Deploying at: linky.faisaldarbar.com
🔹 Project Goals
- Build a fully working, self-hosted link shortener
- Track click data: timestamps, referrer, location (IP-based)
- Clean and privacy-conscious (no creepy tracking)
- Add optional monetization via Razorpay (phase 2)
- Learn and apply Next.js, API routes, database, SSR
🧱 Stack
| Layer | Tech |
|---|---|
| Frontend | Next.js (App Router), Tailwind CSS |
| Backend | Next.js API Routes, Node.js, Razorpay SDK (optional) |
| Database | SQLite for dev → Postgres (self-hosted) |
| Auth (admin) | Clerk or magic links / basic auth |
| Hosting | Self-hosted on Proxmox/Hetzner/VPS |
| Domain | linky.faisaldarbar.com |
🗂 App Structure
/linky
├── pages (or app/ if using App Router)
│ ├── index.tsx (create + view links)
│ ├── [shortcode].tsx (redirect handler)
├── /api
│ ├── create.ts (generate short link)
│ ├── track.ts (log analytics)
│ └── verify-payment.ts (Razorpay, optional)
├── lib/
│ ├── db.ts (Prisma or raw DB queries)
│ └── utils.ts (random slug, etc.)
├── prisma/
│ └── schema.prisma
├── .env
├── next.config.js
🎯 Core Features (MVP)
- 🔗 Shorten long URLs to custom slugs
- 📊 Basic analytics (total clicks, referrer, timestamp)
- 📍 Optional geolocation via IP (no cookies)
- ⏰ Set expiration or limit on number of uses (optional)
- 🧑💻 Admin-only dashboard to view/manage links
- 🔒 Auth (magic link or simple passcode for MVP)
🚀 Phase 2 – Monetized Links (Optional)
- 💸 Razorpay integration: create link → pay → unlock redirect
- 🔐 API verifies payment → returns actual destination
- 🧾 Email or page shows receipt/confirmation
📈 Phase 3 – Advanced Analytics
- View individual link performance: CTR, traffic sources
- Dashboard charts (Recharts, Chart.js)
- Export CSV
🛡️ Security & Deployment
- Use Helmet.js for backend security headers
- Rate-limiting on API routes
- Logging with Pino or Winston
- Environment variables via dotenv
- GitHub Actions for CI/CD
💡 Future Ideas
- Team/multi-user support
- Custom domain per user
- Link folders / categories
- Tag links by campaign (UTM builder)
- Razorpay payout dashboard (for creators earning through links)
- Invite system for early access
📍 Initial Hosting Plan
- Self-hosted on your Ubuntu server via Proxmox
- Reverse proxy via Nginx + SSL
- Subdomain:
linky.faisaldarbar.com - SQLite for now → PostgreSQL later (local)
✅ Next Steps
- Initialize Next.js app with TailwindCSS
- Set up DB schema using Prisma (with SQLite first)
- Build URL shortening form (slug input + long URL input)
- Create API route to store short URL and long URL
- Build redirect route handler (e.g.,
/[slug]→ redirect) - Add click tracking (store timestamp, referrer, IP)
- Create simple admin dashboard (protected route)
- Add basic auth (env password or magic link)
- Deploy to VPS and point subdomain
- Monitor logs + errors
Let’s build it!