I didn’t originally plan to build a product.
It started as one of those small utilities you create for yourself because existing tools feel heavier than they need to be.
I wanted a simple way to shorten long URLs, generate QR codes, and create shareable documents without going through a complicated setup.
That eventually became nly.kr.
A Simple URL Shortener
There are plenty of URL shorteners available, but sometimes I only need a very simple workflow:
- Paste a long URL
- Generate a short link
- Copy and share it
The nly.kr URL Shortener keeps that basic process simple and does not require signup for basic URL shortening.
It also generates a QR code for the shortened link, which is useful when sharing links outside the browser.
I often use short links for:
- GitHub README files
- Documentation
- Messaging apps
- Presentations
- Long tracking URLs
- QR codes
Registered users can optionally access link management and click statistics.
Adding PDF and Document Tools
After working on the URL shortener, I started running into another small problem.
Sometimes I needed a quick way to create or share documents without sending files back and forth.
That led me to add web-based PDF and document tools to nly.kr.
The PDF service is available here:
Create and share PDF documents with nly.kr
Depending on the use case, documents can be created in the browser, downloaded as PDF files, or shared through generated links.
This has been useful for things like:
- Meeting notes
- Simple reports
- Quotations
- Resumes
- Documents that need to be shared through a link
It Gradually Became More Than One Tool
What started as a small URL shortener gradually expanded into a collection of lightweight web tools.
nly.kr now includes features such as:
- URL shortening
- QR code generation
- Link management
- Click statistics
- PDF and document tools
- Developer APIs
- Chrome extension support
I still try to keep the basic tools simple enough that you can open the page, use what you need, and move on.
Why I’m Sharing It
I built most of these features because I needed them myself.
Over time, I realized that other developers, side-project builders, and people who regularly share links or documents might find them useful too.
If you need a lightweight URL shortening tool, you can try the nly.kr URL Shortener.
For the other tools and services, the main site is available at nly.kr.
That’s pretty much how a tiny utility ended up becoming something I use much more often than I originally expected.
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