FAQ
Is Homestead released?
Section titled “Is Homestead released?”Not yet. There are no tags, no published Docker image and no app store or add-on listings. You
can build it from source today; see the Quick start.
Progress is tracked in
work/tasks.yaml.
What does it cost?
Section titled “What does it cost?”Homestead is free and open source under the MIT licence. You run it on your own hardware. The only paid parts are optional and yours: the X API if you add your own key (with a monthly budget, 5 USD by default), and an OpenRouter key for AI extraction once that lands.
Where does my data live?
Section titled “Where does my data live?”On your server, in one folder: the SQLite database, the media files and the secret key. In
Docker that’s the /data volume. Homestead has no telemetry and no analytics, loads no remote
fonts and uses no Google services. See Privacy and responsible use.
What can it run on?
Section titled “What can it run on?”Anything that runs Docker on amd64 or arm64, including a Raspberry Pi or a NAS. It’s one container with one volume.
Which platforms does it support?
Section titled “Which platforms does it support?”Instagram, Facebook, LINE, WeChat, Bluesky, X (Twitter), Douyin, Xiaohongshu (RED) and Truth Social. How much Homestead can see depends on the platform; see Platforms and fetch tiers.
Why can’t I see Grandma’s LINE posts?
Section titled “Why can’t I see Grandma’s LINE posts?”Personal LINE timelines and WeChat Moments only exist inside those apps. Nobody outside can fetch them, so Homestead doesn’t try. It reminds you to visit instead, with a hearth pick and a button that opens the app.
Do I need an AI agent?
Section titled “Do I need an AI agent?”No. Bluesky and Truth Social work without one, and so does X if you add your own API key. Instagram, Facebook, Douyin and Xiaohongshu need an agent with a logged-in browser, or later the Firefox companion. Without either, those people show up as visit suggestions.
Does Homestead store my Instagram password?
Section titled “Does Homestead store my Instagram password?”No. Homestead never stores platform passwords or cookies. Logins stay in your agent’s browser profile, or in your own Firefox.
Is using an agent allowed by the platforms?
Section titled “Is using an agent allowed by the platforms?”Many platforms forbid automated access in their terms. Homestead keeps the risk low (slow, off by default, stops at the first challenge, only reads what you can already see), but it can’t make it zero. Using an agent may put your account at risk. You decide.
Can I post, like or reply from Homestead?
Section titled “Can I post, like or reply from Homestead?”No. Replies always open the source app.
Does it send notifications?
Section titled “Does it send notifications?”Not in this version. Push notifications are a candidate after 1.0.
Can several family members use one Homestead?
Section titled “Can several family members use one Homestead?”Yes. Each person signs in with their own account as owner, member or viewer, and keeps their own seen state. See Invite family.
Is there a phone app?
Section titled “Is there a phone app?”There’s a Flutter app for iOS 15+ and Android 8+ in the repository. It can connect and sign in today; the feed and other screens are still being built, and it isn’t in the stores. The web app works in a phone’s browser now. See Open on your phone.
Which languages?
Section titled “Which languages?”English, Simplified Chinese and Thai. The Chinese and Thai text is waiting for native review.
Can I add a platform?
Section titled “Can I add a platform?”Platforms are data in
platforms/platforms.yaml.
Changing it is a contract change in the project; read
CONTRIBUTING.md
first. YouTube, Threads, Mastodon, TikTok, Weibo, Bilibili, Kuaishou and RSS are candidates
after 1.0.
Is it safe to put children’s accounts in it?
Section titled “Is it safe to put children’s accounts in it?”Homestead isn’t designed for children’s accounts. The project recommends against adding minors’ accounts from platforms that restrict them.
How do I report a bug?
Section titled “How do I report a bug?”Open an issue at github.com/aprajnaparamita/homestead/issues. For security problems, use private reporting instead; see Security.