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FAQ

General​

What is Agam Space?​

Self-hosted file storage with client-side encryption. Think Dropbox, but files are encrypted on your device before upload and the server can't read them.

Is it ready for production?​

No. It's in beta. Works for personal use but expect bugs. Not recommended for mission-critical data.

Is it open source?​

Yes. AGPL-3.0 license.

Who made this?​

Personal project by someone interested in security and self-hosting. Not a company or large team.

Features​

Can I share files with others?​

Not yet. Sharing is planned but not implemented. Each user's data is isolated.

Does it work on mobile?​

The web UI is responsive and works on phones/tablets. No native apps yet.

What file types can I preview?​

  • PDF
  • Images (JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP)
  • Text files (can also edit)

Video and audio preview planned.

Is there a file size limit?​

No hard limit, but large files (>5GB) may be slow. Browser memory constraints apply.

Can I sync files like Dropbox?​

No automatic sync. You manually upload/download. Desktop sync client planned.

Security​

How secure is it?​

Files encrypted with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before upload. Standard, well-tested cryptography. Server can't read your files.

But: Not professionally audited. Use at your own risk.

What if I forget my master password?​

Use your recovery key (displayed during setup and accessible in Settings). Without recovery key or master password, your data is unrecoverable. This is intentional.

Can the admin read my files?​

No. Even if you self-host and control the server, the encrypted data cannot be decrypted without your master password.

What if the server gets hacked?​

Hackers get encrypted data they can't decrypt (assuming strong master password). Your files remain safe.

Is end-to-end encryption really necessary?​

Depends on your threat model:

  • Useful if: You don't trust server operator, concerned about server breaches
  • Overkill if: You just want file storage and trust yourself/your server

Regular self-hosted solutions (Nextcloud without E2EE) are fine for many people.

Installation​

What are the system requirements?​

  • 2GB RAM minimum
  • 10GB+ disk (plus whatever storage you need for files)
  • Docker and Docker Compose
  • x86_64 or ARM64 CPU

Can I use S3 for storage?​

Not yet. Currently local filesystem only. S3 backend planned.

How do I backup my data?​

Backup the files/ directory and PostgreSQL database. Encrypted files are useless without the database (contains encryption metadata).

Can I run it without Docker?​

Technically yes, but not documented. Docker is the supported deployment method.

Does it support LDAP/SSO?​

Basic SSO support exists but not well-tested. LDAP not implemented.

Usage​

How do I set storage quotas?​

Via database query. Default is 10GB per user. See User Management for SQL examples.

Can I use it as a team?​

Multiple users work, but no collaboration features. Everyone has separate encrypted storage. No sharing, no comments, no permissions.

What happens to deleted files?​

Moved to trash. Auto-deleted after 30 days. Can restore or manually empty trash.

Can I access it from anywhere?​

Yes, if exposed to internet with HTTPS (use reverse proxy). Or VPN/Tailscale for private access.

Comparison​

vs Nextcloud​

Nextcloud pros:

  • Mature, stable, well-documented
  • Rich features (calendar, contacts, office)
  • Active development, large community
  • Professional support available

Agam Space pros:

  • Simpler E2EE implementation
  • Modern tech stack
  • Lighter weight

Choose Nextcloud if you need a proven solution. Choose Agam Space if you're tinkering.

vs Seafile​

Seafile pros:

  • Faster for large files
  • Desktop sync clients
  • Stable and mature

Agam Space pros:

  • Web-native (no client install needed)
  • Simpler architecture

Seafile is probably better for most people.

vs Ente/Mega​

Ente/Mega pros:

  • Managed service (no self-hosting)
  • Mobile apps
  • Photo-focused features (Ente)
  • Actually tested by real users

Agam Space pros:

  • Self-hosted (full control)
  • No monthly fees

Use Ente if you want photos backed up easily. Use Agam Space if you like tinkering with self-hosted stuff.

Development​

Can I contribute?​

Sure. It's open source. Check GitHub issues or open new ones.

What's the tech stack?​

  • Frontend: Next.js (React), TypeScript, Web Crypto API
  • Backend: NestJS, PostgreSQL, Drizzle ORM
  • Deployment: Docker, Docker Compose
  • Crypto: libsodium (via libsodium-wrappers)

Why did you build this?​

Existing E2EE file storage solutions had gaps. Wanted to learn modern E2EE patterns. Scratching my own itch.

What's next?​

Check the GitHub roadmap. Rough priorities:

  1. File sharing
  2. Mobile apps
  3. S3 backend
  4. File versioning
  5. Search

No timeline. Personal project, built when I have time.

Troubleshooting​

Files won't upload​

  • Check browser console for errors
  • Verify storage quota not exceeded
  • Check disk space on server
  • Try smaller files first

Can't unlock after login​

  • Verify master password is correct
  • Check browser console for errors
  • Try clearing browser cache
  • Check if CMK setup completed successfully

Slow performance​

  • Large files take time to encrypt/decrypt
  • Check server resources (CPU, memory)
  • Consider chunk size (configurable)
  • Browser memory limits apply

Docker container won't start​

docker-compose logs

Common issues:

  • Database connection failed (check credentials)
  • Port already in use (change port)
  • Volume permission issues (check ownership)

Still stuck? Open a GitHub issue with logs.