Plik

Plik is a self-hosted temporary file upload system designed for scalable file sharing and secure data transfer. It provides a web interface and a dedicated command line client for uploading files that remain available for a specific duration. The application is deployed as a server and can be installed via Docker, Kubernetes, or as a native package on Debian and Ubuntu systems, allowing administrators to maintain full control over their data residency.

Users can upload files through a browser using drag and drop functionality or via the CLI for automated workflows. The system manages file lifecycles through configurable time to live settings and automatic cleanup processes to ensure that temporary data does not persist indefinitely. It supports a wide variety of storage and metadata backends to accommodate different infrastructure requirements, from simple local disk storage to distributed cloud environments.

Key features

• End-to-end encryption using Age for CLI and web interoperability
• Multiple storage backends including S3, OpenStack Swift, and Google Cloud Storage
• Support for SQLite, PostgreSQL, and MySQL metadata backends
• OneShot downloads that delete the file immediately after the first access
• Stream mode for direct uploader to downloader transfers without storing data
• File previews with Markdown rendering, Mermaid diagrams, and syntax highlighting
• Authentication via Local, Google, GitHub, OVH, and OIDC
• Prometheus metrics for system monitoring and performance tracking

The server is written in Golang and features a Vue 3 frontend with support for twelve languages and multiple themes, including light and dark modes. It integrates with third party tools such as ShareX and Thunderbird through dedicated uploaders and add-ons. For AI workflows, it includes an MCP server for assistant integration. The system also allows for password protected uploads using BasicAuth and provides the ability to archive files directly from the web interface or the command line.

Plik serves as a utility for users and organizations requiring a private, encrypted environment for transient file transfers and temporary document sharing.