Hacker News with Generative AI: URL Shorteners

Compiler Explorer and the promise of URLs that last forever (xania.org)
The history is this: back in the old days (2012), we used to store the entire Compiler Explorer state in the URL. That got unwieldy (who would have thought encoding an entire compiler state in a URL might get a bit long?), so we added support for Google’s link shortener goo.gl in March 2014. That meant short links were of the form goo.gl/abc123.

Web Development, URL Shorteners, Compiler Explorer, History

357 points by anarazel 30 days ago | 189 comments

A phishing attack involving g.co, Google's URL shortener (github.com)
g.co, Google's official URL shortcut (update: or Google Workspace's domain verification, see bottom), is compromised. People are actively having their Google accounts stolen.

Cybersecurity, Phishing, Google, URL Shorteners

372 points by zachlatta 155 days ago | 158 comments

Show HN: I made a URL expander because short links are too mainstream (urlshortenersaresoyesterdaytrythisamazingsuperlongurlexpander.site)
Welcome to the amazing world of URL expansion! Shorter is not always better! Make your URLs as long as your dreams!

Web Development, URL Shorteners, Humor

213 points by error404x 262 days ago | 95 comments

Show HN: 64.surf – share files using only the URL (64.surf)
Upload, encrypt, and share, all from the URL.

File Sharing, URL Shorteners, Privacy, Encryption

16 points by burcs 271 days ago | 5 comments

Google is turning off its URL shortener – breaking every link that ever used it (kernel.org)

Google, URL Shorteners, Breaking Changes, Web Development

7 points by edent 344 days ago | 3 comments

Google's goo․gl links will stop working in August 2025 (9to5google.com)