From 621a1eccdcd0f4c010c576b268ad22d971e4a642 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Sunil Thakares Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:09:09 +0530 Subject: [PATCH] Add project comparison guide and improve landing page --- docs/COMPARISON.md | 218 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------------- 1 file changed, 152 insertions(+), 66 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/COMPARISON.md b/docs/COMPARISON.md index f42eaa5..3e9e1db 100644 --- a/docs/COMPARISON.md +++ b/docs/COMPARISON.md @@ -2,27 +2,62 @@ **BZOD (nx9-url-shortener)** is a modern, privacy-focused, self-hosted URL management platform built in Rust as part of the **NX9 Platform**. -Unlike many traditional URL shorteners that focus only on redirects, BZOD combines: +Unlike many traditional URL shorteners that focus solely on redirects, BZOD combines: * URL shortening * Landing pages * QR code generation -* Analytics +* QR analytics * Password protection -* Backup & restore +* Link expiration * REST API * CLI automation +* Backup & restore * Audit logging into a single lightweight deployment. -The project philosophy is: - -> One binary. One command. Full ownership. +**Philosophy:** *One binary. One command. Full ownership.* --- -# Design Philosophy +## At a Glance + +* Rust-based +* Single ~18 MB binary +* Embedded SQLite +* No external services required +* Landing pages +* QR generation & analytics +* Password-protected links +* REST API +* CLI automation +* Backup & restore +* Audit trail +* MIT OR Apache-2.0 licensed +* One-command deployment + +--- + +## Quick Comparison + +| Feature | BZOD | Shlink | YOURLS | Chhoto URL | +| --------------------- | ----------------- | -------- | -------- | ---------- | +| Language | Rust | PHP | PHP | Rust | +| Single Binary | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | +| Landing Pages | ✅ | ❌ | Plugin | ❌ | +| QR Code + Analytics | ✅ | Partial | Plugin | Partial | +| Password Protection | ✅ | Limited | Plugin | ❌ | +| Backup & Restore | ✅ | External | External | ❌ | +| Audit Trail | ✅ | Limited | Plugin | ❌ | +| CLI Tools | ✅ | Limited | Limited | Limited | +| Dependencies | None | PHP + DB | PHP + DB | None | +| Deployment Complexity | Low | Medium | High | Low | +| License | MIT OR Apache-2.0 | MIT | MIT | MIT | + +--- + +## Design Philosophy | Principle | BZOD | | -------------------------- | ----------------- | @@ -32,13 +67,90 @@ The project philosophy is: | Vendor Lock-in | None | | Telemetry | None | | External Services Required | None | -| Database Server Required | No | -| Runtime Dependencies | No | -| Single Binary | Yes | +| Database Server Required | No (SQLite) | +| Runtime Dependencies | None | +| Single Binary | Yes (~18 MB) | | Linux-first | Yes | --- +## The NX9 Philosophy + +BZOD is part of the **NX9 Platform**. + +NX9 projects follow strict engineering principles: + +* Linux-native first +* Rust-first +* Single binary deployments +* No NodeJS +* No React +* No Python runtime dependencies +* No vendor lock-in +* No telemetry +* Privacy-first by default +* MIT OR Apache-2.0 licensed + +GitHub and Codeberg are source-code repositories, not the projects themselves. + +The software is the project. + +The goal of NX9 is simple: + +> Build technology that serves people, organizations, communities, and governments — not advertising networks, data brokers, or vendor ecosystems. + +--- + +## Why BZOD Exists + +Most self-hosted URL shorteners optimize for one of two extremes: + +### 1. Minimal Redirect Service + +A tiny application that creates short links and redirects traffic. + +Advantages: + +* Extremely lightweight +* Easy to understand +* Easy to maintain + +Disadvantages: + +* Limited administration +* Limited analytics +* Limited security features +* Often requires additional tools + +### 2. Large Multi-Service Platform + +Feature-rich systems with extensive integrations and dependencies. + +Advantages: + +* Powerful analytics +* Advanced routing +* Large ecosystems + +Disadvantages: + +* More infrastructure +* More maintenance +* Higher resource requirements + +### BZOD's Approach + +BZOD intentionally sits in the middle. + +It is: + +* Small enough for a Raspberry Pi +* Powerful enough for organizations +* Simple enough for homelabs +* Complete enough for production use + +--- + # BZOD vs Go URL Shorteners Popular Go projects include: @@ -49,7 +161,7 @@ Popular Go projects include: * Shortr * Custom Gin/Echo implementations -## Comparison +## Detailed Comparison | Aspect | BZOD (Rust) | Typical Go Projects | | ------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------- | @@ -57,7 +169,7 @@ Popular Go projects include: | Runtime | None | None | | Database | Embedded SQLite | SQLite / PostgreSQL | | Landing Pages | ✅ Built-in | Rare | -| QR Generation | ✅ PNG + SVG | Sometimes | +| QR Generation | ✅ | Sometimes | | QR Analytics | ✅ | Rare | | Password Protection | ✅ | Varies | | Link Expiry | ✅ | Often | @@ -69,7 +181,7 @@ Popular Go projects include: | Audit Logs | ✅ | Rare | | Admin Dashboard | ✅ | Varies | -## Summary +### Summary Go shorteners are often: @@ -79,10 +191,10 @@ Go shorteners are often: BZOD focuses on: -* Rich features +* Rich built-in functionality * Complete ownership * Minimal operations -* Batteries included +* Batteries-included deployment --- @@ -95,7 +207,7 @@ Popular Python projects include: * Schort * Flask/FastAPI examples -## Comparison +## Detailed Comparison | Aspect | BZOD (Rust) | Python Solutions | | ---------------- | --------------------- | ----------------- | @@ -110,7 +222,7 @@ Popular Python projects include: | Security | Argon2id + Audit Logs | Project dependent | | Performance | Excellent | Good | -## Summary +### Summary Python solutions are ideal when: @@ -128,9 +240,9 @@ BZOD is ideal when: # BZOD vs Shlink -Shlink is one of the most mature self-hosted URL shorteners. +Shlink is one of the most mature self-hosted URL shorteners available. -## Comparison +## Detailed Comparison | Aspect | BZOD | Shlink | | ------------------------ | ------------- | ---------------- | @@ -147,7 +259,7 @@ Shlink is one of the most mature self-hosted URL shorteners. | Multi-domain | Planned | ✅ | | Ecosystem | Growing | Mature | -## Summary +### Summary Choose Shlink when: @@ -168,7 +280,7 @@ Choose BZOD when: YOURLS is the classic self-hosted URL shortener. -## Comparison +## Detailed Comparison | Aspect | BZOD | YOURLS | | ------------- | ------------- | ---------- | @@ -182,7 +294,7 @@ YOURLS is the classic self-hosted URL shortener. | API | ✅ | ✅ | | Maintenance | Minimal | Moderate | -## Summary +### Summary YOURLS wins on: @@ -203,7 +315,7 @@ BZOD wins on: Chhoto URL is the closest Rust-based competitor. -## Comparison +## Detailed Comparison | Aspect | BZOD | Chhoto URL | | ---------------- | ------ | ---------- | @@ -218,7 +330,7 @@ Chhoto URL is the closest Rust-based competitor. | Analytics | Rich | Basic | | Binary Size | ~18 MB | Smaller | -## Summary +### Summary Choose Chhoto URL for: @@ -233,59 +345,27 @@ Choose BZOD for: --- -# Why BZOD Exists +## Future Comparisons -Most self-hosted URL shorteners optimize for one of two extremes: +Additional comparison sections may be added in the future for: -1. Extremely simple redirect service -2. Large multi-service platform - -BZOD attempts to sit in the middle: - -* Small enough for a Raspberry Pi -* Powerful enough for organizations -* Simple enough for homelabs -* Complete enough for production use +* Bitly +* Dub +* Pygmy +* Krtk +* Other self-hosted URL management platforms --- -# The NX9 Philosophy +## Conclusion -BZOD is part of the **NX9 Platform**. - -NX9 projects follow strict engineering principles: - -* Linux-native first -* Rust-first -* Single binary deployments -* No NodeJS -* No React dependency -* No Python runtime dependency -* No vendor lock-in -* No telemetry -* Privacy-first -* Self-hostable -* MIT OR Apache-2.0 licensed - -GitHub and Codeberg repositories are only source code hosting locations. - -The actual project is the software itself. - -The goal of NX9 is simple: - -> Build technology that serves people, organizations, communities, and governments — not advertising networks, data brokers, or vendor ecosystems. - ---- - -# Conclusion - -BZOD is not merely a URL shortener. +**BZOD is not merely a URL shortener.** It is a lightweight URL management platform that combines: * Link shortening * Landing pages -* QR ecosystem +* QR services * Analytics * Automation * Security @@ -293,4 +373,10 @@ It is a lightweight URL management platform that combines: into a single deployable Rust binary. +As part of the NX9 Platform, BZOD follows a simple principle: + +> Own your links. Own your data. Own your infrastructure. + +No telemetry. No vendor lock-in. No unnecessary complexity. + For users seeking privacy, simplicity, ownership, and long-term sustainability, BZOD offers a compelling alternative to both cloud SaaS platforms and traditional self-hosted URL shorteners.