crueter/clink: Dead-simple, super-minimal URL shortener written in C. - crueter's git
clink - Dead-simple, super-minimal URL shortener written in C.
Categories:
clink is a dead-simple, super-minimal URL shortener written in pure C using the Mongoose web server library, designed for self-hosting with extremely low resource usage.
🚀 Overview
clink is an ultra-lightweight URL shortener that compiles to a tiny ~60 KB executable, runs blazing fast, and requires no external dependencies beyond libc. It uses a simple filesystem-backed storage for links, supports query strings with proper decoding, custom short paths, and secure deletion via long generated keys. Perfect for anyone tired of bloated alternatives.
This project solves the need for a truly minimal, self-hostable URL shortener that doesn't hog resources or require complex setups like databases or heavy runtimes. It's built for self-hosters, sysadmins, and developers who prioritize efficiency and simplicity on Linux servers. The author created it by forking and rewriting an existing Go-based shortener (called 'link') to fix missing features like query-string support, add easy deployment configs (NGINX, systemd), and slash the binary size dramatically for better performance.
✨ Key Features
- Dead-simple shortening via curl POST/GET, with support for query strings, URL decoding, and custom paths (e.g.,
curl -d https://example.com short.example.com/mypath). - Secure deletion using unique, longer keys returned in
X-Delete-Withheader—no guessing or weak security. - Tiny footprint: ~60 KB binary, minimal CPU/memory usage, no external libs needed (optional libcrypt).
- clinkctl CLI utility for managing links.
- Optional: Easy NGINX reverse proxy and systemd service configs for production deployment with HTTPS via Certbot.
🛠 Tech Stack
- Backend: Pure C with embedded Mongoose web server library.
- Storage: Filesystem (data directory for link files).
- Build/Deploy: Make, optional NGINX, systemd, Certbot.
- No frontend, database, or auth—pure API.
👥 Who Is This For?
This project is useful for:
- Self-hosters who want a lightweight, dependency-free URL shortener.
- Sysadmins deploying tiny services on Linux (Arch tested).
- Developers and indie makers seeking minimal tools with easy self-hosting.
📸 Screenshots / Demo
- Live demo: https://short.swurl.xyz
- Git: https://git.crueter.xyz/crueter/clink
🔥 Project Status
- 🟡 Maintained
Last updated: 2025-09-06
❓ FAQ
Is this project free?
Yes / Open Source (Fully free to use and self-host, no costs or subscriptions.)
Is the source code available?
Yes — https://git.crueter.xyz/crueter/clink
Can I contribute?
Fork the repository, submit pull requests, or open issues for bugs/features. Feedback welcome via the repo.
📬 Contact & Links
- Website: https://short.swurl.xyz
- Git: https://git.crueter.xyz/crueter/clink
Built with ❤️ and kept warm on WarmIndex.
Similar apps
Mobbin — UI & UX design inspiration for mobile & web apps
mobbin.com
Save hours of UI & UX research with our library of 400,000+ fully searchable mobile & web app screenshots.
Home - mosparo
mosparo.io
mosparo is the modern spam protection system for forms. mosparo will catch the spam messages before they get sent to the inbox. Start using mosparo today.
Mockaroo - Random Data Generator and API Mocking Tool | JSON / CSV / SQL / Excel
mockaroo.com
A free test data generator and API mocking tool - Mockaroo lets you create custom CSV, JSON, SQL, and Excel datasets to test and demo your software.
Image CDN: Image Optimization, Processing & Hosting • Sirv
sirv.com
Sirv helps you and your team manage, transform, optimize and deliver digital assets for faster websites and apps. Increase your conversions with Sirv today.