I've just read on TechCrunch the announcement about awe.sm, a service that sells custom URL shorteners (a la TinyURL) for your own domain.
That's funny: I've been using my own private URL shortener for about a week now (notice the "shorter link" mention at the top of this post). The script I'm using is based on something created by Lester 'GamerZ' Chan who has been running his own URL shortener on lc.sg for a while, and that I've improved (re-using some code from my work on scr.im) and hooked with WordPress (so, for instance, right when I'll press "Publish", my URL shortener will create a tiny link for this post, WP will store it in a custom field and broadcast it on my Twitter account)
The point of running your own URL shortener is obvious: it's leet and fun :) Moreover, it sorts of certifies that the shortened link won't be some crappy spam, as this is not a public tool. Our tool provides basic stats (number of clicks), my domain is short (ozh.in), my wife is amazed, I don't need more to be a happy man.
Lester and I have been discussing about GPL'ing our URL shortener and plugin, but I was just dubious that this would interest people. Now, seeing the announcement about awe.sm, I'm changing my mind. Would this actually interest some of you?
Shorter URL
Want to share or tweet this post? Please use this short URL: http://ozh.in/lq
It will be nice to have another choice for short urls ;)
I think this is a great fusion of TinyURL, WordPress and the GPL.
I'm all for it.
Definitely. I think it would be a popular plugin too.
Sounds interesting to me. Would I need to purchasing or get a hold of a short domain for me to use this or for example, could I take WPT from wptavern.com and use the WPT as the shortened url?
Jeffro: could use any domain. It's just cooler with a shorter one :)
GPL is the only way, this is THE way :)
We also wrote our own URL shortener years ago. It's only for our in-house corporate news alerts, but it was a necessity simply because of how many employees here were incapable of of even understanding link wrap problems.
I say go for the GPL. Our code is coldfusion and crappy, so really not worth releasing, but I do think there's a bigger need for it than you may think.
Yea, GPL it. I think there is a market for URL Shortener. I have not seen any script that does that yet when I was searching for it and hence I decided to come out with my own but Ozh improved it tremendously.
Oh yes, yes yes, please. Do eeeeeeeet.
I think everything GPL is cool. Or at least cool things GPL'd are cool.
Kevin's comment above does show there is some need.
For me personally, it would be a novelty, but I've enjoyed your WordPress plugins (especially the admin menu plugin), so I'd recommend GPLing it… Then watch watch the supernova of new url shortener sites begin.
if it's easy for noobs like me to use, I'm all in.
I have been thinking about setting up my own URL shortener for the same reasons you do (fun and leet). Thought I was going to have to write it myself, but maybe not :)
Oh, an emphatic 'Yes Please'.
One thing. Could it is possible to add/import the short codes for pages you'd already shortened? I'm thinking for those of us who have been URL shortening with a ham-fisted combination of scripts and our own short domains.
Hi,
Would love to have your plugin for WordPress. I don't want so spend the money on awe.sm. I think your plugin rocks.
I just need to think of a domain now
Hey Ozh, I'd LOVE to play with it, have a domain lying around for the exact purpose (yoa.st) :)
Best,
Joost
if it’s easy for noobs like me to use, I’m all in.
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