Statichost.eu – 100% European static site hosting
Statichost.eu introduces a fully European static site hosting platform, explicitly avoiding US-based cloud giants like AWS and Cloudflare to ensure data sovereignty. This initiative resonates with Hacker News's interest in infrastructure independence and diverse hosting options, sparking discussions on deployment methods and competitive alternatives. It highlights a growing desire among developers for more localized and transparent web infrastructure.
The Lowdown
Statichost.eu, founded by Eric Selin, offers a distinct static site hosting service with a commitment to being 100% European. Selin's motivation stems from a belief that the internet has become overly complex and too reliant on American companies, even for "European" hosting providers. His platform ensures that every layer, from Git deployment to CDN, operates exclusively on European infrastructure owned by European companies.
Key aspects of Statichost.eu include:
- European-only Infrastructure: No reliance on AWS, Cloudflare, or any other US-based cloud providers.
- Git-centric Deployment: Designed for web developers who version their sites in Git repositories.
- Focus on Simplicity: An antidote to what the founder perceives as an overly complicated web.
- Data Sovereignty: Appeals to users concerned about where their data resides and who controls the underlying infrastructure.
This service positions itself as a principled alternative for developers seeking to align their hosting choices with specific geographical and sovereignty preferences, distinguishing itself in a market dominated by global cloud behemoths.
The Gossip
Deployment Debates and Build Buzz
Commenters weighed in on Statichost.eu's Git-only deployment, with some expressing a preference for more traditional methods like SFTP or rsync, while others asked about WebDAV. The mention of "100 build minutes" for a static site also prompted questions, leading to clarification that static sites can still involve server-side build processes from source, explaining the need for build resources.
European Excellence & OVH Options
The proposition of 100% European hosting was generally well-received, highlighting the appeal of data sovereignty and alternatives to dominant American cloud providers. However, some users also pointed out existing European competitors, such as OVH, which offers free static hosting as part of its domain service, underscoring that while niche, Statichost.eu isn't entirely alone in the European market.