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    PicView

    A lightweight, privacy-focused, self-hosted image gallery and viewer that requires no database and no tracking.

    FIFinland
    Headquarters
    🇫🇮Finland
    Data Hosting
    EU-based
    Structure
    Independent
    Compliance
    —

    PicView key facts

    Last updated
    Legal entity
    Nikita Karamov (Individual Developer)
    Headquarters
    Finland (FI)
    Ownership
    Independent
    Infrastructure
    Self-hosted (Docker/PHP)
    Open source
    No
    US Cloud Act exposure
    Low (no US parent)

    About PicView

    Picview is an open-source, self-hosted image viewing platform designed for users who prioritize privacy and simplicity. Unlike traditional photo management software that requires complex databases (like MySQL or PostgreSQL), Picview works directly with the server's file system, providing instant thumbnails and smooth navigation through directory structures. It is built with a 'no-tracking' philosophy, ensuring that no data ever leaves the user's server. The application is highly optimized for performance, featuring a sub-100KB bundle size and 60fps scrolling efficiency. It supports modern image formats including HEIC and AVIF, and can be deployed easily using Docker or by serving static files via PHP. Because it is an open-source project licensed under the MIT license, users have full transparency into the code and complete control over their deployment environment.

    Hosting & Security

    Infrastructure

    Self-hosted (Docker/PHP)

    Key Features

    Instant thumbnail generation
    No-database architecture
    Support for multiple formats (JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, AVIF, TIFF)
    No JavaScript required for core viewing
    Folder-based organization
    RSS feeds per directory
    EXIF metadata display
    Mobile-responsive design

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