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Re:Ask HN: Pros and cons of offering a self-hosted version o... by borplk on Thursday May 22, 2025 @09:03PM (#44068804)
I'm deeply deeply against offering self-hosted SaaS. In summary because it takes you from a world where 1 instance of your application exists under your full control to a world where 1000 instances of your application exists all over the place outside of your control.

At that point you turn into a "classic" software vendor where you have to help people "operate" your software. After you have long moved on from something someone will still be on the version from 3 years ago and talking to you about "upgrade/migration path".

I firmly prefer a world where there is only "one operator" for the product and I fully manage 1 instance of the product as a total black box and the end users use it as a ... hello? ... "as a service".

My advice is unless someone cares enough to write you a life-changing check ... stay away from it.

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