Photoview

Photoview is an open-source, self-hosted web application that serves as a photo gallery specifically designed for photographers. It allows users to navigate high-resolution images and RAW files by scanning directories on a local file system and mirroring that existing folder structure as albums on the website. This approach ensures that the user maintains full control over how photos are stored and organized on their hardware.

The application is deployed as a server, commonly using Docker, and is compatible with Debian, Ubuntu, and NixOS. It automatically generates thumbnails for media files to ensure fast browsing of large libraries containing thousands of photos. The system is designed to be lightweight and fast, utilizing a scanner that picks up new media and prepares it for web viewing without altering the original files.

Key features

• Direct mapping of local file system directories to website albums
• Support for RAW file formats and EXIF parsing
• User management with filesystem path restrictions per user
• Public sharing of albums and individual media via password-protected links
• Automatic face detection and grouping of people
• Support for common video formats with automatic web optimization
• Lazy loading of high-resolution images and thumbnail caching
• Secure media access using cookie-tokens and hashed passwords

Photoview supports multiple database backends to suit different hardware capabilities. SQLite is available as a built-in option for simple setups requiring no additional maintenance, while MariaDB and PostgreSQL 17 or 18 are supported for users needing higher performance and scalability. The architecture focuses on a scan-based approach, meaning the software does not move or rename files, making it suitable for integration with existing Network Attached Storage (NAS) configurations.

This software is designed for photographers who prefer to maintain their own file organization on a local server while requiring a web-based interface for viewing, organizing, and sharing their work.