Pbnj: Minimal self-hosted pastebin deployable in 60 seconds.

What it does

Pbnj is a self-hosted pastebin for sharing code snippets and text files. It offers syntax highlighting for over 100 languages, a web interface for creating pastes, and a CLI for programmatic access. The core feature is minimal design without accounts, version control, OAuth, or complex admin panels.

Who it is for

Developers and teams who want to self-host a pastebin rather than rely on third-party services. The target user values simplicity and quick deployment over feature richness. The CLI-first design appeals to command-line users. It works for individuals or small groups sharing snippets internally.

Pricing

The service itself is free and open-source. Deployment to Cloudflare's free tier includes 500 MB storage, 5 million reads per day, and 100,000 writes per month. The homepage notes that Cloudflare may charge for usage beyond these limits in the future, but current free-tier deployments have no cost.

How it stands out

The main differentiator is deployment speed and minimalism. The creator explicitly rejected existing self-hosted options for being over-engineered. Pbnj deploys in under a minute with a single click to Cloudflare, requires no setup of elaborate infrastructure, and strips away features like OAuth and version control. The CLI-first approach appeals to developers who prefer command-line tools. The free Cloudflare hosting makes it accessible without server costs.

What a founder should check

First, verify the actual switching costs from existing solutions. Pastebin users may already have integrations or habits with services like GitHub Gists, Hastebin, or Termbin. Migration friction could limit adoption despite better deployment experience.

Second, examine the moat around simplicity. Competitors could add one-click deployment just as easily. The real defensibility lies in whether the community around pbnj creates value—documentation, extensions, hosting reliability—that takes time to replicate.

Third, test the Cloudflare cost structure at scale. The site acknowledges potential future charges. A founder building a rival should understand Cloudflare's actual pricing tiers and when free-tier limits trigger paid plans. This pricing pressure could reshape the business model if usage grows.

Thinking of building something like this?

Every launch here is a competitor to somebody's idea. If yours is close, check it against the market before you build: the Full Check names the rivals, the prices and the gaps.