🏡 Home Camera – ESP32-Powered Open Source Surveillance 🎥

Make your own private, hackable, no-cloud-needed security camera with an ESP32 and Docker!

🚀 What is This?

• Live video streaming from ESP32-CAM to your browser, 100% private!
• Modern web dashboard (React + Material UI)
• Camera pan/tilt control support 🕹️
• User login/auth (set your own credentials!)
• Runs everywhere with Docker: local PC, Raspberry Pi, VPS...
• Easy integration: open REST API, totally modifiable!

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🗂️ Project Structure

home-camera/
│
├── client/        # Web UI (React)
├── server/        # Backend API (Node.js/Express)
├── esp32/         # ESP32 Arduino code
└── docker-compose.yml

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⚡ Quick Start – The Easiest Way

No need to edit any .env files! Everything is managed in docker-compose.yml. You must flash your ESP32-CAM first!

1️⃣ Flash the ESP32-CAM

• Open esp32/CameraWebServer/CameraWebServer.ino in Arduino IDE
• Edit the top of the file with your Wi-Fi:

  const char* ssid = "your_wifi_ssid";
  const char* password = "your_wifi_password";
  

• Board: AI Thinker ESP32-CAM
• Flash the board (use FTDI, IO0 to GND)
• Open Serial Monitor (baud: 115200) Note the ESP32's IP address! (e.g., 192.168.1.30)

2️⃣ Set Your ESP32 IP in Docker Compose

• Edit docker-compose.yml

• Find this line in the server.environment section:

  - ESP32_URL=http://192.168.1.XXX
  

• Replace 192.168.1.XXX with your ESP32’s real IP!

3️⃣ (Optional) Set Login Credentials

• Still in docker-compose.yml, update:

  - LOGIN_USER=your_username
  - LOGIN_PASS=your_password
  - JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret
  

• Save and close.

4️⃣ Run Everything with Docker Compose

git clone https://github.com/salildz/home-camera.git
cd home-camera
docker-compose up --build

• Backend runs at http://localhost:9030
• Frontend (dashboard): http://localhost:9031
• Log in with the credentials you set above.

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👀 Usage

• Live video stream should appear automatically on the dashboard!
• Pan/tilt controls if your setup supports it (see ESP32 code and wiring)
• Web app is mobile friendly – view from any device on your LAN.
• Want remote access? Use Cloudflare Tunnel, Tailscale, or port forwarding.

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🛠️ Advanced & Dev Setup

Want to develop or run parts separately? See client/ and server/ for detailed developer setup.

• All config is via Docker Compose environment variables.
• No .env files needed!

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🕹️ Customization & Extensions

• Add your own sensors to ESP32 code (PIR, temperature, light…)
• Expand backend API for cloud upload, notifications, etc.
• Use another frontend? Just hit the REST endpoints.
• Multi-camera: spin up more ESP32s and set up separate services or extend backend for multi-cam.

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🩻 Troubleshooting

• ESP32 not found?

  • Check it’s on the same network as Docker host!
  • Confirm ESP32 IP is correct and reachable.
  • Power issues? ESP32-CAM is picky!

• No video in dashboard?

  • Try opening ESP32’s IP in browser directly.
  • Is ESP32_URL correct in docker-compose.yml?
  • Check firewall settings!

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🌟 Roadmap & Ideas

• Multi-camera dashboard
• Motion recording & cloud upload
• Push notifications (Telegram, Email)
• Home Assistant integration
• Face/object detection (Edge AI!)
• More user roles

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🤝 Contributing

Pull requests, issues, and ideas are always welcome! Star the repo if you like the project! Want to help with documentation or a new feature? Open a PR!

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📸 Screenshots

*Screenshots will be added soon!

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💬 Contact

Made by salildz

Questions? Open an issue or DM me on GitHub!

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Happy hacking & keep your home private! 🚀