Lstu
by Lstu
What Lstu is
Lstu is a free, open-source URL shortener whose name expands to “Let's Shorten That Url.” It turns submitted addresses into short links, optionally using custom text, and redirects visitors to the original URL. The documented API requires login to create links and can return HTML or JSON depending on a format parameter. It records visit counts and link details such as creation dates. Administrators can view all-link statistics sorted by visits in pages of 10, with admin authentication required for those endpoints. An export link appears on the statistics page. Lstu runs through its API, on the web, Linux, or a self-hosted installation. It is written in Perl with the Mojolicious framework and licensed under WTFPL. Installation guidance points to a wiki and Docker usage; Ansible and Terraform deployment options are also identified.
Who it suits
Lstu suits developers or administrators wanting a self-hosted, open-source short-link service with API access and statistics. The hosted lstu.fr instance reserves URL shortening for its owner because of abuse.
What it does well
- Free and WTFPL-licensed
- Supports API and JSON responses
- Optional custom short text
- Visit counts and link details
- Docker deployment information provided
What to know first
- Creating links through the API requires login
- Admin statistics require authentication
- Hosted lstu.fr restricts shortening
- Self-hosting requires deployment work
Verdict
Lstu offers a lightweight, flexible shortening service for teams comfortable with self-hosting or API administration. Its statistics and multiple deployment options add control, while the public hosted instance has a stated usage restriction.
Facts from Lstu's own pages
- Admin access
- Viewing or deleting all-link statistics through the documented endpoints requires admin authentication. · lstu.fr, 13 Oct 2026
- Admin statistics
- An admin can view statistics for all URLs, sorted by most visited, in pages of 10 records. · lstu.fr, 13 Oct 2026
- API
- The API supports URL shortening, optional custom short text, redirects, and JSON responses. · lstu.fr, 12 Oct 2026
- API access
- Yes · framagit.org, 21 Sept 2026
- API formats
- The API supports JSON responses when the optional format parameter is set to json; otherwise it returns HTML. · lstu.fr, 13 Oct 2026
- Authentication
- The API requires login for shortening URLs and statistics, and documents admin-password access to admin statistics. · lstu.fr, 12 Oct 2026
- Capacity
- The default configuration provides 8 361 453 672 available short URL combinations; the README says the configured length can be changed. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Database options
- The README mentions SQLite and says PostgreSQL or MySQL can be used instead. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Data export
- The statistics page displays an “Export your URLs” link. · lstu.fr, 12 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The repository includes Docker files and says an Ansible role and Terraform plan are available for deployment. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2014 · lstu.fr, 28 Sept 2026
- Hosted service restriction
- The lstu.fr site says URL shortening is reserved to the site owner because of abuse. · lstu.fr, 13 Oct 2026
- Implementation
- Lstu is written in Perl and uses the Mojolicious framework. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The project README directs users to its wiki for installation and provides Docker usage information. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- The hosted site identifies Lstu’s license as WTFPL. · lstu.fr, 13 Oct 2026
- Link statistics
- The API provides visit counts for shortened URLs and can return a link’s creation date and other details. · lstu.fr, 13 Oct 2026
- Login required
- Creating a shortened URL through the documented API requires being logged in. · lstu.fr, 13 Oct 2026
- Maintainer credit
- The official site credits Luc Didry and displays copyright years 2013–2026. · lstu.fr, 12 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The hosted site credits Luc Didry. · lstu.fr, 13 Oct 2026
- Product
- Lstu is a URL shortening service. · framagit.org, 13 Oct 2026
- Product name
- Lstu means “Let's Shorten That Url.” · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
- Project date
- The project page says Lstu was created on July 19, 2014. · framagit.org, 13 Oct 2026
- Public instance access
- The site says URL shortening is reserved to the site owner because of abuse. · lstu.fr, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Lstu describes itself as a lightweight URL shortener. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Where Lstu stands on Freedom251
- URL shorteners#151 of 156