Docmost: Free Open Source Alternative to Notion

Docmost: Free Open Source Alternative to Notion

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3 min read

Docmost is an open-source collaborative wiki and documentation software, designed as an alternative to popular tools like Notion and Confluence. It provides a platform for teams to create, share, and manage documentation and knowledge bases efficiently. With its open-source nature, Docmost offers flexibility and control over your data, making it an excellent choice for organizations looking to self-host their documentation solutions.

Key Features of Docmost

  • Collaborative Editing: Multiple users can edit documents simultaneously, making it easy for teams to work together.

  • Rich Text Editor: A user-friendly editor that supports various formatting options, making document creation intuitive.

  • Version Control: Track changes and revert to previous versions of documents as needed.

  • User Management: Add and manage users, assign roles, and control access to different parts of the documentation.

  • Integration: Integrates with other tools and services to enhance functionality.

Installation Steps

To install Docmost, Docker is the recommended method. Below are the steps to get Docmost up and running on your server.

Prerequisites

  • Ensure Docker is installed on your server. You can follow the official Docker installation guide based on your operating system.

Installation Steps

  1. Setup the Docker Compose File

    • Create a new directory for Docmost and download the Docker compose file:

        mkdir docmost
        cd docmost
        curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/docmost/docmost/main/docker-compose.yml
      
    • Open the docker-compose.yml file and replace the default environment variables:

        version: "3"
        services:
          docmost:
            image: docmost/docmost:latest
            depends_on:
              - db
              - redis
            environment:
              APP_URL: "http://localhost:3000"
              APP_SECRET: "REPLACE_WITH_LONG_SECRET"
              DATABASE_URL: "postgresql://docmost:STRONG_DB_PASSWORD@db:5432/docmost?schema=public"
              REDIS_URL: "redis://redis:6379"
            ports:
              - "3000:3000"
            restart: unless-stopped
            volumes:
              - docmost:/app/data/storage
          db:
            image: postgres:16-alpine
            environment:
              POSTGRES_DB: docmost
              POSTGRES_USER: docmost
              POSTGRES_PASSWORD: STRONG_DB_PASSWORD
            restart: unless-stopped
            volumes:
              - db_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
          redis:
            image: redis:7.2-alpine
            restart: unless-stopped
            volumes:
              - redis_data:/data
        volumes:
          docmost:
          db_data:
          redis_data:
      
    • Replace APP_URL with your chosen domain (e.g., https://example.com).

    • Generate a long random secret key for APP_SECRET using openssl rand -hex 32.

    • Replace STRONG_DB_PASSWORD with a secure password for the PostgreSQL database.

  2. Start the Services

    • Ensure you are inside the docmost directory containing the docker-compose.yml file.

    • Run the following command to start the services:

        docker-compose up -d
      
    • Verify the installation by opening your web browser and navigating to http://localhost:3000 or the domain that points to your server. You should see the Docmost setup page to configure your workspace and account.

  3. Post-Installation

    • After a successful setup, you will become the workspace owner and can invite other users to join your workspace.

    • For additional configuration such as email setup or file storage, refer to the Docmost documentation.

Conclusion

Docmost is a powerful and flexible tool for managing documentation and knowledge bases. Its open-source nature allows for customization and control, making it a great alternative to proprietary solutions like Notion. By following the installation steps above, you can quickly set up Docmost and start collaborating with your team.

Homepage

https://docmost.com/

Github repo

https://github.com/docmost/docmost