Hostive Documentation

Hostive is a comprehensive platform for developers that provides free and advanced services including hosting, project deployment, authentication, email/OTP services, storage, and more. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, Hostive empowers you to build, test, and deploy your applications efficiently.

Why Use Hostive?

Hostive makes hosting and project management simple, fast, and free. From static websites to cloud storage and email/OTP authentication, it gives developers all the tools they need in one place, so you can focus on building projects without worrying about servers or setups.

Free Services

Many services are available at no cost to support new developers.

All-in-One Platform

Hosting, deployment, authentication, storage, domains, and email services in one place.

Developer-Friendly

Minimal setup, clear documentation, and fast deployment.

Security First

Authentication, CSRF protection, and secure storage ensure your projects are safe.

Getting Started

How to Begin Your Hostive Journey

Step 1 – Sign Up

Go to hostive.org and create your free account.

Enter your name, email, and password, or use email OTP login.

Step 2 – Verify Email

After signing up, you’ll receive an OTP (One-Time Password) via email.

Enter the OTP in the verification form to activate your account.

Step 3 – Access Dashboard

After verification, log in to your Hostive dashboard.

You will see the main menu with options: Projects, Hosting, Storage, Domains, Email, Security, Settings.

Account & Authentication

Managing Your Hostive Account

Profile Management

Update your profile details like name, email, password.

Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) for additional security.

Authentication Methods

Email & Password Login: Traditional method, requires verified email.

Email OTP Login: Quick login using OTP sent to your email.

Session Management: You can view active sessions and log out from devices.

Security Tokens

Hostive uses JWT tokens for secure API authentication.

Refresh Tokens are used to maintain session without re-login.

Project Creation

Creating Projects in Hostive

Step 1 – Start New Project

Click “Create Project” in your dashboard.

Enter project name, description, and select project type (static or dynamic).

Step 2 – Configure Project

Choose framework: HTML/CSS/JS, PHP, Node.js, or Python.

Assign environment variables if your project requires secrets like API keys.

Step 3 – Project Settings

Set visibility: Public or Private.

Enable authentication for private apps.

Configure custom domain or subdomain (optional).

Deploy Your Project Easily

Deployment Options

Static Hosting – For HTML/CSS/JS projects.

Files are uploaded to Hostive storage and served over HTTPS.

Supports custom domains.

Deployment Steps

Upload your project files using drag-and-drop or Git integration.

Set build commands (if needed) for dynamic projects.

Click Deploy. Your project is live in seconds.

Deployment Best Practices

Minify CSS & JS for faster loading.

Keep environment variables secure.

Test the project in staging before production deployment.

Domains & Subdomains

Manage Domains with Hostive

Domain Setup

You can connect custom domains like myproject.com.

Update your DNS records (CNAME/A records) as instructed.

Subdomains Setup

Hostive allows free subdomains like myproject.hostive.org.

Useful for testing, staging, or separate environments.

Domain & Subdomain Tips

Always use HTTPS for security.

Verify domain ownership before deployment.

Environment Variables

Manage Secrets Safely

What Are Environment Variables?

Environment variables are key-value pairs storing secrets like API keys, database URLs, and tokens.

Adding Environment Variables

Go to Project Settings → Environment Variables.

Click Add New Variable, enter key and value.

Access them in your project using standard methods (e.g., process.env.KEY).

Security Tips

Never expose variables in frontend code.

Use different variables for staging and production.

Storage & Files

File Management on Hostive

File Upload & Organization

Upload project files to Hostive cloud storage.

Organize into folders for better structure.

Supported File Types

HTML, CSS, JS, PHP, TXT.

JSON, Images, and more.

File Access & Permissions

Set read/write permissions per file or folder.

Generate public or private links to share files securely.

Email & OTP Services

Integrated Email & OTP Services

Email Services

Send transactional emails like registration confirmation or password reset.

Supports templates for custom emails.

OTP Services

Use Email OTP for login or verification.

OTP is valid for 5–10 minutes and auto-expires.

Best Practices

Enable rate-limiting to avoid abuse.

Always verify email format before sending OTP.

Security (Auth, Tokens, CSRF)

Keep Your Projects Safe

Authentication & Tokens

Hostive uses JWT tokens for secure login.

Tokens prevent unauthorized access and maintain user sessions.

CSRF Protection

CSRF tokens prevent unauthorized requests from malicious sites.

Include hidden csrf_token in forms or AJAX requests.

Password Security

Hostive hashes passwords using bcrypt or similar methods.

Enables password strength validation for accounts.