3 Self Hosted QR Code Generators from Simple to More Advanced
QR codes are powerful for keeping organized. Here are 3 self hosted QR code generators. π±
![3 Self Hosted QR Code Generators from Simple to More Advanced](/content/images/size/w1200/2022/06/self-hosted-qr-code-generators-main.png)
One thing I don't see discussed very often is how awesome the QR code is and how this simple idea can help you organize your equipment, label items, get to a web page quickly or even email someone at the scan of your phone camera.
![](https://noted.lol/content/images/2022/06/scan-qr-code-gif.gif)
How can QR Codes Help You?
For me, QR codes help me identify what my server specs are from the hard drives down to the motherboard and components. I write up a detailed wiki entry using my self hosted Bookstack, then I use a QR code generator such as one below to create a QR code that allows me to scan the code and take me straight to the wiki page that shows me every detail about the server.
I also setup an inventory system the same way. I have server and PC components in tubs and use QR codes to scan and take me to a wiki page that shows me every item in the tub.
![](https://noted.lol/content/images/2022/06/qr-code-options.png)
There are so many more options you can use the QR code for. Adding contacts to your phone (vcard), joining a WiFi network, sending an email, adding someone on a social platform, sending a sms text messages, Paypal and Bitcoin payments, sending locations and so much more.
We did some digging over the last several months and these are the top 3 QR code generators we found. Starting from the most basic and ending with one that is a bit more advanced but well worth setting up a LAMP stack for.
QR Code Generator UI
![](https://noted.lol/content/images/2022/06/QR-Code-Generator-UI---Self-Hosted.png)
QR Code Generator UI is a basic docker container with a HTML/CSS/JS ui to generate a QR Code from a provided URL. Uses tailwind CSS and qrcode.js
This is the most basic option we are featuring. It is very simple to setup using a simple Docker command.
Install QR Code Generator UI with Docker
docker build -t webserver .
docker run -it --rm -d -p 8080:80 --name web webserver
QR Code Generator
![](https://noted.lol/content/images/2022/06/QR-Code-Generator---Self-Hosting.png)
QR Code Generator has a few more options you can use. Setup is still pretty basic using Docker Compose.
qr-code-service is a microservice implemented in Python which uses qrcode library. It provides a gRPC interface for generating QR codes.
web is a web application written in Spring and Kotlin. It uses Thymeleaf for server-side rendering.
Both services are dockerized. Docker Compose configuration is used for deployment on AWS Elastic Container Service.
Install QR Code Generator with Docker
version: "3.0"
services:
qr-code-service:
build: qr-code-service
image: pjanczyk/qr-code-generator_web
web:
build: web
image: pjanczyk/qr-code-generator_qr-code-service
ports:
- "80:80"
environment:
QR_CODE_GENERATOR_BASE_URL: http://localhost
QR_CODE_GENERATOR_QR_CODE_SERVICE_ADDRESS: qr-code-service:5000
PHP Dynamic QR Code
![](https://noted.lol/content/images/2022/06/PHP-Dynamic-QR-Code---Self-Hosted.png)
PHP Dynamic QR Code is a script that allows the generation and saving of dynamic and static QR codes. It has clean, responsive and user-friendly design.
PHP Dynamic QR Code is Based on AdminLte Β the "Best open source admin dashboard & control panel theme. Built on top of Bootstrap" and Core PHP Admin Panel, a simple Admin Panel written in core PHP that contains an implementation of general features you might need in your website admin panel like: record management (CRUD), secure authentication, pagination, filters.
Install PHP Dynamic QR Code
This can be installed pretty easily on a LAMP stack using a VM or LXC. For installation documentation, see this link.
Final Notes and Thoughts
You can come up with some pretty clever ideas for using the QR code. If you can find a small area where you can stick one on the item, you could even use them on machines where you can scan them to send you to a self hosted user manual.
The possibilities are endless and I am very curious if you use QR codes and what clever ideas you came up with. So let us know in the comments below!