recurring-checklist/server

Recurring Checklist — Self-hosted Web Version

A small Node.js web app that anyone on your network can hit from a browser. Designed to run on a Synology NAS via Docker (Container Manager). Every Sunday at 3:00 PM it emails you a digest of who checked off what — and what got missed — then resets the lists for the next week.

Users → http://nas-ip:3000 → tick boxes → server stores state
                                     ↓
                              Sun 3:00 PM cron
                                     ↓
                       Gmail SMTP → digest email → you

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What's where

File	Purpose
server.js	Express server, REST API, scheduler, email
public/	Static frontend (HTML/CSS/JS) served by Express
data/	Persisted state (checklists.json) — must be a volume mount
.env.example	Copy to .env and fill in
Dockerfile	Builds the container image
docker-compose.yml	One-command deploy

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1. Set up a Gmail App Password (for the digest email)

1. Sign in to the Google account you want to send from (your own, or a dedicated one — both work).
2. Turn on 2-Step Verification at https://myaccount.google.com/security.
3. Once 2-Step is on, go to https://myaccount.google.com/apppasswords.
4. Create an app password called "Recurring Checklist". Google gives you a 16-character string like abcd efgh ijkl mnop. Save it.
5. You'll paste that into SMTP_PASS in .env (with or without spaces, both work).

Don't want to use Gmail? Any SMTP works. Office 365, Fastmail, your own Postfix on the Synology — just swap the SMTP_* vars in .env.

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2. Deploy on Synology with Container Manager

These steps assume DSM 7.2+ with Container Manager installed.

A. Copy the server/ folder to the NAS

Drop this whole folder into something like /volume1/docker/recurring-checklist/ using File Station, SMB, rsync — whatever's easiest. The folder must end up with Dockerfile, docker-compose.yml, server.js, public/, etc.

B. Create the .env file on the NAS

In that folder, copy .env.example to .env and edit it:

cp .env.example .env
nano .env

Fill in:

• ADMIN_PASSWORD — a password you'll use to manage lists in the browser.
• REPORT_EMAIL — your inbox.
• SMTP_USER — the Gmail address you set up in step 1.
• SMTP_PASS — the 16-character app password.
• SMTP_FROM — Recurring Checklist <yourgmail@gmail.com> is fine.
• REPORT_TZ — your local timezone (default America/New_York).
• REPORT_CRON — 0 15 * * 0 = Sunday at 3:00 PM. Leave alone unless you want to change the time.

C. Open Container Manager → Project → Create

1. Project name: recurring-checklist
2. Path: browse to /volume1/docker/recurring-checklist/
3. Source: "Use existing docker-compose.yml"
4. Click Next through the rest and Done. Container Manager will build the image (takes 30–90 seconds the first time) and start it.

D. Open it in a browser

From any device on your network:

http://<your-nas-ip>:3000

You'll be asked for a name (your name shows up in the weekly email). That's it — start checking things off.

E. Log in as admin to create lists

• Top-right of the page → 🔒 Admin → enter the ADMIN_PASSWORD from .env.
• A new bar appears under the list tabs. Pull it down (click or swipe) to reveal + Add List, Rename, Delete, Export/Import JSON, and Send Digest Now (use this to test email).
• In Add Task, build out your Startup and Shutdown lists.
• Click 🔓 Admin again to leave admin mode so the controls hide again.

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3. Test the email before Sunday

While logged in as admin, hit Send Digest Now in the menu drawer. You should get an email within a few seconds. If not, check the container logs in Container Manager (it'll print the SMTP error).

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4. Optional: HTTPS via Synology reverse proxy

In Control Panel → Login Portal → Advanced → Reverse Proxy:

Source	Destination
https://checklist.your-domain.com (443)	http://localhost:3000

Synology handles the Let's Encrypt cert. The app itself only listens on plain HTTP inside the container — TLS terminates at DSM.

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5. Running outside Docker (e.g. for local development)

cd server
npm install
cp .env.example .env   # then edit
npm start

Open http://localhost:3000.

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Backups

Everything that matters lives in data/checklists.json. Add that path (/volume1/docker/recurring-checklist/data) to your Hyper Backup task and you're set.

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Troubleshooting

• Email never arrives. Inside Container Manager, click the container → Log. Look for [digest] Failed: .... Common causes:
  • Wrong Gmail app password.
  • 2-Step Verification not enabled on the Gmail account.
  • Synology firewall blocking outbound port 587.
• "Wrong password" when trying admin login. Check ADMIN_PASSWORD in .env and that you restarted the container after editing.
• Port 3000 is taken. Edit docker-compose.yml and change the left side of the port mapping (e.g. "8088:3000"), then redeploy.
• State got messed up. Stop the container, edit data/checklists.json directly, restart.