #CloudStorage #cPanel #AtharvaKolekar

0
Subscribe to my newsletter

Read articles from Atharva Kolekar directly inside your inbox. Subscribe to the newsletter, and don't miss out.

Written by

Atharva Kolekar
Atharva Kolekar