Simple, lightning-fast URL shortener with no bloat
License: MIT. Built with: Rust, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Makefile, Dockerfile. Source: https://github.com/SinTan1729/chhoto-url.
Most self-hosted apps including Chhoto URL install through Docker or Docker Compose. The typical workflow is: install Docker on your host, pull the official image (or clone the repository), supply a configuration file with database credentials and storage paths, then start the container. Many homelabbers run Chhoto URL alongside other self-hosted services behind a reverse proxy like Caddy, Traefik, or nginx-proxy-manager for HTTPS and routing. Check the official repository for the most current instructions.
Self-hosting gives you three things SaaS can’t: data ownership (the files live on disks you control), cost predictability (a one-time setup vs. recurring per-seat fees that grow with your household or team), and longevity (open-source means the app keeps working even if the maintainers move on, since you can pin a working version). The trade-off is that you take on the operational work of running a server, applying updates, and handling backups.
the alpine one is <10 MB (compressed), and it uses <15 MB of RAM under regular use. Super lightweight and snappy. (The docker image is only ~6MB and RAM uasge
Last verified: 2026-04-21