this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2025
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I'm gradually removing myself from big tech and this month I'm focusing on leaving GitHub, as well as software hosted there. I'm looking for a self-hosted music server that meets these criteria:

  • Simple UI - Easy to navigate
  • Docker support - For hassle-free deployment
  • Runs on Pi3B
  • Compatible clients on mobile and desktop
  • Robust and well maintained - No buggy releases

Current Option:
The only option I've found but not tried is Funkwhale (GitLab).
Site: https://www.funkwhale.audio/
Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dBcKNoJAso.

GitHub-hosted exclusions:
All the other's I've looked at are hosted on GitHub ( Ampache, LMS Lightweight Music Server, Supysonic, Gonic, Airsonic-Advanced, Koel, Jellyfin, Navidrome). So I won't be using those.

Question:
Does anyone know of other options besides Funkwhale, or have you tried Funkwhale? Thanks!

Aside:
Some reasons I'm leaving GitHub:

  1. Revealed: Microsoft deepened ties with Israeli military to provide tech support during Gaza war
  2. ‘A million calls an hour’: Israel relying on Microsoft cloud for expansive surveillance of Palestinians
  3. ‘Use AI or get out…': GitHub CEO warns developers
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[–] communism@lemmy.ml 23 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't see a reason to avoid using software hosted on GH. I moved off GH when MS bought it, and all that entailed was no longer hosting my own software on GH, and using alternative FOSS git forges. That still has a similar effect, and when a critical mass of devs move off GH, the rest will follow suit. The main draw of GH is that everything's on there; when that's no longer true, it will no longer be the main git forge. Especially once Forgejo adds ActivityPub integration; I imagine that'll speed the process along a lot.

A lone user boycotting all software hosted on GH is realistically not going to make any devs move their projects off GH. You may say that it doesn't have to be a lone user, but I think you'll be hard pressed to get a whole movement of people refusing to use any software hosted on GH.

I also think the boundaries of your boycott are just too ambiguous. What if you download the software from somewhere other than GH, and it just has a GH repo? Is that ok with you? Is it that you just don't want to touch MS's servers? What about software where the GH repo is just a read-only mirror, and the main collaboration/development happens elsewhere, like a GitLab or Forgejo instance? I would rather struggle to see an argument for refusing to use software in either of those cases.

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Even using their free stuff is supporting Microsoft. As long as they provide sophisticated facilities for genocide, I’m out.

As a wiser person than me once said “be the change you want to see in the world”.

[–] communism@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm also opposed to "using [Microsoft's] free stuff"; I'm arguing that using software that happens to use GH isn't using MS's stuff at all.

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 0 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

h, I see what you mean now. The thing is, the massive numbers of users we collectively provide to Microsoft (even non-paying) is a huge benefit to them. They wouldn't offer free stuff otherwise. It gives them all kinds of leverage in negotiations. I've elaborated a bit more on it in another reply in case you're interested.

[–] communism@lemmy.ml 3 points 11 hours ago

No, I'm not arguing that we should be users of Microsoft. You're still not understanding what I'm saying. I don't use Microsoft's services, including their free ones. Software that happens to be hosted on GitHub is not Microsoft's software.

You can do whatever you want as an individual. But as a political actor, you should be participating in organised boycotts, such as BDS's boycott of Microsoft. BDS's boycott is already fairly wide-sweeping, going as far as to ask people to e.g. stop playing Minecraft and Skyrim, even if they already own the game. Avoiding using Microsoft's products like this is effective because, even if you've already bought the game, you lend Microsoft more cultural capital by proliferating their products.

BDS has not, on the other hand, called for a boycott of all software that happens to have a GitHub repo. If you think they should do that, take it up with BDS. If BDS called for such a boycott, it would get much more momentum behind it.

As it currently stands, you are boycotting all software that has a GitHub repo on your own. This is not going to have any effect. You are going to be hard-pressed to get people to join your boycott. What kernel do you use? The Linux kernel has a GitHub mirror. The majority of FOSS projects where collaboration occurs off of GitHub still have a read-only GitHub mirror. Is your boycott suggesting that everybody should be using OpenBSD? That's going to be a very hard sell.

BDS has achieved huge victories because it offers targeted boycotts that the average consumer is perfectly capable of doing, and it has a mass movement behind it. There are also grassroots boycotts that have been organised outside of BDS, such as the Starbucks and McDonald's boycotts, but again, these caught on because they had the backing of people active in the movement and were willing to organise said boycotts. You're a random Lemmy user who, if you are serious about organising a boycott, you're in the entirely wrong place to do so. You won't achieve anything doing what you're currently doing.

You're welcome to make whatever consumer decisions you want, but don't confuse that for political organising.

[–] Ephera@lemmy.ml 4 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I believe, Icecast ticks at least some of your criteria. It's been around since forever, so it's probably the most stable option and even a Pi1 is likely overkill for it. No idea how it holds up in terms of UI, app and Docker, though.

They do have a mirror on GitHub, but the main repo is on a self-hosted GitLab.

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago

GitLab mirrored on GitHub is totally fine with me, thanks so much for the thoughtful comment! I'll add Icecast to the list of things to look into. I've encountered it with internet radio.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Jellyfin
Why does it matter that they are hosted on GitHub though?

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world -4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (2 children)

Isn’t that GitHub too?

To answer your question: even using their free stuff supports Microsoft. As long as they facilitate militarised genocide, I’m out.

“Be the change you want to see in the world”.

[–] rothaine@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

In what way? If anything, it costs Microsoft money

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 0 points 14 hours ago

It's called "social proof". The way bullies get their way is because they can gesture broadly at their following and say, "see? We're popular. Better that you conform than try to resist us". That gives them lock-in and ecosystem growth. It also makes it harder for competitors when they abuse their position to offer free services that an ethical but smaller provider can't. It's also a gateway to Azure, another of their products (which make the Israeli killing fields in Palestine even more efficient). It allows them to shift a percentage of free users to paid plans.

So it's lots really. And supporting Microsoft today is very similar to supporting Volkswagen during Nazi Germany's rule.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago

Whatever floats your boat.

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If you want to go pre-connect, the library usually loans out music. Mostly CD's though, so you'd need a player.

Libraries are so underrated - always a good suggestion. I have about 300 albums that I like so I’d probably stick with my Snowsky Echo Mini for those. But I should check out the local libraries. (I have an old laptop with a CD player).

[–] ar1@lemmy.sdf.org 20 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (7 children)

Not suggesting an app but I think what you plan to do as an effort to boycott GitHub is the most non-productive thing to do...

What if it is a project like OpenBSD, which the active repo is still CVS, but has a read-only GitHub repo for public consumption? I believe a fair amount of open source developers rely partly or even totally on donation, and the popularity of a platform has direct impact to their life support. What you are going to do is the easiest as a totally unrelated onlooker - you deem them to be immoral because they host or mirror the project on GitHub, you judged just like how people do on social media when they hear some company doing evil things, spent probably just a few minutes to write a post and created direct impact.

There are many more better things to do. You know why they are forced to host on GitHub so why don't you set up a fund that supports developers to not host on GitHub, or as a maintainer who helps projects to mirror on GitHub alternatives and eventually swtich the active repo to the alternatives?

I have great respect to open source developers who bring us a better world. Please think again what is the difference between what you are going to do vs people who ignore all the heavylifting of open source developers did and say "add this feature in the next hour or I will stop using your software, because I think it is the most important thing to do"...

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[–] ryokimball@infosec.pub 68 points 2 days ago (13 children)

Clarifying, your looking for a new music streaming service that has a code base not hosted in GitHub? Otherwise it sounds like you are somehow hosting your music in GitHub.

[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 40 points 2 days ago

Good to see I was not the only one who thought that.

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[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 45 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I don’t think you’ll be able to find a project that doesn’t contain some code (like dependencies) hosted on GitHub.

I understand not wanting to use GitHub yourself, but not wanting to use a self-hosted software that is distributed through GitHub is kind of extreme.

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'll do what I can. Perfect is the enemy of the good, and passivity is to side with the aggressor.

[–] hperrin@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Fair enough. I do think your goals are noble, so I hope you can find what you’re looking for.

Thanks, I appreciate that!

[–] napkin2020@sh.itjust.works 32 points 2 days ago (2 children)

There is absolutely no way you can avoid GH hosted project completely. It's like trying to buy a phone without Chinese parts.

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[–] dreadbeef@lemmy.dbzer0.com 33 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (5 children)

As an open source software developer, this is a weird hill to die on, and I use and donate to Codeberg every month. I don't give GitHub one penny and I don't support anything about GitHub's AI shit, but I do not mind them eating my costs or other peoples costs for me or them one bit. I'm not at all against having my open source code subsidized by wealthier people.

Sure, go ahead and say "if you're poor and need github's free services I won't use your software" but it's just weird. Codeberg is not a for-profit corporation, it is wrong to demand them to provide free services. It is not wrong to use to the maximum extent GitHub's free services, imo, so long as you aren't giving them money. Bleed em while they let you and all that jazz. It absolutely does cost them, but they don't care so why should the less fortunate?

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[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

... Have you reached out to the devs/maintainers of the projects to find out what their plans are going forward?

Because you may be completely dismissing projects that are in the process (whether its early planning or otherwise) of moving to codeberg or something.

Or even expressed any of your concerns to the devs?

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[–] oeuf@slrpnk.net 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I don't have any app suggestions for you but have been reading through the comments and just wanted to say that I'm 100% with you.

I have a similar conversation with other musicians I know and it's the reason that I (and many others) won't release anything on Spotify: Just being there adds value to them and what they do is destructive and dirty.

I hope you find something and keep standing up for what's right!

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Ah, I appreciate the comment so much! I also don't use Spotify for the same reason as you. These exploitation economies are a race to the bottom. Thank you, and I wish you success platforming your music ethically.

[–] oeuf@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 day ago

Thanks :) I'm happy to chat to any musicians who read this and are curious about alternative release options.

These exploitation economies are a race to the bottom.

That's exactly what they are and exactly what they do.

[–] irotsoma@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Are you wanting something that you don't have to download from GitHub yourself (so a project that hosts a docker container somewhere and just code is in GitHub is OK), or are you looking to boycott any project that is not boycotting GitHub and so any part of that project should not use GitHub for any code at all in which case possibly even dependencies should not be on GitHub even if they publish their distributions elsewhere? Or somewhere in between?

[–] FarraigePlaisteach@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

That's a good question. I've been thinking about where a middle ground might be. I think if a project does both it's coding and CI on another platform (fully committed) then I can live with that. They can a copy of the code to GitHub for the engagement and audience or whatever.

But if the project is determined to keep with GitHub specific features (like actions) then that's a clear signal of support to GitHub, IMO. I couldn't support that. So in short, if GitHub is their home base then I intend to boycott, but I don't mind them mirroring to GitHub from something like Codeberg.

[–] gedaliyah@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I found this: https://codeberg.org/mysearchhistory123/lms

LMS - Lightweight Music Server

LMS is a self-hosted music streaming software: access your music collection from anywhere using a web interface!

I also found this: https://codeberg.org/thororen/Feishin

Feishin

Rewrite of Sonixd.

Features:

  • MPV player backend
  • Web player backend
  • Modern UI
  • Scrobble playback to your server
  • Smart playlist editor (Navidrome)
  • Synchronized and unsynchronized lyrics support

Some elements of these are on github and I can't attest to either. Neither has recent updates, but should function. Web interfaces and API support should mean that you have some mobile options. Like others, I object to your reasoning, but this is a community to help one another, so your reasoning for your goals doesn't really matter to me.

I don't think that you are likely to find any software that meets all of your requirements, but I hope this helps.

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[–] lukecyca@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I use Navidrome and highly recommend it. Nice Canadian developer.

I also use GitLab.

One option is for you to mirror Navidrome on GitLab. I will happily use your mirror instead of GitHub.

Another option is to reach out to the Navidrome dev and propose moving to GitLab. If you open an issue to that effect, I would add a comment with my support.

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[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I'm going to migrate my own code to Codeberg.org soon. Its open source, and hosted outside the U.S., so checks all the non-corporo boxes i want. Maybe check that out?

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[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Funkwhale has/had support for federation. I wonder how that would work and exactly what is federated.

Too late for me to look up the answers so I'm hoping someone else can do my homework while I'm sleeping.

https://az.id.au/ops/funkwhale-configuration-and-first-impressions/

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