Throughout my six years of engagement in web development, I have had to deal with various web interfaces for hosting management. As a result, I have developed a strong desire to create a solution that adheres to three core principles: it must be able to be installed on pre-existing servers with users and sites, semi-automatic configuration of configurations specific to each server, and provide an adequate interface while allowing for flexibly changeable configuration templates. It has been a painful experience dealing with the current systems available.
I envision my target audience to be freelancers, small groups, and web studios who require simple, clear, and functional hosting management systems. The use case scenario is intended for working machines with Linux designed for freelancers and programmers of groups, combat servers (which don't require hardware control) servicing up to 50-70 websites each.
The functionality is focused on features and technologies such as Python, Ruby, PHP, Node, Nginx, Mongo, Redis, Percona, MariaDB, MySQL, Exim, Dovecot, Proftpd, Memcache, and other software developers may require nowadays. Interestingly, current hosting management systems have trouble managing these softwares. However, I stand to be corrected via a proof link.
The systems are Debian-based, chosen due to its broad usage within the target audience. Ubuntu on a working machine and Debian on a server are popular choices. If anyone is interested in the project, it is expected that they will contribute to expand the number of covered systems via pull requests.
Now, onto the attention question - is this worth pursuing?
The idea sounds great to me. As an example, I have many VPS that serve as "slaves", and sometimes I want to avoid having to work on them entirely. I purchased them and quickly set them up based on the desired parameters. It would be ideal if everything required could be expanded through a kit. Initially, I would select what I want to associate with (either through flexible or standard options), and the scripts themselves will configure the environment for me.
This would be fantastic, and the remaining little details could be dealt with through the web.
The issue with creating a control panel isn't the actual writing of it, but rather the challenge of maintaining it. It's impossible to maintain adequately without having a full-time development team. There are continuous releases of supported software that will need tracking and immediate attention to keep the panel up to date.
It's easy to claim to have the correct architecture for a panel, but it's possible that other teams creating panels are incompetent in coming up with the right architecture.
To start small and avoid this issue, I recommend creating a control panel that manages vhosts through a bunch of Nginx+PHP-fpm+MySQL+some_ftp+some_dns. If possible, it should also be able to transform .htaccess into ready-made Nginx configurations. At the very least, Apache should be included for Nginx.
P.S. What didn't OpenPanel deliver?
P..P.S. As someone who works as both a developer and hosting provider, I've considered and even created a simple prototype of a control panel. However, after sobering assessment, I've come to the conclusion that writing an effective control panel supporting various software and versions without full-time support is impossible. Given ready-made panels available, no one wants to pay for fulltime support.
VestaCP is no longer functional, and HestiaCP only has some of its features, having discarded the rest. I had hoped that the distribution of user rights/access would be fully developed, but that wasn't the case.
However, I found aaPanel.com to be a good alternative. It offers several add-ons that enable users to increase functionality according to personal preferences.
The first principle, installation on pre-existing servers, is crucial for minimizing disruption to existing operations. This approach acknowledges the reality that many users already have infrastructure in place and need a solution that can seamlessly integrate with their current setups. The ability to configure specific settings for each server semi-automatically further underscores the practicality and efficiency of your proposed solution, reducing the burden of manual configuration while maintaining flexibility.
The focus on providing a clear and functional interface while allowing for adaptable configuration templates is a testament to your understanding of the user experience. This approach is particularly crucial for freelancers, small groups, and web studios who require an intuitive yet powerful tool to manage their hosting needs without unnecessary complexity.
Your emphasis on specific technologies such as Python, Ruby, PHP, Node, Nginx, and various database and email server software aligns well with the current landscape of web development. The recognition that existing hosting management systems struggle to effectively handle these software components is a crucial insight that underlines the necessity of your proposed solution.
The deliberate choice of Debian-based systems, given their prevalence within your target audience, showcases a strategic understanding of the practical environment in which your solution will operate. This decision reflects an awareness of the real-world preferences and practices of your intended users, setting the stage for strong adoption and positive user experiences.
The collaborative nature of your approach, particularly the openness to community contributions and expansion of supported systems through pull requests, demonstrates a forward-thinking and inclusive mindset. This not only encourages a sense of community ownership and involvement but also ensures the scalability and adaptability of your solution as the landscape of web development and hosting continues to evolve.
Your project holds significant promise for addressing the pain points experienced in web hosting management. It not only aligns with the needs of your target audience but also demonstrates a deep understanding of the technological ecosystem in which it will operate. Pursuing this endeavor is indeed worth considering, given the clear value it holds for the web development community.
The focus on user-friendly interfaces and semi-automatic configurations could resonate well with freelancers and small teams, who often struggle with the complexities of existing solutions. Leveraging popular technologies like Nginx and MariaDB while ensuring compatibility with Debian-based systems is a smart move, given their widespread adoption.
However, the challenge lies in execution; creating a seamless experience that outshines current offerings will require meticulous attention to detail and robust testing. If you can deliver a solution that simplifies hosting management without sacrificing functionality, it could certainly gain traction.