DEV Community: Nurman Tri Gumelar

Free Custom Domain for Your Student Portfolio & Side Projects (GitHub Pages, Netlify & Render)

Nurman Tri Gumelar — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:21:34 +0000

When building a developer portfolio, capstone project, or personal blog, nothing hurts first impressions quite like a long, clunky URL like user123.github.io/my-portfolio or project-123abc45.onrender.com.

Buying a .com or .dev domain usually costs $12 to $20/year per project. If you are a student, recent bootcamp grad, or indie developer juggling 3–5 side projects, those domain fees add up fast.

Here is how you can claim a 100% free, fast, and permanent custom subdomain (like yourname.devs.li) with instant global Anycast DNS propagation.

⚡ The Solution: DEVS.LI

DEVS.LI is a free developer infrastructure platform that provides custom subdomains for open-source creators, students, and hobby projects.

Key Benefits:

Zero Cost Forever: No credit card required, no renewal surprises.
Instant Global Anycast DNS: Backed by DigitalOcean Anycast nameservers (sub-second propagation).
Supports All DNS Records: CNAME, A (IPv4), AAAA (IPv6), and TXT (for verification).
Works with Any Host: GitHub Pages, Vercel, Netlify, Render, Railway, Cloudflare Pages, or self-hosted Raspberry Pi/VPS.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Setup Guide

1. For GitHub Pages

Go to DEVS.LI and create a free account.
Click Claim Subdomain, enter your preferred name (e.g., alex-dev), choose CNAME, and enter yourusername.github.io as the target.
Open your repository on GitHub → Settings → Pages → Custom domain.
Enter alex-dev.devs.li and click Save.
Once DNS resolves, check Enforce HTTPS. Done!

📖 Full guide: DEVS.LI for GitHub Pages

2. For Netlify Sites

Claim your subdomain on DEVS.LI with a CNAME pointing to your Netlify site URL (e.g., my-portfolio.netlify.app).
In your Netlify Site dashboard, go to Site configuration → Domain management → Custom domains.
Add yourname.devs.li. Netlify will detect the CNAME and provision a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate automatically.

📖 Full guide: DEVS.LI for Netlify

3. For Render.com Web Services & Backends

In your Render Web Service or Static Site, navigate to Settings → Custom Domains.
Click Add Custom Domain and enter yourname.devs.li.
In DEVS.LI, add a CNAME record pointing to the onrender.com routing target provided by Render.
Render will verify DNS and issue a free TLS certificate in seconds.

📖 Full guide: DEVS.LI for Render

🔍 Free Developer Tool: Instant DNS Lookup

Need to check if your DNS records have propagated globally? You can use the free online tool at:
👉 DEVS.LI DNS Lookup Tool

It checks A, CNAME, TXT, and MX records in real-time with latency benchmarks.

🚀 Get Started

Claim your custom developer subdomain today at https://devs.li.

Have questions or need help pointing your records? Drop a comment below!

How to Connect a Free Custom Subdomain to GitHub Pages, Vercel, or VPS in 60 Seconds

Nurman Tri Gumelar — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 02:04:22 +0000

When building side projects, portfolios, or APIs, default deployment domains like username.github.io/project or my-app.vercel.app often feel unpolished. But buying and managing a brand-new $12+/year top-level domain for every prototype or hobby build quickly adds up.

In this guide, we'll walk through how you can point a clean, free developer subdomain (e.g. yourapp.devs.li) to GitHub Pages, Vercel, or your VPS / Homelab in under 60 seconds with instant DNS propagation.

Why Use a Custom Subdomain?

Professional Identity: portfolio.devs.li looks significantly cleaner on resumes and LinkedIn than long platform URLs.
Multi-Project Staging: Easily create subdomains for staging, API endpoints (api-test.devs.li), and microservices.
Zero Cost Friction: Perfect for open source projects, hackathons, and student portfolios without recurrent domain renewal fees.

Option 1: Connecting to GitHub Pages

GitHub Pages allows you to assign custom domains for free directly in your repository settings.

Step 1: Claim your free subdomain on DEVS.LI

Head over to devs.li and enter your desired subdomain (e.g., myportfolio).
Select CNAME as the record type.
In the Target field, enter your GitHub Pages default domain:

   <your-github-username>.github.io

Click Create Subdomain. DNS records are provisioned instantly via Cloud DNS APIs.

Step 2: Configure your GitHub Repository

In your GitHub repository, navigate to Settings > Pages.
Under Custom domain, enter your new subdomain: myportfolio.devs.li.
Click Save.
Check Enforce HTTPS once DNS check passes (GitHub automatically provisions a free Let's Encrypt TLS certificate).

Option 2: Connecting to Vercel Deployments

If your frontend is built with Next.js, React, Astro, or SvelteKit on Vercel:

In your Vercel project dashboard, go to Settings > Domains.
Add your subdomain: myapp.devs.li.
Claim the subdomain on devs.li with a CNAME record pointing to:

   cname.vercel-dns.com

Within seconds, Vercel will verify the record and issue an SSL certificate automatically.

Option 3: Connecting to Linux VPS, Cloudflare Pages, or Homelabs

For full-stack projects running on DigitalOcean, Hetzner, AWS, or local homelabs:

For VPS (A Record): Select A record type and enter your server public IP (e.g., 123.45.67.89).
For IPv6 (AAAA Record): Point directly to your server's IPv6 address.
For Cloudflare Pages: Create a CNAME pointing to <project>.pages.dev.

What is DEVS.LI?

DEVS.LI is a lightweight, community-friendly platform created by developers for developers. It offers:

⚡ Instant DNS Sync: Cloud-grade DNS propagation powered by DigitalOcean infrastructure.
🔒 SSL/TLS Ready: Works seamlessly with Let's Encrypt, Cloudflare, Vercel, and GitHub SSL certificates.
🎯 A, AAAA, CNAME, TXT Records: Full control over your DNS routing.
🛡️ Zero Tracking, 100% Free: No credit cards, no auto-renew traps, and no bloated ads.

Try claiming your developer subdomain at https://devs.li and share your live projects with the community!

Feel free to leave a comment below if you run into any DNS routing issues with your deployment setup!

Introducing DEVS.LI: Free, Fast & Modern Subdomains for Developers

Nurman Tri Gumelar — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 01:23:14 +0000

As developers, we love shipping side projects, open-source tools, portfolios, and hackathon prototypes. But every time we build something cool, we face a recurring friction point:

Buying a new custom top-level domain (5 – 0/year) for every small experiment quickly adds up.
Using default provider subdomains ( or ) looks cluttered on resumes and portfolio showcases.
Many older free subdomain providers feature outdated 2005-era dashboards, unreliable nameservers, or spam-filled domain reputations.

To solve this, we built DEVS.LI — a free, blazing-fast, and modern subdomain provider designed specifically for developers.

⚡ What is DEVS.LI?

DEVS.LI provides free, developer-grade subdomains backed by high-availability Anycast DNS infrastructure.

Whether you're deploying a static React app on GitHub Pages, a full-stack Next.js project on Vercel, or a backend service on your personal Linux VPS, you can claim and point your subdomain in under 30 seconds.

🚀 Key Features

Complete DNS Control: Manage A (IPv4), AAAA (IPv6), CNAME, TXT (Verification), and URL Redirect records directly from a clean dark-mode dashboard.
Instant Anycast Propagation: Powered by distributed global nameservers for sub-second DNS updates and low-latency queries worldwide.
HTTPS & Auto SSL Ready: Works out of the box with Let's Encrypt and edge SSL providers (GitHub Pages, Cloudflare, Vercel).
Developer-First Security: Automated anti-abuse filters that strictly block phishing brand impersonations, spam bots, and malicious redirects.
100% Free Forever: Up to 5 active subdomains per developer with zero hidden renewal fees.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Quickstart

1. Connect to GitHub Pages

Go to DEVS.LI and claim your subdomain (e.g. ).
Set the record type to CNAME and target to .
In your GitHub repository, go to Settings → Pages → Custom Domain, enter , and click Save.
Check Enforce HTTPS once DNS verification succeeds.

(Full guide: GitHub Pages Custom Domain Setup)

2. Connect to Vercel & Next.js

Claim your subdomain on DEVS.LI with CNAME pointing to .
In your Vercel Project Dashboard, navigate to Settings → Domains and add .
Vercel will automatically verify the CNAME and provision edge SSL certificates.

(Full guide: Vercel Custom Subdomain Setup)

3. Connect to Custom Linux VPS or Homelabs

Select record type A on DEVS.LI and enter your server IPv4 address (e.g. ).
Configure your Nginx or Caddy reverse proxy:
Run for free SSL.

(Full guide: Linux VPS & Homelab DNS Guide)

🌐 Supported Platforms

We have documented integration guides for top modern stacks:

💬 Try It Out & Share Your Feedback!

DEVS.LI is live and free for the global developer community:

👉 Claim your free subdomain today at https://devs.li

We'd love to hear your thoughts, feature requests, and what projects you're hosting with your domain in the comments below!

7 Best Linktree Alternatives in 2026: Why Sub-200ms Bio Links Matter for Creators & E-Commerce

Nurman Tri Gumelar — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:05:00 +0000

For modern content creators, affiliate marketers, and e-commerce brands on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, your Link in Bio is the primary conversion funnel that turns casual scrollers into paying customers.

However, standard bio link aggregators like Linktree have become bloated over time — often taking 2 to 4 seconds to load on mobile data networks, displaying intrusive watermark badges, and charging high recurring monthly subscription fees in USD.

In this guide, we break down the 7 Best Linktree Alternatives in 2026 categorized by speed, customization, and e-commerce conversion capabilities.

📊 Summary Comparison: Best Linktree Alternatives (2026)

Platform	Avg. Load Time (LCP)	Best For	Direct WhatsApp / Store Routing	Pricing
⚡ GAS.PM	⚡ < 200ms (Ultra-Fast)	Creators, Olshop, TikTok/Shopee Affiliates	✅ 1-Click WhatsApp Order	100% Free
Linktree	🐢 2.2s - 3.8s	General Social Links	❌ Paid Pro Plan Only	Free / $5-$24/mo
Bio.link	⏱️ 1.5s - 2.5s	Minimalist Personal Pages	⚠️ Basic Links	Free / $4.99/mo
Beacons.ai	🐢 2.8s - 4.5s	Digital Products & Creator Monetization	⚠️ Custom Forms	Free / $10/mo
Bento.me	⏱️ 1.2s - 1.8s	Designers & Visual Bento Grids	❌ Manual Links	Free
Carrd.co	⏱️ 1.0s - 1.5s	1-Page Custom Landing Pages	⚠️ Manual Configuration	$9 - $19/year
LinkStack	⚡ Self-Hosted	Developers & Privacy Enthusiasts	⚠️ Self-Managed Server	Free (Self-Host)

🔍 In-Depth Reviews of the Top Linktree Alternatives

1. ⚡ GAS.PM — The Fastest Link-in-Bio Platform (< 200ms)

Built on a reactive Laravel 11 & Livewire 3 server-rendered architecture, GAS.PM is engineered specifically for speed and high-converting e-commerce flows.

Why GAS.PM is the Top Linktree Alternative:

⚡ Instant Sub-200ms Page Loads: With a total profile bundle of less than 45KB, profiles load instantly without layout shifts, preventing bounce rates from impatient mobile users.
📱 Real-Time Interactive Phone Simulator: Edit colors, banners, and links with live instantaneous visual feedback.
💬 1-Click WhatsApp Order Generator: Pre-formats buyer order inquiries with item names, SKU, and quantities straight into WhatsApp chat.
🛍️ Affiliate Product Grids: Clean showcase widgets optimized for TikTok Shop, Shopee, and Tokopedia affiliate links.
🔗 Short Clean Usernames: Clean URL structure like gas.pm/yourname.

👉 Try it for free: https://gas.pm

2. Bio.link

Bio.link provides a clean, distraction-free aesthetic with good typography. It is faster than Linktree, though advanced analytics and custom CSS are locked behind their paid tier.

3. Beacons.ai

Beacons is packed with creator features such as selling digital downloads, accepting tips, and embedding email capture forms. However, the heavy client-side JavaScript payload can slow down performance on mobile 4G networks.

4. Bento.me

Bento offers a modular "bento box" visual grid that has gained immense popularity among UI/UX designers and indie developers looking to showcase their portfolio artifacts.

5. Carrd.co

While Carrd is a standalone one-page site builder, many creators use it as a Linktree replacement due to its exceptional drag-and-drop flexibility and low annual cost ($19/year).

🎯 Which One Should You Choose?

If you want the fastest possible loading speed, WhatsApp order automation, and zero monthly subscription costs, GAS.PM (https://gas.pm) is the clear winner for 2026.
If you need a visual design portfolio, check out Bento.me.
If you want a full custom micro-website, Carrd.co remains a versatile option.

Have you tried switching away from Linktree? What features matter most to you? Let us know in the comments!

Why Slow Linktrees Kill E-Commerce Conversions (And How We Built a 200ms Alternative with Laravel 11)

Nurman Tri Gumelar — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 04:26:50 +0000

When managing social media campaigns for e-commerce, creators, or affiliate stores in Southeast Asia, every millisecond counts. Yet, one of the biggest silent conversion killers today is the slow, bloated Link-in-Bio.

In this article, I want to share the architectural decisions behind GAS.PM — an ultra-lightweight link-in-bio platform built with Laravel 11 and Livewire 3 that loads in under 200 milliseconds.

📉 The Hidden Cost of Heavy Biolink Platforms

Most mainstream link-in-bio services (Linktree, Beacons, Bio.link) suffer from heavy client-side JavaScript bundles, tracking scripts, and external ad banners.

What Actually Happens When a Mobile User Clicks Your Bio Link:

DNS Resolution & CDN Handshake: ~300ms
Heavy JS Bundle Download: 1.5MB - 3.5MB of React/Next.js/Vue bundles
Execution & Layout Shift (CLS): 1.2s - 2.5s
Total Time to Interactive (TTI): 3.0s - 4.5s on standard 4G mobile connections.

According to Google's mobile commerce research, every 1-second delay in page load drops conversion rates by up to 20%. If you are running paid TikTok Ads or Instagram Reels promotions, a 3-second delay means you are losing nearly 40% of potential buyers before they even see your product catalog!

⚡ The Solution: Server-Driven Reactive Architecture with Laravel 11 & Livewire 3

Instead of shipping heavy client-side SPA frameworks to mobile browsers, we built GAS.PM with a modern Server-Side Rendered (SSR) + Livewire 3 reactive approach.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    GAS.PM ARCHITECTURE                      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Client Mobile Browser (< 15KB Critical HTML/CSS)           │
│  ▲                                                          │
│  │ (Sub-200ms Response via Nginx + HTTP/2 + Brotli)         │
│  ▼                                                          │
│  Laravel 11 Micro-Kernel + Livewire 3 Dynamic Components    │
│  ▲                                                          │
│  │ (MariaDB In-Memory Caching + Redis Session Store)        │
│  ▼                                                          │
│  Global Edge CDN + Instant WhatsApp Order Routing Engine    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Key Performance Benefits:

Critical CSS & Minimal Asset Payload: Profile pages weigh less than 45KB total, allowing instant rendering on 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi networks.
Interactive Realtime Phone Simulator: Livewire 3 morphdom diffing allows users to customize colors, links, and banners with instantaneous visual feedback without page reloads.
1-Click Direct WhatsApp Order Generator: Automatically formats order messages (item title, price, SKU, buyer notes) directly into WhatsApp chat.
Clean, Privacy-Respecting Analytics: Realtime click-through-rate (CTR) and visitor geographic telemetry without invasive third-party tracking scripts.

🛠️ Try GAS.PM for Free

We opened GAS.PM for all creators, affiliate marketers, online shops, and digital agencies:

🌐 Platform Website: https://gas.pm
⚡ Features & Speed Benchmark: https://gas.pm/features
🆓 Claim Your Free Username: https://gas.pm/register

If you have feedback, feature requests, or want to discuss the technical stack, feel free to drop a comment below or connect with me at nurman@gas.pm!

Building an Ultra-Fast Link-in-Bio Platform with Laravel 11, Livewire 3 & Real-Time Phone Preview

Nurman Tri Gumelar — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:51:53 +0000

Building an Ultra-Fast Link-in-Bio Platform with Laravel 11, Livewire 3 & Real-Time Phone Preview

Most link-in-bio tools on the web today share the same common frustrations: sluggish page load times, full-page reloads when editing links, and long, clunky URLs.

I wanted to build a modern, minimalist, and ultra-fast link-in-bio platform that solves these problems with a clean 6-character domain: GAS.PM.

In this article, I want to break down the architectural choices, tech stack, and techniques used to build GAS.PM from scratch.

⚡ The Tech Stack

Backend: Laravel 11 (PHP 8.3)
Frontend / Interactivity: Livewire 3 + Alpine.js
Styling: Tailwind CSS (Modern Glassmorphism & Custom Themes)
Database: MySQL
Production Server: Nginx + PHP-FPM on Linux

🎯 1. Real-Time Split-Screen Live Preview with Livewire 3

The core UX challenge of a bio link builder is giving creators immediate visual feedback. Instead of saving, reloading, and opening a new tab, GAS.PM utilizes a split-screen dashboard:

Left Side: The configuration panel (adding links, reordering, tweaking avatars, backdrop filters, and button styles).
Right Side: An interactive simulated smartphone frame rendering the live public profile.

With Livewire 3, updates happen seamlessly:

When a user changes a color picker or adjusts the glassmorphism blur slider, Livewire dynamically morphs only the modified DOM nodes inside the phone frame without full-page reloads.
Drag-and-drop link reordering updates the database order instantly in the background.

🎨 2. Deep Aesthetic Customization (Glassmorphism & Frosted Glass)

Creators care deeply about their aesthetic identity. Rather than offering just 3 static templates, GAS.PM gives users granular control over:

Backdrop Filters: Frosted glass overlay opacity and dynamic values.
Button Shapes: Rounded, sharp, or minimalist border styles.
Typography & Category Headers: Visually grouping multiple links into distinct sections with clean typography.
Live Search Bar: Visitors can search through complex portfolios or link trees in real-time.

📈 3. Silent Edge Analytics & Instant QR Code Generator

A link in bio isn't complete without insights and sharing tools:

Edge Analytics: Background logging of and mapped with device and location insights.
Canvas QR Code Generator: Users can generate and download print-ready high-resolution QR codes directly from the dashboard for physical packaging, business cards, or event banners.

🚀 Check It Out Live

The platform is completely free to use:

Platform: https://gas.pm
Live Demo Bio: https://gas.pm/nurmantg

I'd love to hear feedback from the developer and creator community on features you'd love to see next!