Overview

I built a URL shortener with a simple management interface and a way for other tools to create and read links. The focus was clean redirects, custom aliases, and usable click stats, not inflated numbers.

What it includes

• Create and manage short links
• Custom aliases
• Basic performance per URL

What I learned

Building the product surface and the contract for other tools at the same time forced clear boundaries. It also reinforced how easy it is to oversell scale. I care more about honest work than impressive claims on a case study. Live at tools.danieldiaz.dev/shortener.

Related reading

• A short link layer is ops infrastructure: aliases, stable redirects, and honest click signals beat vanity scale claims.