Palmr: Share Files Privately, No Tracking, No Hassle

Ever needed to send a file that's a bit too sensitive for a regular email attachment or a public cloud link? You start looking for a secure sharing service, but then you hit the usual roadblocks: mandatory sign-ups, hidden tracking, or limits on file size or type. It often feels like the tools meant to help you share privately come with their own set of privacy concerns.

What if you could just share a file with a password and a custom link, and have it disappear after it's been grabbed—all without anyone logging your activity? That's the itch Palmr scratches.

What It Does

Palmr is a self-hostable web app for secure, ephemeral file sharing. You upload a file, set an optional password and a custom link slug, and get a shareable URL. The recipient enters the password (if you set one), downloads the file, and that's it. The file is then automatically deleted from the server. No user accounts, no analytics dashboard tracking downloads, no metadata retention. It's a simple, single-purpose tool that does one thing well.

Why It's Cool

The cool factor here is in the philosophy and the straightforward implementation. In a world of feature creep, Palmr is intentionally minimal.

• Privacy by Default: The server doesn't track who downloaded what or when. There's no logging of IP addresses or download activity tied to the file. The transaction is between the uploader and the downloader.
• Self-Hosted Control: You run it on your own server. This means you control the data, the lifespan of files, and the entire environment. It's perfect for internal team use, client exchanges, or just having a private sharing tool you own.
• Zero Friction: No sign-up forms, no email verification, no "upgrade to Pro" pop-ups. The interface is a simple upload form. It respects the user's time and need for immediacy.
• Ephemeral by Design: Files are deleted after the first successful download. This "fire-and-forget" model is perfect for sensitive documents that shouldn't live on a server indefinitely, reducing your exposure and cleanup duty.

How to Try It

The easiest way to see Palmr in action is to check out the public instance run by the creators: https://palmr.kyanite.dev. Give it a spin with a test file to see the flow.

If you want to run your own instance (the way it's meant to be used), it's a Docker container away. The GitHub repository has clear instructions. Clone the repo, set a couple of environment variables for your secret keys, and bring it up with Docker Compose. It's a relatively lightweight setup.

Final Thoughts

Palmr feels like a utility in the best sense. It's not trying to be the next big platform; it's solving a specific, recurring problem for developers and privacy-conscious users. I can see it being incredibly useful for sending config files during debugging, sharing one-off build artifacts with a client, or just having a more dignified way to transfer documents than bloated, ad-filled free services. It puts control and simplicity back in your hands, which is always a win.

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