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https://github.com/jaganganesh/pineapple-cloud

Self-hosted iCloud alternative for macOS & iOS with Apple Notes, Calendars, Contacts and Reminders sync via Docker, CalDAV/CardDAV & IMAP.
https://github.com/jaganganesh/pineapple-cloud

apple-notes caldav carddav docker-compose homelab icloud-alternative privacy-first raspberry-pi self-hosted synology

Last synced: 27 days ago
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Self-hosted iCloud alternative for macOS & iOS with Apple Notes, Calendars, Contacts and Reminders sync via Docker, CalDAV/CardDAV & IMAP.

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README 

          
# 🍍 Pineapple Cloud



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> Keep your Apple ecosystem. Keep your data yours.



A lightweight, privacy-first, self-hosted iCloud alternative for Apple users.



Pineapple Cloud lets you sync natively:



- 📝 Apple Notes

- 🗓ïļ Calendar

- ✅ Reminders

- ðŸ‘Ī Contacts



across macOS and iOS using a minimal Docker stack powered by:



- CalDAV

- CardDAV

- Local IMAP



Designed for:



- Raspberry Pi

- Synology NAS

- Mini PCs

- Homelabs

- Privacy-conscious Apple users



All while using **under 100MB of idle RAM**.



Pineapple Cloud



# âœĻ Why Pineapple Cloud?



Most self-hosted collaboration platforms are massive.



| Platform             | Typical RAM Usage |

| :------------------- | :---------------- |

| Nextcloud            | 1GB+              |

| Full mail suites     | Heavy             |

| Enterprise groupware | Complex           |

| **Pineapple Cloud**  | **<100MB**        |



Pineapple Cloud was built for people who want:



- native Apple app compatibility

- self-hosted privacy

- ultra-lightweight infrastructure

- simple Docker deployment

- zero vendor lock-in



No Electron apps.

No bloated dashboards.

No subscriptions.

No telemetry.



Just native Apple apps syncing directly with infrastructure you control.



# 🔒 Privacy First



Pineapple Cloud keeps your data:



- on your hardware

- inside your network

- under your control



No third-party cloud sync providers.

No analytics.

No forced accounts.

No external dependency chains.



Your Notes, Calendars, Contacts, and Reminders stay yours.



# 🚀 Features



- 🍎 Native Apple Notes sync using local IMAP

- 🗓ïļ Native Apple Calendar & Reminders sync via CalDAV

- ðŸ‘Ī Native Apple Contacts sync via CardDAV

- ðŸŠķ Ultra-lightweight architecture (<100MB idle RAM)

- ðŸģ Simple Docker Compose deployment

- 🏠 Optimized for Raspberry Pi and NAS systems

- ðŸ“Ķ Portable volume-based storage

- 🔒 Local-first privacy-focused design

- ⚡ Fast startup and low CPU overhead



# 🧠 How It Works



Apple uses multiple sync systems internally:



| Apple Service | Protocol |

| ------------- | -------- |

| Calendar      | CalDAV   |

| Reminders     | CalDAV   |

| Contacts      | CardDAV  |

| Apple Notes   | IMAP     |



Pineapple Cloud combines:



- **Radicale** → CalDAV + CardDAV

- **Local IMAP Mail Server** → Apple Notes syncing



inside a lightweight isolated Docker stack.



# 🏗ïļ Architecture



```text

             macOS / iPhone / iPad

                       │

        ┌──────────────â”ī──────────────┐

        │                             │

   Radicale Container           IMAP Container

 (Calendar / Contacts)          (Apple Notes)

        │                             │

        └────── Docker Network ───────┘

```



# ⚡ Quick Start



## 1. Clone the Repository



```bash

git clone https://github.com/jaganganesh/pineapple-cloud.git

cd pineapple-cloud

```



## 2. Create the Required Directories



```bash

mkdir -p \

data/mail-data \

data/mail-config \

data/radicale-data \

data/radicale-config \

data/radicale-certs

```



## 3. Create `docker-compose.yml`



```yaml

services:

  # Apple Notes (IMAP)

  imap-server:

    image: mailserver/docker-mailserver:latest

    container_name: apple-imap

    ports:

      - "143:143"

    environment:

      OVERRIDE_HOSTNAME: pineapple.cloud

      ENABLE_POP3: "0"

      ENABLE_SMTP: "0"

      ENABLE_SPAMASSASSIN: "0"

      ENABLE_CLAMAV: "0"

      ENABLE_FAIL2BAN: "0"

      ONE_DIR: "1"

    cap_add:

      - NET_ADMIN

    volumes:

      - ./data/mail-data:/var/mail

      - ./data/mail-config:/tmp/docker-mailserver

    restart: unless-stopped

  # Contacts / Calendars / Reminders (CardDAV, CalDav)

  radicale:

    image: tomsquest/docker-radicale:latest

    container_name: apple-dav

    ports:

      - "5232:5232"

    volumes:

      - ./data/radicale-data:/data

      - ./data/radicale-config:/config:ro

      - ./data/radicale-certs:/certs:ro

    restart: unless-stopped

```



## 4. Start the Stack



```bash

docker compose up -d

```



# 📎 Create Your Apple Notes Account



Apple Notes sync requires a local IMAP mailbox.



## Enter the container



```bash

docker exec -it apple-imap /bin/bash

```



## Create a user



```bash

setup email add your_name@pineapple.cloud

```



Then enter your password when prompted.



Exit the container afterward:



```bash

exit

```



# 🔐 SSL / TLS Setup



Apple devices strongly prefer encrypted connections.



## Option A — Self-Signed Certificates (Recommended)



Generate certificates locally:



```bash

openssl req -x509 \

-newkey rsa:4096 \

-keyout ./data/radicale-certs/server.key \

-out ./data/radicale-certs/server.cert \

-sha256 \

-days 3650 \

-nodes \

-subj "/CN=127.0.0.1"

```



On macOS:



1. Open `server.cert`

2. Launch **Keychain Access**

3. Set certificate trust to:

   - **Always Trust**



## Option B — Local HTTP Only



If running exclusively on:



- localhost

- isolated LAN

- private homelab subnet



you may choose to skip TLS.



macOS and iOS will display warning prompts during setup.



# 🍎 macOS Setup Guide



Open:



```text

System Settings → Internet Accounts

```



## ðŸ‘Ī Contacts (CardDAV)



Navigate to:



```text

Add Account → Add Other Account → CardDAV Account

```



Use:



| Field          | Value                  |

| -------------- | ---------------------- |

| Account Type   | Manual                 |

| Username       | Your Radicale username |

| Password       | Your password          |

| Server Address | 127.0.0.1              |

| Port           | 5232                   |

| Server Path    | /                      |



If using HTTP:



- Disable SSL



If using certificates:



- Enable SSL



CardDAV - Apple Contacts



## 🗓ïļ Calendars & Reminders (CalDAV)



Navigate to:



```text

Add Account → Add Other Account → CalDAV Account

```



Use the same credentials configured in Radicale.



CalDAV - Apple Calendar and Reminders



## 📝 Apple Notes (IMAP)



Navigate to:



```text

Add Account → Add Other Account → Mail Account

```



Use:



| Field                | Value                                                         |

| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- |

| Email                | [your_name@pineapple.cloud](mailto:your_name@pineapple.cloud) |

| Incoming Mail Server | 127.0.0.1                                                     |

| Outgoing Mail Server | 127.0.0.1                                                     |



When setup completes:



- ❌ Disable Mail

- ✅ Enable Notes



IMAP - Apple Notes



# ⚠ïļ Apple Notes Limitations



Apple Notes over IMAP is more limited than native iCloud Notes.



The following features are reduced or unavailable:



- ❌ advanced typography styles

- ❌ rich heading templates

- ❌ interactive checklists

- ❌ inline sketches

- ❌ advanced embedded objects



For best compatibility:



- use standard text

- use bold/italics

- use markdown-style lists



Basic note synchronization works reliably.



# ðŸŠķ Lightweight by Design



Pineapple Cloud is intentionally engineered for low-resource systems.



Perfect for:



- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, 3 Model B/B+, 400, 4 Model B, 5

- Synology J-series

- Intel N100 mini PCs

- Low-power NAS systems



Designed to minimize:



- RAM usage

- disk writes

- CPU overhead

- thermal load



Ideal for always-on homelab deployments.



# 🏠 Tested Platforms



- ✅ macOS

- ✅ iOS

- ✅ Apple Silicon Macs

- ✅ Raspberry Pi OS

- ✅ Ubuntu Server

- ✅ Docker

- ✅ Synology NAS



# ðŸ“Ķ Portable Storage Layout



All persistent data lives inside:



```text

./data

```



This makes migrations extremely simple.



Move your stack between machines by copying:



```text

./data

```



and redeploying the containers.



# 🆚 Comparison



| Feature               | Pineapple Cloud | Nextcloud | iCloud |

| --------------------- | --------------- | --------- | ------ |

| Apple Notes Sync      | ✅              | ❌        | ✅     |

| Native Apple Apps     | ✅              | Partial   | ✅     |

| Self-Hosted           | ✅              | ✅        | ❌     |

| Lightweight           | ✅              | ❌        | N/A    |

| Raspberry Pi Friendly | ✅              | ⚠ïļ Heavy  | ❌     |

| Docker Compose        | ✅              | ✅        | ❌     |

| Vendor Lock-In        | ❌              | ❌        | ✅     |

| Privacy First         | ✅              | ⚠ïļ        | ❌     |



# 🧭 Why Self-Host?



Cloud convenience should not require surrendering ownership of your personal data.



Pineapple Cloud gives Apple users a way to preserve the native experience they already love while moving synchronization back onto infrastructure they control.



Your server.

Your rules.

Your data.



# ðŸĪ Contributing



Contributions are welcome.



1. Fork the repository

2. Create a feature branch



```bash

git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature

```



3. Commit your changes



```bash

git commit -m "feat: add amazing feature"

```



4. Push to your branch



```bash

git push origin feature/amazing-feature

```



5. Open a Pull Request



# ⭐ Support the Project



If Pineapple Cloud helped you reclaim ownership of your Apple data:



- ⭐ Star the repository

- ðŸī Fork the project

- 🧠 Share it with the self-hosted community

- 🛠ïļ Contribute improvements



Helping others discover the project makes a huge difference.



# ⚖ïļ License



Licensed under the GNU GPLv3 License.



See:



```text

LICENSE

```



for details.