rejetto/hfs

HFS, short for HTTP File Server, turns your computer into a file-sharing server that other people can reach with a regular web browser. You run it on your machine, choose which files or folders to share, and anyone on your network (or over the internet if you open the right port) can browse and download them without installing anything special. Files are served directly from your disk, so there is no cloud upload, no storage limit, and no ongoing service fee. Setting it up takes a few steps. You download a single zip file for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, or Android are all supported), unzip it, and run the included file. A web-based admin panel opens automatically in your browser, where you pick what to share and configure the server. If you use Homebrew on a Mac, a single command installs it. There is also a Docker image and an option to run it via Node.js with one command if the pre-built binaries do not work on your platform. The feature list covers most things a file server would need. Downloads are resumable if a connection drops, and entire folders can be downloaded as a ZIP archive on the fly. You can create user accounts to limit who sees what, require passwords, and block access by geographic region. The server handles uploads, lets you rename or delete files through the browser, and includes a built-in media player for audio and video. A plugin system adds extras like anti-brute-force protection, image thumbnails, and custom themes. The front-end can be translated into multiple languages. Security features include HTTPS with a built-in certificate generator, bandwidth throttling to cap transfer speeds, and real-time monitoring of active connections. The admin panel is accessible from localhost without a password by default, which can be changed. Update checks reach out to GitHub but are opt-out, and other outbound connections only happen when the user triggers them.