4 ms·

Show HN: Yet another url shortner xiv.in, comments please

4 points by critiq 12y ago

rakoo 12y ago
Make the shortened link clickable, so I can right-click -> copy link and then paste it wherever I need.
- critiq 12y ago
  Thanks, will definitely add it.
  - conradk 12y ago
    Another idea would be to auto select the link when you click it. This means you could have a "workflow" similar to: click, cmd/ctrl + c, done
smt88 12y ago
Why would I use this? (Not saying I wouldn't, just want to know why you built it and why I should use it instead of an existing service.) The benefit of Bitly is that users recognize the link. It doesn't make them feel like they're about to get a virus. Furthermore, Bitly has lots of nice features and actively fights malicious links. So the truth is, users actually can trust Bitly links a bit more than a service that just started up.
- critiq 12y ago
  Yes agree that there is trust factor, also there are dozen of similar services. However I came across inquiries for shortening api services which are free / cheap. as per that there was bit of exclusivity required. At the moment all still in flux. Thanks for your honest comments.
  - conradk 12y ago
    IMO, what would be cool would be an open API where you don't need any kind of developer key to create a short link. Isn't Bitly free too?
    - critiq 12y ago
      Yes, api is there already. Its simple http post based one. Other important factor we are thinking is NOT TRACKING any links.
krapp 12y ago
It shortens an https:// https:// link to http:// http://, and it also shortens invalid links. Trying to add a js alert I noticed the preview allows arbitrary html to display, but the end result was useless - http://xiv.in/ZW4NL http://xiv.in/ZW4NL and trying different schemes caused http to be prepended to the url by default. I would suggest trying to validate the urls, and at least attempting to connect and get a response once before hashing them. This will at least result in less junk in your database (or wherever you're storing them) if you dump invalid links altogether.
- critiq 12y ago
  Thank you, will check and fix it.
conradk 12y ago
curl -I http://xiv.in/GYBX3 http://xiv.in/GYBX3 ... Location: http://s.xiv.in/GYBX3 http://s.xiv.in/GYBX3 ... Why one useless redirection?

4 points by critiq 12y ago

rakoo 12y ago

Make the shortened link clickable, so I can right-click -> copy link and then paste it wherever I need.

critiq 12y ago
Thanks, will definitely add it.
- conradk 12y ago
  Another idea would be to auto select the link when you click it. This means you could have a "workflow" similar to: click, cmd/ctrl + c, done

smt88 12y ago

Why would I use this? (Not saying I wouldn't, just want to know why you built it and why I should use it instead of an existing service.) The benefit of Bitly is that users recognize the link. It doesn't make them feel like they're about to get a virus. Furthermore, Bitly has lots of nice features and actively fights malicious links. So the truth is, users actually can trust Bitly links a bit more than a service that just started up.

critiq 12y ago
Yes agree that there is trust factor, also there are dozen of similar services. However I came across inquiries for shortening api services which are free / cheap. as per that there was bit of exclusivity required. At the moment all still in flux. Thanks for your honest comments.
- conradk 12y ago
  IMO, what would be cool would be an open API where you don't need any kind of developer key to create a short link. Isn't Bitly free too?
  - critiq 12y ago
    Yes, api is there already. Its simple http post based one. Other important factor we are thinking is NOT TRACKING any links.

krapp 12y ago

It shortens an https:// https:// link to http:// http://, and it also shortens invalid links. Trying to add a js alert I noticed the preview allows arbitrary html to display, but the end result was useless - http://xiv.in/ZW4NL http://xiv.in/ZW4NL and trying different schemes caused http to be prepended to the url by default. I would suggest trying to validate the urls, and at least attempting to connect and get a response once before hashing them. This will at least result in less junk in your database (or wherever you're storing them) if you dump invalid links altogether.

critiq 12y ago
Thank you, will check and fix it.

conradk 12y ago

curl -I http://xiv.in/GYBX3 http://xiv.in/GYBX3 ... Location: http://s.xiv.in/GYBX3 http://s.xiv.in/GYBX3 ... Why one useless redirection?