murl - make ur link mini
Discontinued
Overview
Murl is a full-stack application built with FastAPI, React, and MongoDB that turns long URLs into short links with optional user management features. The site supports both anonymous and authenticated URL shortening, custom short codes, username-scoped URLs (e.g., murl.xyz/user/code), analytics tracking, and user profiles with privacy controls.Purpose
Murl solves a common problem: forcing users to register before shortening URLs. It provides immediate value without barriers, no signup needed. The freemium model naturally entices users to register for enhanced features like custom codes, analytics, and management, balancing user convenience with monetization.Features
Anonymous Access
Custom Short Codes
Live Code Validation
User-scoped Codes
Project Gallery
Mini brand guide for website
System Architecture
Authenticated user link management
Design Process
Development began by addressing my frustration with URL shorteners requiring account creation. I designed a non-blocking model that provides immediate value while naturally encouraging registration. After sketching wireframes, I built a dual-scope URL system to handle both global and username-scoped short codes without conflicts. I chose FastAPI and React with TypeScript, implementing JWT authentication and real-time code availability checking. Finally, I deployed to production using Render and MongoDB Atlas.