How to Self-Host Documentation and Wikis with Wiki.js
Learn how to self-host Wiki.js, a modern open-source documentation/wiki solution, on Linux using Docker Compose. We'll guide you through the process step by step.
Publish date: 11/23/2024
Learn how to self-host Wiki.js, a modern open-source documentation/wiki solution, on Linux using Docker Compose. We'll guide you through the process step by step.
Publish date: 11/23/2024
Ever wanted to manage your team's knowledge base or customer documentation with a sleek, modern platform that's under your full control?
If that's the case, self-hosting Wiki.js might be just the solution you're looking for.
It's a powerful, open-source wiki application that combines simplicity with flexibility, making it easier than ever to create and manage content collaboratively.
That said, in this article, we'll explore what Wiki.js is, discuss its pros and cons, and guide you through the process of easily self-hosting it on a Linux system using Docker Compose. Let's dive in.
Wiki.js is an open-source wiki engine built on Node.js, designed to provide a seamless and user-friendly experience for managing documentation.
It supports multiple editing formats like Markdown and WYSIWYG, real-time collaboration, and integrates with various authentication systems.
Self-hosting gives you complete control over your data and the flexibility to customize the platform to fit your needs. Unlike external services, self-hosting ensures your sensitive information remains private and secure within your infrastructure.
Plus, it's almost always the cheaper option.
Ready to take control of your documentation/wiki? Let's walk through how to self-host Wiki.js on a Linux system like Debian, Ubuntu, or RHEL, using Docker Compose.
First, create a directory for Wiki.js:
mkdir ~/wikijs && cd ~/wikijs
Then, create the docker-compose.yml file:
nano docker-compose.yml
Note: If you're on a RHEL-derived distribution such as CentOS, Fedora, AlmaLinux, or Rocky Linux, you'll need to slightly alter some things throughout, such as using vi/vim instead of nano.
Add the following content:
services:
db:
image: postgres:15-alpine
environment:
POSTGRES_DB: wiki
POSTGRES_USER: wikijs
POSTGRES_PASSWORD: wikijsrocks
volumes:
- db-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
restart: unless-stopped
wiki:
image: ghcr.io/requarks/wiki:2
ports:
- "80:3000"
environment:
DB_TYPE: 'postgres'
DB_HOST: 'db'
DB_PORT: 5432
DB_USER: 'wikijs'
DB_PASS: 'wikijsrocks'
DB_NAME: 'wiki'
depends_on:
- db
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
db-data:
Start the containers:
sudo docker compose up -d
Check if everything is running smoothly:
sudo docker compose ps
Open your web browser and navigate to http://your_server_ip.
You should see the Wiki.js install page, which will ask you to set up the admin account and what you'd like the URL to be. After that, you're good to go!
Self-hosting Wiki.js gives your team control over your documentation platform while maintaining the convenience of modern features.
From Markdown support for developers to WYSIWYG editing for non-technical team members, whether you're managing internal knowledge bases, technical documentation, or customer support resources, Wiki.js strikes a practical balance between ease of use and functionality and will work for just about anyone/any organization.
Give it a shot! Worst case scenario if you hate Wiki.js, you can simply switch to one of their many alternatives.
If you're searching for reliable infrastructure to host your self-hosted Wiki.js setup, xTom offers a range of solutions, including dedicated servers, colocation, and IP transit services.
For scalable virtual private servers, V.PS provides NVMe VPS hosting that's perfect for running applications like Wiki.js.
Thanks for reading!