Shortloop

Inspiration

We wanted to build a URL shortener… but with chaos.
You click the link, it says “redirecting in 3 seconds”… then doesn’t.
Welcome to the Shortloop. It’s like Groundhog Day for links.

What it does

Shortens your URL like a champ.
But when someone opens it?
They’re thrown into a never-ending redirect loop with random wait times and weird messages like:

• "Warming up the internet..."
• "Just a second... or seven..."
• "Still redirecting, probably."

It’s the most entertaining way to go nowhere.

How we built it

• NextJs with typescript
  
• A random timer generator
  

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• The shortener actually works. (Seriously.)
  
• We wasted more time than we saved — mission accomplished
  
• Grandma said, “It’s confusing, but pretty.”

What we learned

• People will wait for anything if the UI is shiny enough
  
• Humor > Functionality (sometimes)
  
• Users love being trolled… gently

What’s next for Shortloop

• Add a "Give up" button that also doesn’t work
  
• Let users write their own fake redirect messages
  
• Mobile support… so you can loop on the go
  
• Possibly a 3D redirect experience in the metaverse
  

Built With

• javascript
• nextjs
• react
• typescript