Fork This Site: Self Hosting and Simplified Web Design
How I built a fast, self-controlled website using Nuxt 3 and Cloudflare Workers without surrendering to traditional hosting bullshit
Introduction
This website is my declaration of independence from corporate content platforms. Built with Nuxt 4 and deployed on Cloudflare Workers, it’s fast, affordable, and most importantly, mine.
Tech Stack
The tech stack was chosen deliberately:
- Nuxt 4: Modern Vue-based framework with excellent TypeScript support
- Cloudflare Workers: Global edge deployment with minimal cost
- Markdown content: Human-readable, version-controlled, platform-agnostic
Getting Started
Clone and customize:
git clone https://github.com/anoraktrend/Helltop my-site
cd my-site
# Replace content in src/content/ with your own
# E.G. Modify homepage/1.index.json and blog posts
# Also edit and fill src/pages/about.astro with your info
# Install dependencies
pnpm install
# Start development server
pnpm run dev
Deployment
The deployment process is intentionally simple:
# Install Wrangler CLI
pnpm install -g wrangler
# Build for production
pnpm run build
# Deploy to Cloudflare Workers
npx wrangler deploy
OR setup a Cloudflare worker pointing to your github or gitlab.
Architecture Decisions
Why this stack?
- Performance: Cloudflare’s global network ensures fast loading worldwide
- Cost: Workers are incredibly cheap compared to traditional hosting
- Control: No platform can deplatform you or change the rules
- Simplicity: Markdown content is easy to write and maintain
Key configuration points:
- Content lives in
content/with frontmatter for metadata - Caching rules in
nitro.routeRulesoptimize performance - RSS feed generated automatically from blog content
- Nuxt configured for Cloudflare Workers deployment
Alternatives Considered
- 11ty + Vercel: Simpler but less interactive
- Self-hosted Ghost: More features but higher maintenance
- Write.as: Maximum simplicity but limited customization
Nuxt 4 with Cloudflare Workers strikes the right balance for my needs.
Maintenance
I’ve included a GitHub Actions workflow for automated deployment, though a Codeberg Forgejo CI workflow would work equally well. The build process is straightforward and doesn’t require complex orchestration.
Philosophy
This setup embodies my belief that creators should own their platforms. No more worrying about algorithm changes, content restrictions, or unexpected shutdowns. Just reliable, fast hosting that you control.
The trade-off is responsibility: you’re in charge of updates and maintenance. But that’s a price I’m happy to pay for true ownership.
