If we're using our own GCS bucket for Nx remote caching, why is an activation key required?

[patels30]

@nx/gcs-cache

We're currently exploring remote caching for our Nx monorepo using our own Google Cloud Storage (GCS) bucket, and there are a few points we're seeking clarity on:

Is an activation key required?

From what I understand, Nx Cloud requires an activation key to enable caching features, usage tracking, and dashboard access. However, when using the @nx/gcs-cache package with our own GCS bucket, is this activation key still mandatory? Or can we entirely bypass Nx Cloud and operate in a self-managed mode?

Do we need to host our own cache server?

The documentation mention setting up a custom self-host cache server. Is that still necessary in this case with GCS, or does @nx/gcs-cache fully handle the communication with GCS out-of-the-box, acting as both the client and the caching mechanism?