Quickstart

tala.family is a collection of self-hosted services for our family. Instead of using Google Drive, iCloud, or other commercial platforms, we run our own — on a server at home in Switzerland.

What you get

• Files and documents — A personal cloud drive with office document editing, similar to Google Drive. Available at space.tala.family.

• Photos — Automatic photo backup and browsing, similar to Google Photos. Available at photos.tala.family.

• Tasks and planning — Shared task lists and project boards. Available at planner.tala.family.

• VPN access — A private network that connects your devices directly to the server and to each other. Useful for game servers, large file transfers, and accessing services that aren't public.

How it works

Every service uses the same account — you sign in once with your passkey and all the apps recognize you. There are no separate passwords to remember.

Some services (like files and photos) are available from anywhere over the internet. Others (like game servers or admin tools) require the VPN. The guides section walks you through setting everything up.

Three steps to get going

1. Create your account — Takes about two minutes. You'll register at id.tala.family and save a passkey.

2. Connect to the VPN — Install the Tailscale app and sign in. This connects your device to the family network.

3. Set up your apps — Install the apps for files, photos, and tasks on your phone or computer.

Once you've done all three, you're fully set up. The rest of this handbook is a reference you can come back to when you need it.