No Public IP? 8 Years of NAT Traversal and Cross-Network Solutions

For developers without a public IP address, accessing devices across networks has long been a challenge. This post summarizes 8 years of experience with NAT traversal and cross-network connectivity, covering techniques like STUN/TURN, reverse proxies, and modern mesh VPNs. The author evaluates various solutions, from traditional port forwarding to newer tools like ZeroTier and Tailscale, offering practical advice for choosing the right approach. The key takeaway is that while NAT traversal remains complex, modern tools have significantly lowered the barrier. For indie hackers and small teams, mesh VPNs offer a compelling balance of simplicity and security. This retrospective is valuable for anyone building remote access infrastructure or troubleshooting connectivity issues.