Meet HLab.TinyURL.Client - a robust, feature-complete .NET 8 client library that brings the full power of TinyURL's API to .NET developers. Available as a NuGet package and open-sourced on GitHub, this library provides everything you need to integrate URL shortening capabilities into your .NET applications.

🎉 Public Release Announcement

October 17, 2025 - I'm excited to announce that I've officially published this project as a completely open-source and free library for the entire .NET community!

This project represents my commitment to contributing valuable tools to the developer ecosystem. Here's what this means for you:

  • ✅ Forever Free: This library will always remain free to use, modify, and distribute
  • ✅ Perpetually Open Source: The source code will stay publicly available on GitHub
  • ✅ No Licensing Restrictions: Use it in personal projects, commercial applications, or anywhere you need it
  • ✅ Community-Driven: Contributions, suggestions, and improvements from the community are not just welcome - they're encouraged!
  • ✅ Long-term Support: I'm committed to maintaining and improving this library for the long haul

My Philosophy: Quality developer tools should be accessible to everyone. Whether you're a student learning .NET, a startup building your first product, or an enterprise scaling your infrastructure - this library is here to serve your URL shortening needs without any barriers.

🔗 GitHub Repository: https://github.com/NickolaiA/TinyURL-Client
📦 NuGet Package: HLab.TinyURL.Client
🚀 Quick Install: dotnet add package HLab.TinyURL.Client

Why This Library Matters: The TinyURL API Evolution

Important Context: TinyURL recently announced the retirement of their 23-year-old legacy API endpoint that many developers have been using. According to their official blog post, the old endpoint handled over 1 billion requests per month but had significant limitations:

Problems with the Legacy API:

  • ❌ Security vulnerabilities - susceptible to abuse by malicious users
  • ❌ No authentication - anyone could create links without accountability
  • ❌ Limited features - basic URL shortening only
  • ❌ Interstitial pages - new links now show warning pages before redirecting
  • ❌ Deprecated status - TinyURL will fully retire this endpoint

Benefits of the New Authenticated API:

  • ✅ Enhanced security with IP blocking and domain restrictions
  • ✅ No interstitial pages for authenticated API users
  • ✅ Rich features including analytics, custom domains, bulk operations
  • ✅ OpenAPI standard for seamless integration
  • ✅ Future-proof - actively maintained and improved

HLab.TinyURL.Client exclusively uses the modern, authenticated TinyURL API, ensuring your applications are built on the secure, feature-rich platform that TinyURL recommends for all new development.

Key Features

HLab.TinyURL.Client stands out in the .NET ecosystem with its comprehensive feature set:

  • ✅ Modern API Integration: Uses TinyURL's latest authenticated API (not the deprecated endpoint)
  • ✅ Dual Client Architecture: Choose between TinyURLClient (full-featured) and TinyUrlSimpleClient (lightweight)
  • ✅ Modern .NET 8+ Support: Built with latest async/await patterns and dependency injection in mind
  • ✅ Flexible Authentication: Support for both Bearer Token and API Key authentication methods
  • ✅ Enterprise Ready: Advanced analytics, bulk operations, and comprehensive error handling
  • ✅ Developer Friendly: Extensive documentation, examples, and intuitive API design
  • ✅ Production Tested: Robust error handling and validation for real-world applications

⚠️ Important Subscription Notice

Before getting started, there's a crucial point all developers must understand:

Many TinyURL API features are subscription-dependent. If you're using a free or basic TinyURL account, the following properties/features MUST be left empty or null to avoid API errors:

  • ❌ Custom Aliases (Alias property)
  • ❌ Tags (Tags property)
  • ❌ Advanced Analytics
  • ❌ Bulk Operations
  • ❌ Custom Domains

For free accounts, stick to basic usage:

// ✅ Safe for all subscription levels
var request = new CreateTinyURLRequest 
{ 
    Url = "https://example.com"  // Only set the URL property
    // Do NOT set Alias, Tags, or other premium features for free accounts
};

Always verify your TinyURL subscription level before implementing advanced features!

Quick Start Guide

Installation

Getting started with HLab.TinyURL.Client is straightforward:

# Install via NuGet Package Manager
dotnet add package HLab.TinyURL.Client

# Or via Package Manager Console in Visual Studio
Install-Package HLab.TinyURL.Client

Basic Usage

For simple URL shortening without authentication:

using HLab.TinyURL.Client;

// Simple client for basic needs
var client = new TinyUrlSimpleClient();
var shortUrl = await client.CreateShortUrlAsync("https://www.example.com");
Console.WriteLine($"Shortened URL: {shortUrl}");

Advanced Usage with Authentication

For production applications with full API access:

using HLab.TinyURL.Client;

// Configure with Bearer Token (recommended for production)
var httpClient = new HttpClient();
httpClient.DefaultRequestHeaders.Authorization = 
    new AuthenticationHeaderValue("Bearer", "your-bearer-token");

var client = new TinyURLClient(httpClient);

// Create shortened URL (basic - works with all subscription levels)
var result = await client.CreateTinyUrlAsync(new CreateTinyURLRequest 
{ 
    Url = "https://www.example.com"
    // Note: Avoid setting Alias/Tags for free accounts
});

Console.WriteLine($"Shortened URL: {result.Data.Tiny_url}");

Understanding the Two Client Types

HLab.TinyURL.Client provides two distinct client implementations to serve different use cases and complexity requirements:

🚀 TinyURLClient (Recommended for Most Projects)

What it is: A comprehensive client that provides full access to TinyURL's modern authenticated API with all enterprise features.

Best for:

  • ✅ Production applications requiring analytics
  • ✅ Enterprise scenarios with bulk operations
  • ✅ Applications needing custom domains and advanced features
  • ✅ Long-term projects that may grow in complexity
  • ✅ Any project where you want future-proof API access

⚡ TinyUrlSimpleClient (Lightweight Alternative)

What it is: A minimal, lightweight client for basic URL shortening without authentication complexity.

Best for:

  • ✅ Quick prototypes and simple scripts
  • ✅ Applications that only need basic URL shortening
  • ✅ Legacy projects with minimal requirements
  • ✅ Learning and educational purposes
  • ✅ Situations where you want minimal dependencies

🤔 Which One Should You Choose?

Feature TinyURLClient TinyUrlSimpleClient
Authentication Required (Bearer/API Key) Optional/None
Analytics & Tracking ✅ Full analytics ❌ None
Custom Aliases ✅ Yes (subscription dependent) ⚠️ Limited
Bulk Operations ✅ Yes ❌ No
Future-Proof ✅ Complete API access ⚠️ Limited growth path
Setup Complexity Medium (needs auth) Low (plug & play)

💡 Our Recommendation

Start with TinyURLClient even for simple projects because:

  • You get access to all features as your project grows
  • Authentication setup is straightforward with examples provided
  • Better error handling and validation from day one
  • No need to migrate clients later when you need advanced features
  • Future-proof choice that scales with your application needs

Get Started Today

Ready to integrate TinyURL into your .NET application? Here's your quick-start checklist:

1. Install the NuGet Package

dotnet add package HLab.TinyURL.Client

2. Explore the GitHub Repository

Visit github.com/NickolaiA/TinyURL-Client to:

  • 📖 Read the comprehensive README documentation
  • 🎯 Run the working console application example
  • 🔍 Browse the source code and architecture
  • 🐛 Report issues or request features
  • 🤝 Contribute improvements

3. Start Simple

using HLab.TinyURL.Client;

var client = new TinyUrlSimpleClient();
var shortUrl = await client.CreateShortUrlAsync("https://your-long-url.com");
Console.WriteLine($"Shortened: {shortUrl}");

4. Check Your Subscription

Verify your TinyURL subscription level before using advanced features like custom aliases, tags, and analytics.

5. Scale to Production

Implement the full TinyURLClient with proper authentication, error handling, and HttpClientFactory integration for production applications.

Resources

Have questions or suggestions for improving HLab.TinyURL.Client? Open an issue on GitHub or contribute to make it even better for the .NET community!

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