Simple-URL-Shortener

Simple-URL-Shortener is a small, KISS PHP-based URL shortener that stores links in MySQL or SQLite and provides per-user link history. It aims to be dependency-free and easy to install for simple link shortening needs.

Key Features

• Lightweight PHP application with no external dependencies beyond PHP and a database
• Supports MySQL or SQLite backends for storage
• User accounts with per-user link history and optional comments on links
• Bookmarklet/shortcut to quickly create short URLs from the browser
• Works when deployed in a subfolder and includes example configurations for Nginx and Apache
• Installation script to initialize the database and create the first admin user
• Secure cookie settings require HTTPS for authentication

Use Cases

• Internal team or personal URL shortening service for sharing compact links
• Simple link-tracking and history for individual users or small teams
• Embedding a minimal shortener in an existing site (subfolder deployment)

Limitations and Considerations

• The project is no longer actively maintained by the original author; no ongoing feature development or regular updates are guaranteed
• Authentication relies on secure cookies and requires HTTPS in production environments
• Feature set is intentionally minimal (no built-in analytics, custom domains, or advanced link management features)

Simple-URL-Shortener is best suited for users who need a tiny, easy-to-run shortener with user history and prefer a minimal, dependency-free codebase. It is not intended as a full-featured commercial link management platform.