Run Your Own Node
Setting up your own Synapsis instance is designed to be affordable and straightforward. You can host a fully functional node for as little as $5/month using services like Contabo.
Quick Start
Deploy your Synapsis node in 5 minutes using Docker:
Why Docker Only?
- One command to start everything
- Automatic database setup
- One-command updates (
curl -fsSL https://synapsis.social/update.sh | bash) - Consistent, reproducible environment
- No complex dependency management
What’s Included
A Synapsis node runs as a complete system:
- Web Application — Modern React UI with real-time updates
- PostgreSQL Database — Stores all your data
- Swarm Networking — Automatic peer-to-peer node discovery
- AI Bot Support — Built-in LLM integration (optional)
- Federation — Compatible with ActivityPub networks
System Requirements
| Resource | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| CPU | 2 cores | 2+ cores |
| Storage | 20 GB | 40 GB |
| Network | Stable internet | 100 Mbps+ |
What You’ll Need
- A VPS or server — Ubuntu/Debian recommended
- A domain name — Pointed to your server
- Docker + Docker Compose — For the production deployment flow
Current media storage model
Synapsis itself installs cleanly with Docker and PostgreSQL only.
User media storage is currently user-owned. That means when someone creates an account, they are asked to provide S3-compatible storage credentials for their own media uploads. This is the current product behavior, not an optional advanced mode.
That’s it! Our Docker setup handles the rest.