Building a Modern URL Shortner by Dwight Bedsaul

Dwight Bedsaul — Thu, 14 May 2026 12:16:37 +0000

I, Dwight Bedsaul believes there is something interesting about building tools people use every single day without even thinking about them. URL shorteners are on of those things. Most people click shortened links constantly on social media, live streams, forums, and messaging apps, but rarely think about what’s happening behind the scenes.

I recently worked on a project called url_shortner, a lightweight URL shortening system designed to turn long, messy links into compact and shareable URL’s. At first glance it sounds simple, but projects like this actually touch several important areas of modern web development including routing, databases, redirects, analytics, and security. One of the biggest parts of the project was handling redirects properly. A shortened link may only be a few characters long, but the backend still has to quickly locate the original destination and redirect the user without noticeable delay. That means thinking about database structures, indexing, request handling, and scalability. Even for a smaller project, performance matters because redirects should feel instant.

Security is another area that became important during developement, URL shorteners are used heavily online, but they can also be abused for phishing or spam if safeguards are not considered. Research URL shortening platforms has shown how malicious links can sometimes hide behind shortened URL’s, making moderation and filtering important considerations for modern systems.

Projects like this are valuable because they combine multiple layers of development into one practical application. A URL shortener may look small on the surface, but underneath it involves frontend interaction, backend routing, data storage, API logic, and infrastructure planning. That is one of the reasons URL shortener projects continue to be popular within the open source community and developer circles.

Working on projects like url_shortner has been part of my broader focus on building practical web applications and experimenting with scalable systems. I enjoy developing projects that solve real world problems while pushing me to learn more about application performance, architecture, and user experience. The Repo is publicly available on Github for anyone checking out the code, structure, or implementation details. Open source development has always been one of the best ways to improve as a developer because it allows projects to evolve, receive feedback, and inspire new ideas from other programmers.

As I continue building projects, I am focusing heavily on web applications, WordPress integrations, AI assisted systems, Livestream technology, recommendation engines, and social platform development. Every project adds another layer of experience and helps sharpen both technical and creative problem solving skills.

Github repository

https://github.com/eldorado101/url_shortener-

Building an AI Chat Plugin for WordPress Using Open router by Dwight Bedsaul

Dwight Bedsaul — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:35:53 +0000

AI tools are everywhere right now, but most websites still feel static. You visit a page, search around for information, maybe send a contact form, and that’s about it. I wanted to experiment with making WordPress OpenRouter AI plugin. The idea behind the project was simple. Create a chatbot style plugin for Worpress where users can ask questions naturally an receive AI generated responses directly on the website.

Instead of hardcoded responses or basic support bots, this plugin connects WordPress to AI models through Open router, giving access to multiple language models through one API connection. I’ve always liked experimenting with interactive features on website , especially social style platforms and community systems. AI felt like the next logical thing to explore. Most chatbots online still feel robotic or overly scripted. I wanted to build something that felt more open-ended where users could ask random questions naturally instead of clicking through preset options.

A user can type a question, the plugin sends the request through Open router, and the selected AI models responds back in real time. One of the biggest advantages of Open router is being able to experiment with different AI models without rebuilding the plugin everytime. Instead of locking the project into one provider Open router acts as a middle layer that gives access to multiple models through the same API structure. That means developers can test different models depending on speed, quality, or pricing without changing the entire plugin architecture. For development, that makes experimenting way easier.

One thing I did not want was a bloated plugin overloaded with unnecessary settings and complicated setup pages. The goal was simple. Install the plugin, add an API key, choose a model and begin chatting. Sometimes the best tools are the ones that stay out of the way and just work. I think AI integration inside WordPress is still in the early stages. Right now most people think of AI as someting separate from websites, but eventually I think it will become a normal part of user interaction online. Instead of static pages, websites will become more conversational. Users will ask questions directly instead of digging through menus or FAQs. Communities will use AI for engagement. Social platforms will use AI assisted moderation and recommendations. We are already seeing the shift happen. This project was partly about learning how those systems work and partly about building something genuinely fun to experiment with.

The project is still evolving, but that is part of why I enjoy development in the first place. There is always another feature idea, another improvement, or another experiment to try. AI inside WordPress is only going to grow from here, and projects like this are a fun way to explore where things are heading. If you want to check out the projects or follow along with development, the GitHub repo is here: https://github.com/eldorado101/Wordpress-OpenRouter-AI

Check out my other Links here:

https://www.youtube.com/@dwightbedsaul

https://www.crunchbase.com/person/dwight-bedsaul

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwight-bedsaul-3b7a92344/

Written by Dwight Bedsaul

Forem: Dwight Bedsaul

Building a Modern URL Shortner by Dwight Bedsaul

Building an AI Chat Plugin for WordPress Using Open router by Dwight Bedsaul