Fathom Lite

Fathom Lite is an open-source, self-hosted web app and server for website analytics. It provides website owners with a way to track visitor metrics and gather insights through a dedicated dashboard. The software is deployed as a server application that users manage on their own infrastructure, allowing for complete control over the data collection process and the hosting environment.

Users install the software on a server, create a site within the dashboard, and embed a tracking snippet into the HTML of the websites they wish to monitor. The system collects data from visitors and displays it via a web interface. It is available for installation via direct compilation using Go and NPM or through pre-built Docker containers for those who prefer containerized environments.

Key features

• Self-hosted deployment for full data ownership
• Web-based analytics dashboard for viewing site metrics
• Tracking snippet integration for website monitoring
• Docker image support for simplified installation
• User account management via command line interface
• Support for Content Security Policy directives
• MIT licensed source code

The application is written in Go and requires NPM for certain build processes. It is designed for users who prefer to run their own servers and handle maintenance, updates, and backups independently. The architecture requires the user to manage the server and updates, as there is no managed service for this specific version. To ensure security, the software allows for the configuration of specific CSP directives for script and image sources to match the URL of the Fathom instance.

Unlike the hosted version of Fathom, this Lite version uses cookies for tracking and does not include an API, e-commerce tracking, or custom event monitoring. It lacks the real-time visitor filters and shared dashboards found in the commercial product. It is intended for those who need a straightforward metrics tool without the complexity of a fully managed enterprise suite.

Fathom Lite serves as a legacy, maintenance-mode version of the Fathom analytics platform for those seeking a basic self-hosted metrics tool.