Custom go/ links

Custom go/ links that are setup through a simple python HTTPs server with configurations with Alfred!

Inspired by golinks and go-alfred

Setup

Generate a new certificate

Required to serve our https server, store in same directory as the repository

openssl req -new -x509 -keyout server.pem -out server.pem -days 365 -nodes

Setup mapping.json file

This is your database file with the following format:

{
    "shortlink": "https://example.com"
}

There is a mapping.json.template file in the repository that you can rename to mapping.json to get started

Setup Alfred workflow

Import the setup/go.alfredworkflow package into alfred, you will need to purchase the powerpack

Setup /etc/hosts file

To setup https://go/ to work for you you will need to add a loopback from your local IP address to the go domain, which can be done by adding the line below to your /etc/hosts file

127.0.0.1 go

Start server

Notes:

• The server binds to port 443 (https) and listens for requests, and thus needs to be started with sudo
• The & at the end is to start the server in the background
• The --goserver argument adds as an easy way to search for the process using ps -a | grep goserver for when you actually want to kill it (you will need to use sudo kill <pid> to actually kill the process)
• The automatic start workflow using launchd is documented at the bottom as an optional alternative to starting the server manually

sudo python3 main.py --goserver &

How to Use

Alfred

Create a new shortlink

If test is your short keyword, and https://example.com is your destination link then you can setup the mapping by going into alfred and typing new and then test which is your shortlink and then your domain https://example.com and then pressing enter, it will automatically navigate you to the URL below https://go/new?test=https://example.com, and the resulting webpage should confirm that the mapping has been added

Open a shortlink

To open a shortlink that you have created eg: test from above, all you have to do is open alfred type go and then test which is your shortlink and then pressing enter and the browser should open the destination link

Delete a shortlink

If test is your short keyword, you can delete the mapping by going into alfred and typing delete and then test which is your shortlink and then pressing enter, it will automatically navigate you to the URL below https://go/delete?test=delete and the resulting webpage should confirm that the mapping has been deleted

Browser

Create a new shortlink

If test is your short keyword, and https://example.com is your destination link then you can setup the mapping by navigating to https://go/new?test=https://example.com and the resulting webpage should confirm that the mapping has been added

Open a shortlink

If you are trying to open a shortlink that you have created eg: test from above, all you have to do is navigate to https://go/test and the browser will open the destination link

Useful Notes

1. There is a metrics logging file metrics.csv that logs the visit time of each shortlink with its corresponding destination domain (Refer metrics.csv.template for format example)
2. You can configure the port, the mapping file, the metrics file, the prefix to create a new domain, as well as the path of the certificate file all through the config.ini file
3. This service can also be setup as a launchd service using the setup/com.adityaarora.golinks.plist file as reference. Ensure you change the WorkingDirectory as well as the StandardOutPath and StandardErrorPath. After that simply store the file in /Library/LaunchDaemons and then run sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adityaarora.golinks.plist to load the service. The service should be started automatically, and if there are any issues you can inspect the log files you put in.