ShortURL – Lightweight Django Short Link Platform with QR and Click Stats

Create branded short links and QR codes quickly, track clicks, and manage links from a minimal UI. Built with Django and server-rendered templates for a small operational footprint.

Fast link creation QR per link Click stats CSV import/export Optional GeoIP Session UI + JSON API

Overview

ShortURL is a lightweight, production-ready short link service for teams, marketers, and power users. Create a short code in one step, generate a QR code, and review click statistics with optional GeoIP insights. The default database is SQLite for quick setup; you can switch to a production database if needed.

Highlights

Customize, manage, and optimize your short URLs.
Edit targets, manage short codes, and track performance from a clean dashboard. Detailed access logs and activity tracking.
Inspect redirect events with timestamps, IPs, countries, and devices. Track and analyze short URL visits.
Review access logs, quick stats, and traffic trends with minimal overhead. QR support integrated into the short link workflow.
Generate QR codes for your short links when needed, suitable for print, slides, and events.

Marketing images are for presentation. Real UI screenshots are included below.

Key Features

• One-step creation: paste a destination URL, optionally set a custom code and note, then create.
• Manage and edit: rename codes, change targets, add notes, soft-delete and restore links.
• Click logging and quick stats: daily counts, device detection, and optional GeoIP stats.
• Inline tools: copy link and QR actions available per link.
• Root-level short links: links appear at your domain as /CODE (trailing slash optional).
• Bulk import and export: CSV import for migration and export for reporting.
• Session UI and JSON API: UI for non-technical users and API endpoints for automation.

QR Codes

Generate a QR code for any short link instantly from the UI. The QR rendering endpoint is configurable, so you can replace it with your own service if needed.

Friendly Error Page

Missing, expired, or soft-deleted codes return a branded error page instead of a raw 404. The template is easy to customize for your brand or promotions.

Real UI Screenshots

Real screenshots from the actual product UI

Tech Specs

• Backend: Django (server-rendered templates)
• Database: SQLite by default (configurable for production such as MySQL)
• API: Django REST Framework (JSON endpoints)
• Optional: JWT module, GeoIP stats (requires MaxMind GeoLite2 database)

Installation (Quick Start)

1. Install dependencies: pip install -r requirements.txt
2. Run migrations: python manage.py migrate
3. Start server: python manage.py runserver
4. Open: http://127.0.0.1:8000/

Production notes: set DEBUG=False , configure ALLOWED_HOSTS and CSRF_TRUSTED_ORIGINS , and run python manage.py collectstatic . HTTPS is recommended.

Configuration

• SHORTURL_BASE_URL – canonical base URL used for generated links and QR.
• ALLOW_REGISTER – disable registration UI and API if needed.
• DEFAULT_CODE_LENGTH – default length for auto-generated short codes.
• GEOIP_DB_PATH – path to GeoLite2-City.mmdb (optional).