HostFlow Documentation

Getting Started with HostFlow

HostFlow is an all-in-one server management platform. This guide walks you from sign-up to your first live project.

Step 1: Create Your Account

1. Go to host-flow.de/signup and fill in the registration form.
2. Verify your email address if required.
3. Log in at host-flow.de/login. You'll land on your dashboard.

Step 2: Claim a Subdomain

Before creating a site, claim a free subdomain under *.host-flow.de.

1. In the sidebar, click Subdomains.
2. Type your desired subdomain (e.g. my-project) and click Claim.
3. Your subdomain is now yours and ready to use with websites or proxies.

Step 3: Create Your First Site

1. Navigate to Sites → Create Site.
2. Enter a site name and choose your claimed subdomain (or enter a custom domain).
3. Click Create Site. Your site is live immediately.

Step 4: Upload Content

1. Go to Sites → Upload and select your site.
2. Drag and drop your HTML, CSS, JS, and image files.
3. Alternatively, use the built-in Editor tab to write code directly in the browser.

Step 5: Explore the Dashboard

Your dashboard shows a real-time overview of all your services: active sites, bot status, subscription info, and quick links. Use the sidebar to access each feature area.

Hosting a Website

HostFlow supports static websites with instant deployment. Upload your files and they're live in seconds.

Creating a Site

1. Go to Sites → Create Site.
2. Choose a name (alphanumeric and hyphens only).
3. Select a domain: pick one of your claimed subdomains, or toggle to Custom to use your own domain.

Uploading Files

Three ways to get your files onto a site:

• Upload tab — Drag-and-drop multiple files at once. Great for deploying a full build.
• Editor tab — Edit individual files in-browser with syntax highlighting. Create, rename, and delete files.
• API — Use the file upload endpoint for automated deployments from CI/CD pipelines.

Managing Your Site

• Enable/Disable — Toggle a site on or off without deleting it.
• SSL — Automatic Let's Encrypt certificates. Visible as an SSL badge on active sites.
• Access Tokens — Generate time-limited tokens for guest upload or edit access.
• Delete — Permanently remove a site and all its files.

Using the Site Builder

The visual Site Builder lets you create pages with a drag-and-drop interface. Choose from pre-built templates or start from scratch. No code required.

Setting Up Email

HostFlow provides a full email stack for your domains: SMTP sending, IMAP receiving, webmail access, and automatic DNS record configuration.

Creating a Mailbox

1. Go to Mail & Inbox → Mailboxes.
2. Enter the local part (e.g. hello), choose a domain, and set a password.
3. Click Create Mailbox. Your email address is now active.

Receiving Email

Once a mailbox is created, incoming email is stored automatically. Access it via:

• Web Interface — The Inbox tab shows all messages with full HTML rendering.
• IMAP — Connect any email client (Thunderbird, Outlook, Apple Mail) to your mailbox.

Sending Email

1. Go to Mail & Inbox → Compose.
2. Select the sender mailbox, enter the recipient, subject, and message body.
3. Click Send.

Configuring DNS for Email

For reliable delivery, add these DNS records to your domain:

• MX Record — Points to HostFlow's mail server.
• SPF (TXT) — Authorizes HostFlow to send on your behalf.
• DKIM (TXT) — Cryptographic signature for anti-spoofing.
• DMARC (TXT) — Policy for how receivers handle failed checks.

DNS record values are displayed in the Mailboxes tab when you create a mailbox with a custom domain.

Using Discord Bots

HostFlow lets you create and run Discord bots 24/7 with a visual block-based command builder — no Python knowledge needed.

Creating a Bot

1. Go to Discord → Manage Bots and click + New Bot.
2. Enter a name, the main file (default: bot.py), and paste your Discord bot token.
3. Click Create. The bot appears in your bot list.

Building Commands Visually

1. Switch to the Command Builder tab.
2. Select your bot from the dropdown.
3. Add command blocks: prefix commands, slash commands, or event handlers.
4. Each command can include logic, loops, message sending, moderation actions, variables, and HTTP requests.
5. Click Save & Generate when done. The bot restarts automatically.

Managing Your Bot

• Start/Stop — Toggle the bot online or offline from the bot list.
• Logs — View live log output (auto-refreshes every 3 seconds). Clear logs with one click.
• Environment Variables — Add key-value pairs that are injected as real env vars when the bot starts.
• Files — Upload Python files or other assets. Edit them directly in the browser.
• Import — Paste an existing bot.py to import commands into the visual builder. Complex code is preserved as extra code.

Viewing Generated Code

Click View Code to preview the full bot.py that will run. You can also edit it directly under the Files tab for full control.

Port Forwarding

Forward TCP and UDP ports from the HostFlow server to any external destination. Useful for game servers, APIs, databases, and more.

Adding a Forwarding Rule

1. Go to Forwarding → Port Forwarding.
2. Click + Add Rule.
3. Fill in the form:
   • Domain — Use * for all domains, or a specific domain for SNI-based routing.
   • Source Port — The port to listen on at HostFlow.
   • Target IP — The destination IP address.
   • Target Port — The port on the destination.
   • Protocol — TCP or UDP.
4. Click Add Rule. Changes are applied automatically.

Site Proxies

The Site Proxies tab lets you forward entire domains to external servers with automatic HTTP/HTTPS proxying:

1. Click + Add Proxy.
2. Enter the domain, target address, port, and scheme (HTTP or HTTPS).
3. All traffic to that domain will be transparently proxied.

DNS Management

HostFlow includes an authoritative DNS server. Manage zones and records directly from the dashboard.

Supported Record Types

• A — Map a domain to an IPv4 address.
• AAAA — Map a domain to an IPv6 address.
• CNAME — Alias one domain to another.
• MX — Mail exchange records for email routing.
• TXT — Arbitrary text records (SPF, DKIM, verification, etc.).
• SRV — Service location records for protocols like XMPP, Minecraft, etc.

Using HostFlow DNS

To use HostFlow as your authoritative DNS server, update the nameserver (NS) records at your domain registrar to point to HostFlow's nameservers. Once propagated, you can manage all records from the Subdomains and DNS sections of the dashboard.

Subdomains

Claim free subdomains under *.host-flow.de from the Subdomains tab. These are automatically configured in HostFlow's DNS and ready to use immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free tier?

Yes. The Free plan includes 3 websites, 1 mailbox, 1 subdomain, 50 MB storage, and 5 GB bandwidth — no credit card required.

Can I use my own domain?

Absolutely. Point an A record to 82.165.56.225 and create a site with your custom domain. SSL is issued automatically.

How do I upgrade my plan?

Go to Subscription in the dashboard to view available plans, or redeem an upgrade code if you have one.

Do Discord bots support slash commands?

Yes. The visual command builder supports prefix commands, slash commands, and event handlers.

Is ConnectFlow free?

ConnectFlow tunnels are available on the Ultra plan. They let you expose local services through a secure tunnel with a virtual IP.

Support

If you run into issues or have feature requests:

• Check the FAQ above for common questions.
• Join the HostFlow Discord community for real-time help.
• Contact the administrator for account or billing issues.