At a Glance:
Sink is a serverless link shortener with built-in analytics, AI-assisted slug generation, QR codes, and link-level controls like expiration and passwords, 100% running on Cloudflare Workers and Cloudflare Pages.
Overview:
Sink is a link shortener that compresses URLs and provides analytics, AI-powered slug generation, and visitor routing rules. It runs entirely on Cloudflare's infrastructure without requiring traditional servers, using Cloudflare Workers KV for storage and Workers Analytics Engine for telemetry. The project includes a browser-based dashboard, a public API, bulk import/export via JSON and CSV, and multiple client extensions for Chrome, Raycast, and iOS. Sink is built for individuals and teams that need a self-contained URL shortening service with link monitoring, customizable redirects, and deployment directly to a Cloudflare account.
Key Decision Points:
Runs on Cloudflare only: Deployment is exclusively supported on Cloudflare Workers or Cloudflare Pages; there is no multi-cloud or on-premise option.
Uses Cloudflare's analytics stack: Link analytics rely on Cloudflare Workers Analytics Engine, which may affect users who need portable data or self-contained metrics storage.
AI slug generation is available: Slugs and OpenGraph metadata can be generated from page content using AI assistance, but README does not specify which AI provider or model.
Extensible through clients and API: Users can interact through a REST API or install dedicated extensions (Chrome, Raycast, Apple Shortcuts, iOS app), but there is no native MCP Server.
Link management is primarily dashboard-based: Configuration, analytics, and link controls are exposed through a multi-language web UI; programmatic management relies on the API.
Core Features:
URL shortening: Compress URLs to minimal length with support for custom slugs, UTM parameters, and case sensitivity.
Analytics dashboard: View link statistics through a web UI that includes a live 3D globe and real-time event logs.
Link controls: Set expiration times, password protection, and warning pages for unsafe links.
Smart routing: Redirect visitors based on device type or country.
QR code generation: Generate QR codes for any shortened link.
AI-assisted metadata: Use AI to generate slugs and OpenGraph social preview content from target page content.
Bulk import/export: Migrate links in bulk via JSON and export analytics data as CSV.
Use Cases:
Developers deploying a self-contained URL shortener on Cloudflare without managing infrastructure.
Site operators who need short links with per-link analytics and customizable redirect rules.
Users creating short links with device-based or country-based routing for campaign or content targeting.
Teams that want to programmatically shorten URLs through a documented API and monitor performance through a dashboard.
Open-Source Alternative Value:
Sink provides an open-source, serverless alternative to managed link-shortening services by running entirely on Cloudflare Workers and Cloudflare Pages. Users can deploy their own instance, control link behavior through a web dashboard and API, and access analytics without relying on a third-party link shortener. The project supports custom domains, bulk data migration, and multiple client integrations, giving operators full access to their link data and routing logic without being limited by external service constraints.
