The Nextcloud project, developing the free cloud storage solution ownCloud, a new platform , provides a self-sufficient solution for organizing collaborative work among enterprise employees and teams developing various projects. In terms of functionality, Nextcloud Hub is similar to Google Docs and Microsoft 365, but allows for a fully controlled collaborative infrastructure that runs on its own servers and is not tied to external cloud services. The source code of Nextcloud is licensed under AGPL.
Nextcloud Hub integrates several addon applications over the Nextcloud cloud platform, enabling collaboration on office documents, files, and information for task and event planning. The platform also includes add-ons for accessing email, messaging, organizing video conferences, and chats.
User authentication can both via the local database and through integration with LDAP / Active Directory, Kerberos, IMAP, and Shibboleth / SAML 2.0, including the use of two-factor authentication, SSO (Single Sign-On), and linking new systems to accounts via QR codes. Version control of changes allows for tracking modifications to files, comments, sharing rules, and tags.
Simultaneously the release of the platform core - Nextcloud 18, a cloud storage solution with data synchronization and sharing support, which allows viewing and editing data from any device at any point on the network. Access to data can be organized both through the web interface and using the WebDAV protocol and its extensions CardDAV and CalDAV. The Nextcloud server can be deployed on any hosting that supports PHP script execution and provides access to SQLite, MariaDB/MySQL, or PostgreSQL.
The main components of the Nextcloud Hub platform and innovations in Nextcloud 18:
- — organization of storage, synchronization, collaboration, and file sharing. Access can be achieved both through the Web and using client software for desktop and mobile systems. Advanced features include full-text search, file attachment in comments, selective access control, and the creation of password-protected links for downloads. with external storage (FTP, CIFS/SMB, SharePoint, NFS, Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).
Nextcloud 18 offers an improved sidebar displaying users who have access to files, even if those files are in nested folders. It introduces the ability to transfer folder rights to another user and generate a secure password when opening shared access. To simplify work, a concept of workspaces has been proposed, allowing the addition of notes, links, and task lists related to file directories, and pinning files at the top. A lock feature has been provided to prevent conflicts during simultaneous editing.
- — optimizes business processes through the automation of routine tasks such as converting documents to PDF, sending messages to chats when new files are uploaded to specific folders, and automatic tag assignment. Custom handlers can be created to execute actions tied to specific events.
- for collaborative editing of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations based on the , supporting Microsoft Office formats. Full integration of ONLYOFFICE with other platform components is ensured, allowing multiple participants to edit a single document simultaneously while discussing changes in a video chat and leaving comments.
- Photos — a new image gallery that simplifies the search, sharing, and navigation of a collaborative collection of photos and images.
Supports ranking of photos by time, location, tags, and viewing frequency. - — a calendar planner that allows coordination of meetings, planning chats, and video conferences. It provides integration with collaboration tools across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, Outlook, and Thunderbird. Supports importing events from external resources that use the WebCal protocol. The new release features a significantly revamped interface, enhanced functions for recurring events, a visual mode for assessing availability when scheduling meetings, and support for attaching chats and video calls to events.
- — a shared address book and web interface for managing email. Multiple accounts can be linked to a single inbox. Email encryption and digital signatures based on OpenPGP are supported. Address book synchronization is possible via CalDAV.
The new version introduces automatic entry creation in the calendar planner based on information about tickets and reservations extracted from emails sent by transport companies or services like Booking. Complete handling of emails with HTML markup is ensured. - — a messaging system and web conferencing platform (chat, audio, and video). It offers screen sharing capabilities and supports SIP gateways for integration with traditional telephony. The new version features a completely redesigned interface, notification support for delivered and deferred messages. It integrates with the application , allowing the use of groups in Talk. A quoting reply mode has been added. Notifications for new messages received in background tabs are implemented. Integration with the Flow and Calendar applications is ensured.
Source: opennet.ru
