Minimalist Self-Hosted URL Shortener

This tool is a privacy-focused, self-hosted URL shortener powered by Cloudflare Workers and KV storage. It features real-time analytics, per-user data isolation, and flexible link expiry.

Authentication

• Users must log in with username and password.
• Authentication tokens are stored persistently in localStorage, keeping sessions active until manual logout.
• Login validation is done directly via fetch requests to Cloudflare Workers backend.
• Detailed error messages guide users on login failures.
• No password reset or recovery functionality exists.
• There is no automatic logout or session expiration.

Shortlink Creation

Form Fields

Validation and Behavior

• Slug uniqueness is enforced globally; duplicates trigger immediate warnings.
• Users can generate slugs automatically with a dedicated button.
• The form “Create” button activates only when required fields (Slug and Target URL) are valid and filled.
• Target URL is validated for proper URL format.
• Optional fields can be left empty.
• After successful creation:
  • The form resets to blank.
  • The new shortlink and corresponding QR code are displayed prominently.
  • The shortlink also appears instantly in the “My Links” list without page reload.
  • A success notification confirms the operation.

My Links Management

• Displays a paginated list of user-created shortlinks, sorted by newest first.
• Includes filters to search by slug or description.
• Shows creation date and expiry status (with “Never” for non-expiring links).
• Editing existing shortlinks is not supported yet.
• Deletion feature is planned but currently not implemented in UI.
• Links marked as expired remain visible; accessing expired links shows an explicit “Link Expired” message.
• Users can delete shortlinks permanently (via API or planned UI).
• Account deletion is supported, which wipes all user data and associated shortlinks irreversibly.

Analytics and Tracking

Click Data Captured in Real-Time

• Timestamp with timezone
• Visitor country/region (geo-IP based)
• Device type (desktop/mobile)
• Referrer URL
• Browser and OS user-agent data

Analytics Display

• Geographic map highlighting click locations.
• Daily click count charts.
• Device type breakdown charts.
• Detailed event logs shown in tables.

Analytics update instantly with zero delay, enabling timely insights.

Public Access and API

• Created shortlinks are publicly accessible without authentication.
• API endpoints for management and creation require Bearer token authentication.
• API tokens are issued on login and stored securely on client side.
• API documentation is not publicly available but can be provided upon request.
• API allows programmatic shortlink creation and deletion (if permitted).

Data Isolation & Privacy

• All user data and shortlinks are strictly isolated per account.
• Users cannot access or view other users’ shortlinks or analytics even if slugs are known.
• No third-party tracking or analytics; all data stays within Cloudflare KV and Workers.
• Data storage is limited by Cloudflare KV quotas; hence permanent deletion and account wipes are essential to avoid storage overflow.

Limitations and Future Directions

• No edit feature yet for existing shortlinks.
• UI deletion and bulk management tools for expired links are planned.
• Session timeout or password recovery features are not currently implemented.
• OpenGraph metadata editing is available only in Expert Mode.
• Improvements planned for clearer expired link labeling and better UX around date display.

Definition

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View Project

Client Year

2025

Service Type

Personal Project

Software using

Objective

Personalized shortlink generator with Cloudflare Worker

Summary

This shortlink tool delivers a privacy-first, easy-to-use solution for managing URLs with detailed, real-time analytics and secure user isolation. It empowers users to create custom or autogenerated shortlinks with optional expiry and metadata, track usage comprehensively, and manage links and accounts securely.