MelonGPT is a self-hosted, private ChatGPT alternative developed to avoid subscription fees while maintaining complete data privacy. This project leverages powerful open-source large language models (LLMs) to deliver a high-quality chat experience without relying on commercial API services.

Project Overview

Developed in September 2025, MelonGPT represents my initiative to create a fully self-contained AI chat solution that prioritizes privacy, cost efficiency, and customization. The system runs on a home server, eliminating ongoing subscription costs while providing complete control over data and model selection.

Technical Architecture

I architected a full-stack solution with the following components:

• Containerized OpenWebUI frontend using Docker for consistent deployment
• Ollama inference engine for local model management and execution
• Support for multiple open-source LLMs (DeepSeek, Qwen, GPT-OSS)
• Secure VPN configuration for remote server administration
• Custom domain hosting (melon.sg) with proper port forwarding rules

Key Achievements

• Eliminated all ongoing subscription fees, achieving significant cost savings
• Maintained complete data privacy by keeping all processing local
• Gained full control over model selection and system customization
• Successfully configured secure remote access via VPN
• Deployed publicly accessible service on a custom domain

Solution Benefits

MelonGPT demonstrates how open-source AI models can be effectively deployed in private environments while maintaining performance and usability. The project showcases skills in full-stack development, DevOps, security configuration, and system architecture.