# What is this?

The "**[Geek's Cookbook](https://geek-cookbook.funkypenguin.co.nz)**" is a collection of guides for establishing your own highly-available docker container cluster (swarm). This swarm enables you to run self-hosted services such as [GitLab](/recipies/gitlab/), [Plex](/recipies/plex/), [NextCloud](/recipies/nextcloud/), etc.

## Who is this for?

You already have a familiarity with concepts such as [virtual](https://libvirt.org/) [machines](https://www.virtualbox.org/), [Docker](https://www.docker.com/) containers, [LetsEncrypt SSL certificates](https://letsencrypt.org/), databases, and command-line interfaces.

You've probably played with self-hosting some mainstream apps yourself, like [Plex](https://www.plex.tv/), [OwnCloud](https://owncloud.org/), [Wordpress](https://wordpress.org/) or even [SandStorm](https://sandstorm.io/).

## Why should I read this?

So if you're familiar enough with the tools, and you've done self-hosting before, why would you read this book?

1. You want to upskill. You want to do container orchestration, LetsEncrypt certificates, git collaboration.
2. You want to play. You want a safe sandbox to test new tools, keeping the ones you want and tossing the ones you don't.
3. You want reliability. Once you go from __playing__ with a tool to actually __using__ it, you want it to be available when you need it. Having to "_quickly ssh into the host and restart the webserver_" doesn't cut it when your wife wants to know why her phone won't sync!

## What do you want from me?

I want your money.

No, seriously (_but yes, I do want your money - see below_), If the above applies to you, then you're like me. I want everything I wrote above, so I ended up learning all this as I went along. I enjoy it, and I'm good at it. So I created this website, partly to make sure I documented my own setup properly.

### Get in touch 👋

* Tweet me up, I'm [@funkypenguin](https://twitter.com/funkypenguin)! 🐦
* or better yet, come into the  [kitchen](https://discourse.geek-kitchen.funkypenguin.co.nz/) (discussion forums) to say hi, ask a question, or suggest a new recipe!

### Buy my book 📖

I'm also writing it as a formal book, on Leanpub (https://leanpub.com/geeks-cookbook). Buy it for $0.99 (_which is really just a token gesture of support_) - you can get it for free (_in PDF, mobi, or epub format_), or pay me what you think it's worth!

### [Patreonize me 💰](https://www.patreon.com/funkypenguin)

<a href="https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6982506" data-patreon-widget-type="become-patron-button">Become a Patron!</a><script async src="https://c6.patreon.com/becomePatronButton.bundle.js"></script>
- [My Patreon page](https://www.patreon.com/funkypenguin)!


### Hire me 🏢

Need some system design work done? I do freelance consulting - [contact](https://www.funkypenguin.co.nz/contact/) me for details.