haven
Haven is a self-hostable private blogging platform built with Ruby on Rails that prioritizes privacy and ease of use. It enables you to share updates with friends and family through a built-in web interface, complete with user management, markdown editing, and private RSS feeds—all without the complexity and commercial focus of traditional blogging platforms.
Key Features
- Privacy-first design: No self-signup or public access; you control who gets invited to read your blog
- Low-bandwidth optimized: Automatic image downscaling, no JavaScript frameworks, and no ads or trackers
- Built-in RSS functionality: Share private RSS feeds with friends and use the integrated reader to follow other blogs
- Easy customization: Add custom CSS or fonts and write posts with markdown and live preview
- Rich media support: Host images, videos, and audio directly on your blog
Use Cases
- Family updates: Share life moments with close relatives through a private, ad-free space
- Friend networks: Keep a close circle of friends connected with automatic RSS notifications
- Personal journaling: Write freely on your own server without commercial surveillance or data harvesting
Who Is It For
Haven is ideal for individuals and small groups who want to self-host a blogging platform focused on privacy and simplicity. It's designed for personal sharing with friends and family rather than commercial or large-scale public blogging.
