Host file-social

Your own personal content stream. It's like html VSCO.

If you can follow a recipe, you can do this.

What You Need

  • 1. Home wifi
  • 2. An old computer
  • 3. Maybe an hour

Step 1: Find a Computer

Pick any computer that can stay on all the time:

Old Laptop (Best)

Has a battery, so it won't die if the power flickers. Any old MacBook or Windows laptop works.

Desktop

Requires a monitor for setup, but can run without one after.

Raspberry Pi

Tiny, cheap, low power. Setup is different enough that we made a separate guide for it.

Step 2: Get file-social

Download the software that makes your timeline.

A. Install Node.js

  1. Go to nodejs.org
  2. Click the big green button
  3. Open the download and click through the installer

B. Download file-social

  1. Click this link to download
  2. Find it in your Downloads folder
  3. Double-click to unzip it
  4. Drag the "file-social-m" folder to your Desktop

Step 3: Start the Server

This starts the web server that shows your timeline.

On Mac:

  1. Open "Terminal" (search for it in Spotlight)
  2. Type: cd then a space
  3. Drag the file-social-m folder from your Desktop into the Terminal window
  4. Press Enter
  5. Type: npm run setup then press Enter
  6. Wait a minute — it's installing stuff
  7. Type: npm start then press Enter
  8. Don't close this window — this IS your server

On Windows:

  1. Search for "Command Prompt" and open it
  2. Type: cd Desktop\file-social-m then press Enter
  3. Type: npm run setup then press Enter
  4. Wait a minute — it's installing stuff
  5. Type: npm start then press Enter
  6. Don't close this window — this IS your server

Test it:

Open a browser on that computer and go to: http://localhost:7650

See your empty stream? It works! (We'll add content in a sec)

Step 4: Open a Door in Your Router

Right now only that one computer can see your website. Let's make it visible to everyone.

A. Find your computer's address

Mac: Apple menu → System Preferences → Network → look for 192.168.something

Windows: Search "cmd" → type ipconfig → find IPv4 Address

Write this down. Example: 192.168.1.100

B. Log into your router

  1. Go to 192.168.1.1 in a browser (or try 192.168.0.1)
  2. Username and password are usually:
    • admin / admin
    • admin / password
    • (or check the sticker on your router)

C. Add a rule

  1. Find "Port Forwarding" or "Virtual Server"
  2. Click "Add"
  3. Fill in:

    Name: file-social

    External Port: 7650

    Internal IP: (your 192.168 number)

    Internal Port: 7650

    Protocol: Both

  4. Click Save

Test it:

  1. Go to whatismyip.com → copy that number
  2. Go to http://YOUR-NUMBER:7650
  3. See your stream? You're on the internet!

Step 5: Get a Real Website Address

Right now people have to type a weird number to visit. Let's give it a real name like yourname.file-social.com

1. Pick a name and sign up

Go here and choose a name. (Example: joe.file-social.com)

2. Connect it

Fill out the form:

Domain: yourname.file-social.com

IP Address: (the number from whatismyip.com)

Port: 7650

Click "Create Site"

Done!

Go to yourname.file-social.com in any browser. Your stream is live.

Step 6: Add Your First Post

This is how you add content to your stream.

Create a new post:

  1. In the Terminal/Command Prompt window, press Ctrl+C to stop the server
  2. Type: npm run new then press Enter
  3. This creates a new HTML file with a timestamp

Edit your post:

  1. Look in: file-social-m → posts → (year) → (month) → (day)
  2. Open the newest HTML file in Notepad/TextEdit
  3. Write whatever you want — text, links, HTML
  4. Save it

Add images/videos (optional):

  1. Put your media files in: file-social-m → public → data
  2. Reference them in your HTML: <img src="/data/photo.jpg">

Restart the server:

  1. Type: npm start then press Enter
  2. Refresh your website
  3. Your post appears at the top!

Every time you want to add a post: Stop server (Ctrl+C) → npm run new → edit HTML → npm start

Make It Yours

Organize and customize

Look in: file-social-m → public → config

Files starting with - let you tag posts, pin favorites, set a backdrop, etc.

Keep the computer on

Your stream only works when that computer is on and the Terminal/Command Prompt window is running. Go to Settings → never sleep.

If it stops working

Your internet number probably changed. Check whatismyip.com and update it in yxorp.

Ready to get started?