Shifter

Shifter is a lightweight, self-hosted file sharing web application built with Django and Tailwind CSS. It provides a simple web UI to upload files, create shareable download links, and manage uploads and account permissions.

Key Features

• Web-based multi-file uploads with client-side upload handling and automatic zip archive creation for multiple files
• Configurable expiring download links and automatic deletion of expired files
• User accounts with the ability to create multiple upload accounts and an admin interface for site settings
• Admin controls for maximum file size, default expiry times, and file management (delete or extend)
• Deployable via Docker and Docker Compose; supports local SQLite by default and optional PostgreSQL for production
• Uses modern frontend tooling (Tailwind CSS and JavaScript upload libraries) for a responsive UI

Use Cases

• Temporary large-file sharing between colleagues or external collaborators without relying on third-party services
• A small team or organization hosting a simple file drop service with expiry policies and admin oversight
• Developers or testers needing an easy-to-deploy file sharing endpoint for CI artifacts or build outputs

Limitations and Considerations

• Project is under active development; some features are incomplete and the README notes it may not be production-ready for all use cases
• Default deployment uses SQLite which is fine for small installs but not recommended for high-concurrency production without switching to PostgreSQL
• No built-in object storage integrations documented by default; verify storage configuration and backup strategy before production use

Shifter is suited for users who want a minimal, self-hosted file sharing endpoint with expiry and admin controls. It is straightforward to deploy with Docker Compose and can be adapted to production by enabling PostgreSQL and reviewing configuration settings.