I tried to install it on linux but it seems there is not much documentation on setting it up after installing the latest zip file, and I don’t have much experience manually figuring out where these bin and lib files go in order for it to work.

For further context, the website is virtually completely local and could be self-hosted. Aside from hosting the project itself, there is no central server to manage any aspect of the users’ interaction with the site or allow communication with other users. There is no sensitive data stored barring the name of the user for which a pseudonym would be just as acceptable.

I think mentioning the ToS and privacy policy is pointless for creating an app like this. If it is possible, I would rather write them myself or omit them altogether.

1. For Linux enthusiasts, how do you decide which distro you would like to try out next among the plethora of options that are available? The difference I perceive between majority of distros gets smaller the more I try to understand about them.

2. What are the minimum issues I am likely to face using the most beginner friendly distro like Mint for programming and light gaming?

3. How customizable is the GUI in Linux Mint specifically? What if I want a start menu like Windows 10 with the app list and the blocky app tiles? What about those custom widgets I see in hardcore Linux users’ desktops?

4. I heard there is no concept of file extensions in Linux. How am I supposed to work on my projects that I imported from my Windows machine that do contain extensions?

Bonus: Who creates those distro icons in color coded ASCII in the system info command in the terminal?

Wait, is an old laptop also good enough for setting up a home server? I thought you would require a completely separated and dedicated PC box like the ones you can see in studios or offices. That’s new to me!

That is a great analogy of explaining the broadness of the concept of self hosting that I wasnt able to understand from the other comments.

As a beginner, I would like to start out with a storage provider like Google Drive (& Google Photos). I currently don’t have any hardware for a home server but I can get one as per my requirements.

The biggest issue for me would be the OS running in the home server. I would preferably want something compatible with Windows since I have worked with Windows for my whole life. I am also fine with working with Linux, however I don’t want to spend weeks banging my head on setting up and using Linux before I even start configuring it for my home server. I will be able to handle learning about networkings of the server on the go and troubleshoot problems as long as the OS does not bother me. As with self hosting, I am a beginner in the field of Linux so I don’t know what ‘distro’ would be best for me for this purpose, but nonetheless I will research more about it thanks to your headstart.