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**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.