betterNAS Part 4: Cloud / Web Layer

This document describes the optional browser, mobile, and cloud-drive style access layer.

What it is

The cloud/web layer is the part of betterNAS that makes storage accessible beyond local mounts.

This is where we can reuse Nextcloud heavily for:

browser file UI
uploads and downloads
sharing links
WebDAV-based cloud access
mobile reference behavior

What it does

gives users a browser-based file experience
supports sharing and link-based access
gives us a cloud mode in addition to mount mode
can act as a reference surface while the main betterNAS product grows

What it should not do

own the product system of record
become the only way users access storage
swallow control-plane logic that should stay in betterNAS

Diagram

                            betterNAS system

   NAS node  <--------->  control plane  <--------->  local device
      |                           |                                   |
      |                           |                                   |
      +---------------------------+-----------------------+-----------+
                                                          |
                                                          v
                                              +----------------------+
                                              | [THIS DOC] cloud/web |
                                              |----------------------|
                                              | Nextcloud adapter    |
                                              | browser UI           |
                                              | sharing / mobile     |
                                              +----------------------+

Core decisions

The cloud/web layer is optional but very high leverage.
Nextcloud is a strong fit here because it already gives us file UI and sharing primitives.
It should sit beside mount mode, not replace it.

Likely role of Nextcloud

browser-based file UI
share and link management
optional mobile and cloud-drive style access
adapter over the same storage exports the control plane knows about

TODO

Decide whether Nextcloud is directly user-facing in v1 or mostly an adapter behind betterNAS.
Define how storage exports from the NAS node appear in the cloud/web layer.
Define how shares in this layer map back to control-plane access grants.
Define what mobile access looks like in v1.
Define branding and how much of the cloud/web layer stays stock vs customized.

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