Self-host Hauk
v1.6.4Self-hosted real-time location sharing service
- Stars
- 943
- Port
- 80 (HTTP web server)
- Requires
- PHP
bilde2910/haukWhat is Hauk?
Hauk lets you share your real-time location with others through self-hosted infrastructure. The backend runs on a PHP web server with Memcached or Redis for in-memory storage, and users install the companion Android app (available on F-Droid and Google Play) to start sharing. Location data stays in memory only and is never written to disk. The server supports three authentication modes: a shared password, per-user htpasswd files, or LDAP integration. A Docker image simplifies deployment, and an install script automates setup on Linux. The project includes a demo server for testing, multi-language translations, and semantic versioning with a stable release tag strategy.
Should you self-host Hauk?
Hauk scores 58/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #4 of 6 in Location Tracking. It has 943 GitHub stars.
It shipped 2 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v1.6.4, came out on 21 October 2026. New versions land roughly every 3 weeks.
Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. An official Docker image is available. It is Apache-2.0-licensed and written mostly in Java.
Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Dawarich (73/100, 10 768 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See Hauk vs Dawarich side by side.
Features
- Demo server
- In-memory only storage
- Multi-language Support
- Multiple Authentication Methods
- Real-time location sharing
- Reverse proxy recommended
- Self-hosted backend
- Semantic versioning
Hauk README
FAQ
How do I securely configure Memcached/Redis?
Ensure Memcached/Redis only listens on localhost (127.0.0.1/::1) and block ports 11211 and 6379 in your firewall.
Can I use a self-signed CA/certificate?
Yes, but strongly discouraged as it nullifies HTTPS security benefits unless all users trust the custom root CA.
How do I prevent strangers from starting sharing sessions on my server?
Set a password in the configuration file.
Does the app have any kind of analytics or telemetry?
No. The only connections the app makes are to the Hauk server you specify.
Who can see my location data?
Anyone with the sharing link. The link is 8 randomly generated letters and numbers by default.
Why does my shared location link point to example.com?
You probably forgot to set the public_url setting in the config file.
Can I reverse proxy the Hauk Docker container?
Yes, and you should for security reasons. The README includes an example nginx configuration.
How do I install Hauk?
Refer to the README for installation instructions.
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