I kept running into the same problem: I wanted to show someone a folder of Word docs, spreadsheets, and CAD drawings without emailing a zip, uploading the files somewhere, or hearing “I don’t have Office / AutoCAD.” I also didn’t want to give them a way to edit or delete anything.
So I built DocWebHub. It is a small desktop app that turns one folder on your computer into a read-only website.
How it works
You pick a folder. The app shows an address in the window, for example http://192.168.1.8:9102. A colleague on the same Wi-Fi opens that link in a browser and can read the files.
Nothing is uploaded. There is no account. It works offline. Only the folder you chose is visible, and there is no upload, rename, or delete button.
You can also require a username and password, bind to localhost so only your machine can connect, or share it over the local network. Tailscale addresses are detected automatically.
What you can open in the browser
It can preview Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, including old .doc / .xls / .ppt files, plus PDF, Markdown, images, audio, video, and code. DWG and DXF drawings can be panned, zoomed, and inspected by layer. A document or drawing can also be saved as a PDF.
The Office and CAD viewers are packed into the app, so the other person does not need those programs installed. If the folder has an index.html, it is served as a normal site; otherwise you get a file list with a preview pane.
How to try it
It is a single download for macOS, Windows, and Linux (including ARM):
0xChance / docwebhub
docWebHub is a small desktop app for looking at a website or a folder of documents on your own computer. Pick a folder, and it opens in your browser. No command line, no setup, and no extra software to install.
docWebHub
Turn any folder into a website — in one click.
docWebHub is a small desktop app for looking at a website or a folder of documents on your own computer. Pick a folder, and it opens in your browser. No command line, no setup, and no extra software to install.
Why you might need it
You exported a website, downloaded a template, or received a folder of documents from someone To see it the way a visitor would, the folder has to be opened by a web server. Until now that meant opening a terminal and remembering a command.
docWebHub is the missing Preview button: open the app, choose the folder, and the site appears in your browser. Everything stays on your computer.
It is handy when you want to:
- check an exported site or template before uploading it
- read a folder of Markdown, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, or…
Builds are here: v0.1.0.
Install, pick a folder, and open the address in a browser. That is the whole first run.
How this is different
This is not meant to replace a full file server. Tools like Copyparty, miniserve, or python -m http.server are great at serving files, and LocalSend is great at sending a file to another device. I wanted something narrower: a read-only link, no upload, and in-browser preview for Office and DWG so the other person does not need those apps.
Honest limitations
The macOS build is not notarized, so the first launch needs right-click → Open. Windows may show SmartScreen. A password stops casual visitors but does not encrypt the traffic — on café or hotel Wi-Fi, use “Localhost only.”
It is written in Go, with a native window on each platform. The license is AGPL-3.0, or a commercial license if those terms do not work for you.
Site: https://docwebhub.app
I’d welcome feedback, especially on the Office and DWG preview, and on anything that made the first launch confusing.
