Self-hosting

Run OpenBook on your own infrastructure with your own model keys — no required cloud.

Requirements

Node.js 20+
A database — SQLite for dev, Postgres/MySQL for production
At least one provider plugin active (Anthropic or OpenAI) with an API key

Run

bash

git clone https://github.com/bookbaghq/openbook
cd openbook
npm install
npm run dev   # dev
# production: build the frontend + run with pm2/systemd behind nginx

Production shape

nginx reverse proxy → frontend (Next.js) + backend API paths
Process manager (pm2 or systemd) with zero-downtime reload
Bind the backend to loopback; terminate TLS at nginx
Push-to-main CI/CD: a GitHub Action SSHes in, pulls, builds, reloads

Your data and model keys stay on your infrastructure. There's no phone-home and no per-run billing.

Writing a plugin Security