Useless Tools

Useless Tools is a deliberately impractical web app collection.
The first tool is a URL Lengthener that turns normal links into absurdly long links.

Hosting Model

This repository is deployed directly with GitHub Pages at:

• https://uselesstools.jonfinger.com

The main site (jonfinger.com) should link to this app instead of mirroring/copying app files.

MVP Scope

Included in v1:

• Retro selector interface with 3 tool lanes
• 1 working tool: URL Lengthener
• 2 placeholders: Useless Facts, Obtuse Helper
• Redirect flow through /r/?v=1&p=<payload>&n=<noise>
• Static deployment via GitHub Pages

Not included in v1:

• Backend services
• Persistent storage
• Analytics or auth

Tech Stack

• Vanilla HTML
• Vanilla CSS
• Vanilla JavaScript

No bundler, framework, or runtime dependency is required.

Repository Layout

• web/index.html: main app UI
• web/styles.css: app styling and retro theme treatment
• web/theme-tokens.css: shared visual tokens for app styling
• web/app.js: selector interaction, URL generator, validation, copy/open actions
• web/r/index.html: redirect endpoint logic and error messaging
• web/CNAME: custom domain for GitHub Pages
• .github/workflows/deploy-pages.yml: deploys web/ to GitHub Pages on push to main
• AGENTS.md: working agreement for contributors and coding agents

Local Development

From this repo root:

cd /Users/jaef/things/useless-tools/web
python3 -m http.server 8787

Then open:

• http://localhost:8787/
• Redirect test path: http://localhost:8787/r/

GitHub Pages Setup

1. In GitHub repo settings, set Pages source to GitHub Actions.
2. Ensure DNS for uselesstools.jonfinger.com points to GitHub Pages.
3. Push to main; workflow deploys web/ automatically.

The workflow file is:

• .github/workflows/deploy-pages.yml

The domain file is:

• web/CNAME (uselesstools.jonfinger.com)

DNS Notes (Custom Subdomain)

Add a CNAME DNS record:

• Name: uselesstools
• Value: jonfinger.github.io

After DNS propagates, GitHub Pages will attach the custom domain from web/CNAME.

Roadmap

Potential next steps:

• Add second and third real tools behind selector rows
• Add optional backend mode (Python FastAPI or Go) for server-driven tools
• Add telemetry and basic health checks
• Add end-to-end browser tests