Easy way to create random short URLs

[dimo414]

Named go-links are great, but sometimes you have a throwaway URL you just want a short pointer to, akin to bit.ly. I have a small helper function that I'm using to create these sort of links manually, but it'd be nice for golink to support this in the UI and auto-generate unique shortlinks.

What I have today:

go-link() {
  local short=${1:?short-name} url=$2
  if [[ -n "$url" ]]; then
    # create a new go-link
    if go-link "$short" &>/dev/null; then
      echo "go/${short} already exists: http://go/${short}+" >&2
      return 1
    fi
    curl -sS -L --fail --post302 -H Sec-Golink:1 -d "short=${short}" -d "long=${url}" go >/dev/null
  else
    # query for existing go-link
    curl -sS -L --fail "go/${short}+"
  fi && echo "http://go/${short}+"
}

shortn() {
  local url=${1:?url} hash
  until [[ -n "$hash" ]] && ! go-link "$hash" &>/dev/null; do
    hash=shortn-$(md5sum <<<"$RANDOM$url" | head -c 8)
  done
  go-link "$hash" "$url"
}