Making Your Own URL Shortening Service

It’s a Small URL After All

Bob Hazlett - @OneHalfAmazingDaniel Pritchett - @DPritchett

A World of...

Laughter (funny how easy this is)

Tears (avoiding pitfalls)

Hopes (that this turns out awesome)

Fear (that you’ll mess something up)

Something to share (bragging to your buddies)

Why do something like this anyway?

BrandingStability & ControlMore customizationBuilt-in StatsPluginsDarn Cool

Supplies Needed

Domain Host Access to your files (FTP)Text Editor Download Yourls package

Picking a domain

Get your host onHosted

PHP 4.3 and MySQL 4.1 with “mod_rewrite” enabled

Mainstream packages from 1and1, DreamHost or GoDaddy will do

DIY ServerLAMP on Linux

WAMP on Windows

MAMP on Mac

Download YourlsYourls 1.4 available at yourls.org

Private or PublicCustomize your linksBookmarkletIntegrated StatsWordpress PluginOpen Source

Set up your database

Configure one fileYourls.zip > Includes > Config-sample.php

Fill in a little info

> http://mysql.domain.com> database name setup earlier

Just a bit more

> http://domain.com

> set up users

Save file as config.php

FTP files to serverYourls unzipped and configured package > FTP client > hostFTP clients

CyberDuck or Transmit (Mac)FireFTP (firefox add-on)WinSCP (Windows)

.htaccess fileIf installing on same domain as WordPress

Must be in different directory

Warning! Danger!

Finally Installed

Start making babies

Expand your world

I got stats

WordPress Plugin to Twitter

Generate short URLs for each new post or pageAuto tweet on your behalf as you publish new contenthttp://bhaze.com/5

Setting up on Tweetie 2

http://DOMAIN.com/yourls-api.php?username=MyUSERNAME&password=MYPASSWORD&action=shorturl&format=simple&url=%@

Hey, Cool Guy

Other ToolsBrowser Bookmarklet

Generates short URL from page you’re currently viewingSimple or Advanced, just drag to browser toolbar

WordPress Sidebar WidgetOffer shortening service to your users

Questions

Daniel Pritchett SharingAtWork.com

Bob HazlettOneHalfAmazing.com

Other Resources

Yourls.orgScreener.com/nTsDomai.nr and MakeWords.comLifehacker article - bhaze.com/3