WebDAV isn't dead yet
Forget complex cloud storage; WebDAV, the seemingly archaic protocol, is surprisingly alive and kicking, offering a simpler, self-hosted alternative to S3 for managing your files. This deep dive into its practical uses and easy setup resonates with Hacker News's love for elegant, under-appreciated technical solutions and a healthy dose of anti-cloud sentiment. It turns out many are already using it without even realizing it.
The Lowdown
The author emphatically declares "WebDAV isn't dead yet," arguing against the pervasive adoption of AWS S3 for file storage in personal projects and self-hosting. While acknowledging FTP's demise and SFTP's SSH dependency, the article positions WebDAV as a perfectly viable, often superior option for those who don't need the enterprise-grade complexity of S3.
Here's why WebDAV still matters:
- S3 Critiques: The author expresses disdain for S3's complexity and Minio's recent changes, which push users towards JSON policy files, deeming them unnecessary for most use cases.
- Core Requirements Met: WebDAV efficiently handles authentication, file writing, syncing, default privacy, and easy public access, fulfilling the primary needs of many developers and self-hosters.
- Feature Simplicity: It bypasses the need for advanced ACLs, signed URLs, versioning, tiered storage, and lifecycle rules, which often add unnecessary overhead.
- Widespread Compatibility: WebDAV is natively supported by major operating systems (macOS Finder, Windows Explorer) and popular tools like rclone, CyberDuck, WinSCP, and Filezilla.
- Under-the-Hood Use: Users are already leveraging WebDAV through protocols like CardDAV and CalDAV for contact and calendar syncing, demonstrating its foundational presence.
- Practical Setup: The article provides a detailed Apache configuration example for a multi-user WebDAV setup, including LDAP authentication and directory segregation for user privacy.
- Real-World Applications: The author uses WebDAV for Joplin, Keepassium, VLC, Infuse, and static blog publishing, showcasing its versatility.
- Emerging Projects: A new project, Altmount, is highlighted for its potential to "mount" Usenet content, hinting at WebDAV's future possibilities.
Ultimately, the author encourages readers to reconsider WebDAV, presenting it not as an obsolete relic, but as a practical, stable, and often simpler solution for modern file storage needs.
The Gossip
WebDAV's Resurgence: Practical Uses and Endorsements
Many users chimed in to confirm WebDAV's utility, citing its effectiveness in various self-hosting scenarios like media streaming to Infuse over Tailscale, syncing note-taking apps like Joplin and Zotero, or connecting document management systems like Paperless-NGX. The community largely appreciated its role in enabling open protocols and avoiding proprietary vendor lock-in. Several pointed out that services like Tailscale Drive and Fastmail's file storage already leverage WebDAV, often without users realizing it.
Protocol Polemics: WebDAV vs. S3 and the API Wars
The author's strong stance against S3 sparked debate. Some commenters argued that the S3 API has become a standard model adopted by many vendors, separating the API from AWS's specific services. Others questioned why S3 gained dominance over the "always-there" WebDAV, noting WebDAV's historic lack of commercial service adoption. This discussion often revolved around the merits of open, simple protocols versus feature-rich, complex (and often proprietary) APIs.
The Perennial Debate: FTP, SFTP, and Alternatives
The article's assertion that "FTP is dead" was met with nuance. While many agreed FTP is declining, especially with the wane of shared hosting, some highlighted its continued, albeit niche, existence in legacy web hosting contexts. SFTP was presented as a more secure, if sometimes "crustier," alternative, with tools like `sftpgo` offering greater flexibility. The discussion touched upon the merits and drawbacks of various file transfer protocols for different use cases, from CI/CD deployments to personal syncing.
WebDAV's Woes: Past Problems and Future Potential
Despite the overall positive sentiment, some commenters recalled historical challenges with WebDAV, such as client slowness, issues with bulk uploads, and inconsistent behavior across operating systems. A key limitation raised was the lack of native random writes. However, others countered that modern implementations and extensions, like those using `X-Update-Range` or `PATCH+Content-Range` in Sabre-DAV, show that these perceived limitations can be addressed, hinting at WebDAV's evolving capabilities.