FAQ
Why SQLite and not Postgres/MySQL?
Section titled “Why SQLite and not Postgres/MySQL?”Portability. Embedded SQLite means a single container with no database service — the whole app state is one folder, which is what makes it work as a Home Assistant add-on, on Unraid, or on a Pi. Backup is copying a directory.
Does the camera work over http://<lan-ip>:8080?
Section titled “Does the camera work over http://<lan-ip>:8080?”Partially. Browsers only allow the live viewfinder in a secure context — localhost and HTTPS count, http://192.168.x.x doesn’t. Over plain HTTP, photo capture falls back to the file picker and everything else still works. For the full experience use HTTPS, the HA ingress URL, or localhost.
How much RAM does it need?
Section titled “How much RAM does it need?”~200 MB idle. Photo similarity (CLIP) loads lazily on first use and brings it to ~450–550 MB warm. STACHE_NO_ML=1 disables embeddings on tiny hosts; everything else keeps working.
Do I need the AI stuff?
Section titled “Do I need the AI stuff?”It’s on by default, but you don’t have to think about it — it just suggests names/tags/descriptions in the background and you confirm or ignore. Everything works with it off too (STACHE_NO_ML=1, or the toggle in Settings). See AI suggestions.
Is there a mobile app?
Section titled “Is there a mobile app?”Stache is a PWA — open it on your phone and “Add to Home Screen.” It works offline too: photos and scans queue locally and sync once your server is reachable again. Things that need the outside world — barcode lookups, a remote AI provider — wait for a connection; everything local keeps working.
How do backups work?
Section titled “How do backups work?”Everything lives in /data — copy it and you’re backed up. There’s also an optional built-in scheduler. See Backups.
Can other people sign up?
Section titled “Can other people sign up?”Only the first account is open signup. After that, accounts are created by logged-in members (Settings → Household) — there’s no public registration to accidentally expose.
What can an MCP connection see?
Section titled “What can an MCP connection see?”Shared items only — private items are never exposed. Connections are individually revocable and can be read-only. See MCP connections.
Something’s broken — where are the logs?
Section titled “Something’s broken — where are the logs?”docker logs on the container (or the add-on’s Log tab in Home Assistant). Issues go to the GitHub tracker.