I’ve been recently working on a project with the domain short.moe creating a serverless URL shortening service.

Short.moe is a free URL shortener service that allows you to easily shorten long URLs into shorter, more manageable links. Built with NextJS 14, Clerk, Prisma, and PostgreSQL, hosted on serverless on Vercel, Short.moe is designed to be both easy to use and user-friendly.

Key Features

Easy URL Shortening

With Short.moe, you can shorten URLs without the need to create an account. When shortening a URL without an account, the slug/alias (the unique part of the shortened URL) will be randomly generated using the nanoid package.

Account-Based Customization

For users who create an account, Short.moe offers the ability to set custom slugs. This means you can create memorable, aliased links that are easy to share and recall. Clerk handles authentication, making the process of signing up and managing your account straightforward. On the technical side, this was very easy to do.

In Short

Short.moe aims to be an easy option for anyone looking to shorten URLs quickly and easily, whether with or without a personalized alias/slug. Thank you for reading this short post.

Introduction

I recently delved into the world of IPFS (InterPlanetary File System), a protocol designed to improve the way we store and share content on the internet. In this journey, I discovered how IPFS operates compared to centralized servers, its cryptography in blockchain technology, and its potential to provide a decentralized solution.

Understanding IPFS

How IPFS Works

IPFS operates on a decentralized network where files are not stored on a central server but are distributed across a peer-to-peer network. Each file is given a unique hash, and retrieving the file involves querying the network for nodes that have that specific hash. Files on IPFS have a hash that changes if the file has been tampered with, providing a mechanism to prevent and spot malicious data.

This diagram shows the decentralized nature of IPFS and how files are distributed across nodes in the network. Each node contains a unique hash, ensuring data integrity and preventing a single point of failure.

Comparison with Centralized Systems

Let’s compare IPFS with traditional centralized systems:

Centralized servers do use nodes to decrease a single point of failure, but IPFS takes it a step further by decentralizing the entire network.

IPFS in Cryptography and Blockchain Technology

IPFS integrates with blockchain technology, providing secure and transparent file storage. The cryptographic hashes used in IPFS ensure data integrity and authentication. Comparatively, HTTP 2.0 lacks this built-in security layer.

Comparing HTTP 2.0 and IPFS Links

Let’s break down conventional HTTP 2.0 links and an example link from IPFS:

HTTP 2.0 Link:

1

https://www.example.com/path/to/content

IPFS Link:

1

ipfs://QmXyZaBc123/example/content

Components breakdown:

• Protocol: HTTP vs IPFS
• Address: Domain in HTTP, Hash in IPFS
• Path: Traditional path in HTTP, Content hash in IPFS

IPFS and Censorship Resistance

In countries with strict censorship like China, IPFS offers a decentralized solution. Since the content is distributed across a peer-to-peer network, it becomes challenging for authorities to block access. Additionally, the cryptographic integrity checks make it harder to manipulate or inject malicious content.

Privacy and Decentralization

One of the significant advantages of IPFS is privacy. With your data distributed across the network, ISPs find it challenging to track your activities compared to centralized systems. This decentralization contributes to a more private and secure online experience.

Summary

IPFS is a protocol reshaping the internet. It’s a decentralized, peer-to-peer file system that ensures data integrity, resiliency, and resistance. By using cryptographic hashes and blockchain integration, IPFS provides a secure and transparent way to share and store and share content.

In the past 7 years, Discord has emerged as a popular platform for communication, particularly within gaming communities and social circles. However, beneath its user-friendly interface lies a complex web of privacy concerns that users should be aware of.

Discord’s Privacy Policy: A Critical Examination

Discord’s Privacy Policy (Discord Privacy Policy) outlines the platform’s practices regarding user data. While the document is comprehensive, the devil often lies in the details. People should pay attention to data collection, storage, and sharing policies to understand the extent of their digital footprint on the platform.

Government Requests and User Privacy

Discussions on Reddit (Reddit Post) have shed light on Discord’s stance when faced with government requests for user data. Users express concern towards the platform’s apparent lack of commitment to protecting user privacy in such situations. This raises questions about the balance between user rights and legal obligations.

Terms of Service: What Users Should Know

Terms of Service; Didn’t Read (TOS;DR) offers a summarization of Discord’s Terms of Service (TOS;DR - Discord). This website breaks down the legal jargon and highlights key points, making it easier for people to comprehend the implications of agreeing to Discord’s terms.

Third-Party Observations

In an era of digital transparency, independent observers and critics play a crucial role in scrutinizing online platforms. A critical article on Spyware (Spyware Article) provides a thought-provoking examination of Discord’s privacy-related issues.