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Since I am running a URL shortener service https://blanq.io https://blanq.io, my two cents: 1. I looked at https://github.com/nelsontky/gh-pages-url-shortener/
by start123 6y ago
Since I am running a URL shortener service https://blanq.io https://blanq.io, my two cents:
1. I looked at https://github.com/nelsontky/gh-pages-url-shortener/blob/main/src/redirect.js https://github.com/nelsontky/gh-pages-url-shortener/blob/mai... and it is a basic script that does nothing more than redirection. A lot of URL shorteners on the web do a lot more. Premium ones can track users and route links based on client.
2. Most of URL shortening audience is non-technical and they usually like to pay and forget about it. Hosting and running your own service is an overhead.
3. Handling traffic at scale is challenging. So, if you have a lot of hits, I would not advise spending time maintaining the service.
4. Github can kill this anytime.
That said, this is neat solution for basic needs.
- username_my1 6y agoHow come I couldn’t find your service when I was looking for alternatives for bitly? The only results I got via Google, product hunt ... services that were overpriced and very limiting (nr of teammates)
- start123 6y agoI launched this a few months ago so getting to the first page of google search results is a bit challenging.
- ffpip 6y agoMaybe allow users to shorten links for free (without account) so that your domain becomes recognizable. bitly became popular that way And target enterprises with custom URL's. They look very good Maybe copy some features adjust has (deep linking and redirecting to respective app stores with tracking parameters) https://www.adjust.com/glossary/deep-linking/ https://www.adjust.com/glossary/deep-linking/
- start123 6y agoWithout account, shortening invited spammers and lead to security concerns and it was difficult to deal with that. Businesses that I target have set up custom domains and reap more benefit from it. I eventually plan to retire default shortening domain(blanq.io) and only offer custom domains.
- start123 6y agoAlso on PH by the way https://www.producthunt.com/posts/blanq/ https://www.producthunt.com/posts/blanq/. Will bump you up as paid account for free if you are interested :)
- chrisma0 6y ago1. What's wrong with a "basic" script? 2. who "likes to pay"? Having a free option is great, no matter whether you're "non-technical" or not... 3. It's hosted on GH Pages. I think they're pretty okay on the scaling front, what do you think? 4. Technically yes, as in "they could switch off GH Pages and the API". Not sure how likely that is. Also, the redirections are saved as GH issues
- start123 6y ago1. Nothing wrong. But there are plenty of things to consider if you need a mature product. 2. Businesses like to pay. 3. Github has been bad lately https://www.theregister.com/2020/07/13/github_takes_some_downtime_availability/ https://www.theregister.com/2020/07/13/github_takes_some_dow...
- simonklitj 6y agoI don't think this is meant to be used by anyone, except as a fun proof-of-concept project, or maybe for a personal collection of URLs.
- nelsontky 6y agoYes I agree with all of the above. And with my fixation on URL shorteners, I did have a dream of creating a full fledged URL shortening service like yours. I wasn't technically skilled enough for that then and thus didn't do it but your site does look great!
- start123 6y agoThanks. I started this since it had a low-entry barrier but, going from basic to a mature product was quite challenging and a great learning experience personally.
- ffpip 6y agoI think the example on your home page would look better as https://mysto.re/buy-shoes https://mysto.re/buy-shoes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.re https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.re