nextcloud · oleksandr-nc · Jan 20, 2026 · Jan 20, 2026
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -8,42 +8,103 @@
 [![Tests - Deploy](https://github.com/nextcloud/app_api/actions/workflows/tests-deploy.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/nextcloud/app_api/actions/workflows/tests-deploy.yml)
 [![Tests](https://github.com/nextcloud/app_api/actions/workflows/tests.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/nextcloud/app_api/actions/workflows/tests.yml)
 
-### Supercharge your Nextcloud with AppAPI and applications specifically designed for it.
+AppAPI is the Nextcloud component that enables **External Apps (ExApps)**.
 
-### This project pivots on four main pillars:
+ExApps are Nextcloud apps whose backend runs **outside** the Nextcloud PHP process (typically as a Docker
+container). AppAPI provides the APIs and lifecycle management so these external backends can still
+integrate with Nextcloud users, permissions and the web UI.
 
-1. **Enhanced stability** This ecosystem is committed to maintaining API stability over extended periods.
-   This ensures a reliable and consistent user experience as developers won't need to constantly update their apps with each new release.
+AppAPI is **only useful if you want to install or develop External Apps**.
 
-2. **Enhanced security** Unlike the traditional method, which allowed direct interaction with the core Nextcloud code, this approach uses controlled APIs to manage access, ensuring greater application stability and delivering a more focused user experience.
+## If you are here because of the warning “default deploy daemon is not set”
 
-3. **Reliable computing power** The ecosystem is designed to solve resource-intensive problems.
-   Developers can easily integrate complex computing functions, including advanced machine learning models, and run them on external hardware.
+You might have seen this in the admin overview/security checks:
 
-4. **Community friendly** The project aims to attract a diverse and broader developer community by creating applications
-   in various programming languages and providing a well-documented, consistent and user-friendly API.
-   Community collaboration and contributions are encouraged to drive open source innovation.
+> AppAPI default deploy daemon is not set. Please register a default deploy daemon …
+
+This warning means:
+
+- AppAPI is enabled, **but no Deploy Daemon is configured**, so Nextcloud cannot install/run External Apps yet.
+
+You have two valid options:
+
+1. **You do not want External Apps**
+	- Disable AppAPI in **Apps → Tools → AppAPI**, or with:
+		- `occ app:disable app_api`
+	- The warning will disappear.
+
+2. **You want to install External Apps**
+	- Open **Settings → Administration → AppAPI**
+	- Register a Deploy Daemon and set it as the default
+	- Use **Check connection** and **Test deploy** to verify the setup
+
+## Key concepts (short glossary)
+
+- **External App (ExApp)**: a Nextcloud app where the backend runs as a separate service (usually a container),
+  but is still installed/managed from Nextcloud and integrates with the Nextcloud UI.
+- **Deploy Daemon**: the service Nextcloud talks to in order to install, start/stop, and reach ExApps.
+  Without a Deploy Daemon, AppAPI cannot deploy ExApps.
+
+## Deploy Daemon options
+
+### HaRP (recommended for Nextcloud 32+)
+
+**HaRP** (High-performance AppAPI Reverse Proxy) is the newer and recommended Deploy Daemon.
+It is a reverse proxy system designed specifically for ExApps:
+
+- Proxies access to the Docker Engine used to create ExApp containers
+- Routes requests directly to ExApps (bypassing the Nextcloud PHP process), improving performance and enabling WebSockets
+- Uses FRP (Fast Reverse Proxy) tunnels so ExApp containers do not need to expose ports to the host — this simplifies networking and provides NAT traversal
+
+Repository: https://github.com/nextcloud/HaRP
+
+### Docker Socket Proxy (DSP) — legacy
+
+**Docker Socket Proxy** (often shortened as **DSP**) is the classic Deploy Daemon implementation.
+It is a security-hardened proxy in front of the Docker Engine socket/API and is protected by basic
+authentication and brute-force protection.
+
+> **Note:** DSP is being deprecated in favor of HaRP and is scheduled for removal in Nextcloud 35.
+> New installations should use HaRP.
+
+Repository: https://github.com/nextcloud/docker-socket-proxy
+
+## Security notes (for administrators)
+
+Configuring a Deploy Daemon means allowing Nextcloud to orchestrate application containers. Keep these points in mind:
+
+- Run HaRP/DSP in a trusted network and do not expose it to the public internet.
+- Use strong secrets (`HP_SHARED_KEY` for HaRP, `NC_HAPROXY_PASSWORD` for DSP).
+- For remote setups or untrusted networks, use TLS where supported and restrict access with firewall rules.
+- Only deploy ExApps you trust, and keep their images up to date.
+
+## Why AppAPI exists (what it is useful for)
+
+AppAPI is designed to make it easier to build and run ExApps in a way that is:
+
+1. **Stable for admins**: ExApps integrate through defined interfaces instead of tightly coupling to server internals.
+2. **More isolated**: ExApps run out-of-process and interact with Nextcloud through controlled APIs.
+3. **Suitable for heavy workloads**: ExApps can run on separate hardware (including GPU-enabled hosts).
+4. **Language-friendly**: ExApps can be written in languages other than PHP (Python/Node/Go/…).
 
 ## Documentation
 
 Latest documentation can be found here:
 
-1. Admin manual: [ExApps management](https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/admin_manual/exapps_management/index.html)
-2. Developer manual: [ExApp development](https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/developer_manual/exapp_development/index.html)
+1. Admin manual:
+	- AppAPI and External Apps: https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/admin_manual/exapps_management/AppAPIAndExternalApps.html
+	- Deployment configurations: https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/admin_manual/exapps_management/DeployConfigurations.html
+2. Developer manual:
+	- ExApp development: https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/developer_manual/exapp_development/index.html
 
 ### Support
 
 We appreciate any support for this project:
 
-- ⭐ Star our work on GitHub (it helps us a lot)
-- ❗ Create an Issue or feature request (bring to us an excellent idea)
-- 💁 Resolve an Issue and create a Pull Request (contribute to this project)
-- 🧑‍💻 Develop your own application using AppAPI and share it with the world (contact us if help is needed)
-
-In conclusion, we are genuinely excited about the future of the AppAPI project and its potential to transform 
-the way applications are developed and experienced within Nextcloud.
+- ⭐ Star our work on GitHub
+- ❗ Create an issue or feature request
+- 💁 Resolve an issue and open a pull request
+- 🧑‍💻 Build and publish ExApps using AppAPI
 
-As we embark on this journey, we warmly invite you - developers, thinkers, creators, and visionaries - 
-to join us in shaping a more versatile, stable, and secure app landscape.
 
-#### Your insights, suggestions, and contributions are invaluable to us.
+Thank you for helping improve ExApps and their ecosystem.
@@ -9,42 +9,42 @@
 	<summary>Nextcloud AppAPI</summary>
 	<description>
 	<![CDATA[
-### Boost your Nextcloud with AppAPI and its specially designed applications.
+### What is AppAPI?
 
+AppAPI is the Nextcloud component that enables **External Apps (ExApps)**.
+ExApps are apps whose backend runs **outside** the Nextcloud PHP process (usually as a Docker container), while still integrating with your Nextcloud users, permissions and web UI.
 
-The AppAPI is a project within the Nextcloud ecosystem designed to streamline and enhance the process of
-application development, deployment, and management.
+### Do I need it?
 
-It introduces a new methodology that allows developers to create
-applications using a variety of programming languages, not limited to PHP, which was traditionally used in Nextcloud development.
+No. If you do not plan to install External Apps, you can disable AppAPI.
 
-_If you wish to develop an application, we will gladly help and assist you._
+If AppAPI is enabled without a configured Deploy Daemon, Nextcloud will show the info message:
 
-### Support
+> "AppAPI default deploy daemon is not set …"
 
-We appreciate any support for this project:
+That warning means: "External Apps are not configured yet".
 
-- ⭐ Star our work on GitHub
-- ❗ Create an Issue or feature request
-- 💁 Resolve an Issue and create a Pull Request
-- 🧑‍💻 Develop your own application using AppAPI
+You can either disable AppAPI, or configure a Deploy Daemon (see below).
 
-We are genuinely excited about the future of the AppAPI project and its potential to transform
-the way applications are developed and experienced within Nextcloud.
+### How do External Apps get deployed?
 
-As we embark on this journey, we warmly invite you - developers, thinkers, creators, and visionaries -
-to join us in shaping a more versatile, stable, and secure app landscape.
+A **Deploy Daemon** is the service Nextcloud talks to in order to install, start, stop and reach ExApps.
 
-*Your insights, suggestions, and contributions are invaluable to us.*
+Two options are available:
 
+- **HaRP** (recommended for Nextcloud 32+) — a high-performance reverse proxy with FRP tunneling
+- **Docker Socket Proxy** (legacy) — scheduled for removal in Nextcloud 35
+
+See the [admin documentation](https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/admin_manual/exapps_management/DeployConfigurations.html) for setup instructions.
 	]]></description>
 	<version>32.0.0</version>
 	<licence>agpl</licence>
 	<author mail="andrey18106x@gmail.com" homepage="https://github.com/andrey18106">Andrey Borysenko</author>
 	<author mail="bigcat88@icloud.com" homepage="https://github.com/bigcat88">Alexander Piskun</author>
 	<namespace>AppAPI</namespace>
 	<documentation>
-		<developer>https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/developer_manual/exapp_development</developer>
+		<admin>https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/admin_manual/exapps_management/AppAPIAndExternalApps.html</admin>
+		<developer>https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/developer_manual/exapp_development/index.html</developer>
 	</documentation>
 	<category>integration</category>
 	<category>tools</category>