Setting up a knowledge base used to mean provisioning a server, configuring Docker, managing SSL certificates, and debugging NGINX configs. For most teams, it was a project that required a dedicated engineer and at least a few hours — often days.
That's no longer the case. With Softnode and Wiki.js, you can have a fully functional, production-ready knowledge base running in about 30 seconds. No terminal required. No DevOps experience needed. Here's exactly how it works.
Step 1: Create Your Softnode Account
Head to softnode.cloud and sign up with your email. The registration process takes about 15 seconds — enter your email, choose a password, and you're in. No credit card required to start.
Once you're logged in, you'll see the Softnode dashboard — a clean, simple interface that shows your services and account status. If this is your first time, the dashboard will be empty, waiting for your first deployment.
Step 2: Deploy Wiki.js
Click "New Instance" (or the equivalent deploy button in the dashboard). You'll be prompted to choose a service — select Wiki.js from the available options.
Next, pick a subdomain. This will be your wiki's address — something like yourcompany.softnode.cloud. Choose something memorable that your team will recognize.
Select your preferred plan based on your expected usage. Even the starter plan is sufficient for most small-to-medium teams. You can always upgrade later without losing any data.
Hit Deploy. That's it. Softnode handles everything behind the scenes:
- Provisioning the server resources
- Installing and configuring Wiki.js
- Setting up the database
- Configuring SSL/TLS for secure HTTPS access
- Applying default security settings
In roughly 15–20 seconds, your wiki is live and accessible at your chosen subdomain.
Step 3: Start Building Your Knowledge Base
Open your new wiki URL in any browser. You'll be greeted by the Wiki.js setup wizard, which lets you create your admin account and configure basic settings like site title and default language.
Once past the wizard, you're in the full Wiki.js editor. Here's what you can do immediately:
- Create your first page — click "New Page," choose a path (like
/onboardingor/engineering/runbooks), and start writing - Choose your editor — Wiki.js offers Markdown, a visual WYSIWYG editor, or raw HTML. Pick whatever your team prefers
- Set up navigation — organize pages into a sidebar menu so your team can find things quickly
- Invite your team — create user accounts or connect an authentication provider (Google, GitHub, LDAP, SAML)
What Makes This Different from DIY Self-Hosting?
You might be thinking: "I could just install Wiki.js on my own server." And you'd be right — Wiki.js is open source, and the Docker setup is well-documented. But here's what that actually looks like in practice:
- Server provisioning: 10–30 minutes (choosing a provider, setting up a VPS, configuring SSH)
- Docker installation: 5–10 minutes
- Wiki.js deployment: 10–15 minutes (writing docker-compose, configuring environment variables, setting up the database)
- SSL setup: 10–20 minutes (Let's Encrypt, Certbot, reverse proxy configuration)
- DNS configuration: 5–30 minutes (depending on propagation)
- Ongoing maintenance: updates, backups, monitoring, security patches — hours per month
Total: 1–2 hours minimum for initial setup, plus ongoing operational overhead. And that assumes everything goes smoothly on the first try.
With Softnode, all of that is handled for you. You get the benefits of self-hosted infrastructure — data ownership, no per-seat fees, full customization — without the operational burden. Your wiki runs on dedicated European servers, with automated backups and managed updates.
Building Your Knowledge Base Structure
Once your wiki is running, the real work begins: organizing your team's knowledge. Here are some proven structures to get you started:
For engineering teams:
/onboarding— new hire guides, environment setup, tooling overview/architecture— system diagrams, design decisions, ADRs/runbooks— incident response procedures, deployment guides/api— internal API documentation
For general teams:
/company— mission, values, org chart, policies/processes— how-tos for recurring tasks, approval workflows/templates— reusable document templates/meetings— meeting notes archive, decision logs
The beauty of Wiki.js is that you can start simple and grow organically. There's no need to design the perfect hierarchy upfront — pages can be moved and reorganized as your knowledge base evolves.
From Zero to Knowledge Base in Half a Minute
The barrier to having a professional, self-hosted knowledge base has effectively dropped to zero. No server expertise required. No infrastructure to manage. No budget-breaking per-seat licenses.
Just sign up, deploy, and start writing. Your team's knowledge deserves a proper home — and with Softnode, building that home takes less time than making a cup of coffee.
Ready to try it? Visit softnode.cloud and deploy your Wiki.js instance today. Your first wiki is just 30 seconds away.