---
title: "Concepts"
description: "The foundational knowledge for self-hosting. Docker, networking, security, backups — explained like you're a human, not a sysadmin."
---

# Concepts

Before you deploy anything, understand the building blocks. These guides cover the **why** and **how** behind self-hosting infrastructure — no fluff, no PhD required.

> 📖 **Reading order matters.** Start from the top and work down. Each article builds on the one before it.

---

## The Foundations

These four are non-negotiable. Read them before your first deploy.

| # | Guide | What You'll Learn |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Docker in 10 Minutes](/concepts/docker-basics) | Images, containers, volumes, Docker Compose — the only 4 concepts you need |
| 2 | [Networking for Self-Hosters](/concepts/networking) | Ports, DNS, firewalls, and why your tool isn't accessible from the internet |
| 3 | [Reverse Proxies Explained](/concepts/reverse-proxies) | Map `app.yourdomain.com` to your containers with Caddy |
| 4 | [SSL/TLS for Self-Hosters](/concepts/ssl-tls) | HTTPS, Let's Encrypt, and why it matters |

---

## Running in Production

Once your tools are deployed, keep them alive and healthy.

| # | Guide | What You'll Learn |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | [Environment Variables & Secrets](/concepts/env-secrets) | `.env` files, Docker secrets, and never hardcoding passwords again |
| 6 | [Monitoring & Observability](/concepts/monitoring) | Know when things break before your users do |
| 7 | [Updating & Maintaining Containers](/concepts/updates) | Safe update workflows, rollbacks, and automating the boring parts |
| 8 | [Backups That Actually Work](/concepts/backups) | Database dumps, volume backups, and the 3-2-1 rule |

---

## Planning & Scaling

Before you buy a server (or a bigger one).

| # | Guide | What You'll Learn |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | [Hardware & VPS Sizing](/concepts/hardware) | How much RAM/CPU you actually need, and which providers are worth it |

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## Ready to Deploy?

You've got the knowledge. Now put it to work:

→ [Deploy Guides](/deploy) — 65+ tools with Docker Compose configs
→ [Quick Start](/quick-start) — Your first deployment in 5 minutes
→ [Curated Stacks](/stacks) — Pre-built tool bundles for specific use cases