Easy-to-remember names! Answered

I could come down for a week right now if you wanted!

School first! ;D We'll talk.

Well, I think it could kinda-sorta-maybe-stretchit be almost school... _{I'd learn better things at least...}

Fine... :P

The featured setting is in the database. Your system is fine.

What languages do you have on your server? I know this is done in Java, of which I have limited knowledge of making web sites from. I did this in Python, but I could redo it in something else, like PHP, if need be.

. What is he doing that he would he need permission for? . As far as I can tell, he is using his own server. Thruhere.net appears to be a dynamic DNS service, so instructables.thruhere.net probably points to his IP. . All he is doing is redirecting. His server takes the "legible" URL, looks up the "real" URL, and then sends you on your way (guessing, but would make a small bet I'm right). Check out your address bar when you use it - you still end up at Instrucable's site with that goofy URL. . Using "instructables" in his domain name may be an intellectual property problem, but, even if the Instructables ppl don't like it, I can't imagine them doing much more than sending him a note saying "please stop," which he appears to be eager to do already. . As far as I can tell, the worst thing he can do is log who's IP is looking at which pages. If I use his service, I give him permission to log my access and use the info any way he sees fit (as if he needs it).

But once I know everyone's IP, I CAN RULE THE WORLD!!!! Or something like that... And yeah, you're exactly right. All it does is look up the DB the name you set, and redirects you to the external one. I'm not doing any extra logging (right now, at least) than what is the default. I know Apache keeps some logs, and I think Django does too...

. If you don't mind sharing the source code, I'd be curious as to exactly how you did it. I've thought about doing something similar, only with multi sites and without public access. I have a file server that isn't working very hard and would make a great "URL translator." . PS: DynDNS rules (finally figured out they are behind thruhere). Been using them since it was "donation please." I made a small donation (5 or 10$US), and when they went "commercial," they grandfathered me with all but the top-tier services.

from django.db import modelsclass Link(models.Model):    external = models.CharField(maxlength=40)    name = models.CharField(maxlength=30)    class Admin:        pass    def __str__(self):        return self.name + " -- " + self.external

from django.http import HttpResponsePermanentRedirect, HttpResponsefrom models import *def redirect(request, name):    id = Link.objects.filter(name=name)[0].external    return HttpResponsePermanentRedirect("https://www.instructables.com/id/"+id+"/?ALLSTEPS")    def addRedir(request, name, id):    check = Link.objects.filter(name=name).count()    if check == 0:        l = Link(name=name, external=id)        l.save()        return HttpResponse("Added!<br/> NOTE: Don&apost use this for anything important, I am not liable for my server being down or your unability to access the instructable.<br/>Do not abuse this system, or there will be consequences.<br/>This is a BETA product.")    else:        return HttpResponse("Sorry, that name is already taken!")

from django.conf.urls.defaults import *from forum.ibles.views import redirect, addRedirurlpatterns = patterns(&apos&apos,     (r&apos^id/(?P<name>[A-Za-z0-9-_]+)/$&apos, redirect),     (r&apos^id/add/name/(?P<name>[A-Za-z0-9-_]+)/id/(?P<id>[A-Za-z0-9-_]+)/$&apos, addRedir),#Other URL patterns go here)

That was my exact thought after posting that :P

Permissions... uhh....
(_{I know!})
Well, its always better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission..?

If any instructablonians come by, you guys don't mind, right?

You still have a bizzare ID string to deal with. Its smaller, but still random.

I will when I get time, maybe in a week or so ;-) This is very-betaish. I'm defiantly going to work on it, its just in an early stage. If anyone wants to donate, a domain of your choosing would be nice. (You can get 'em for $2 at yahoo!)

Why not just get yourself a .tk address for free?

2 reasons: .tk is forwarding. .tk's are add ridden. With the forwarding, the .tk banner will stay with you even once you go to instructables. The second is obvious... :P I find them a pain in general. I'll stick to this if you don't mind :P

I used to have that problem, until i installed ABP to block the banner (The frame still showed though) and blocked JS from it to stop the popup.

Only worked on a personal scale, mind.

Yeah... I don't like ABP. And yeah, not everyone has it.

Sorry, I was playing around to make it easy to "Moderate" on my end. Should be fine now.