Remove bit.ly links from template

[iansu]

We need to remove the bit.ly links from the template because they point to the old README. We need to decide what to replace them with though. We could pick a new URL shortner but we could wind up in this situation again. Some allow you to change link destinations but who would own that account?

Follow up to: #5808.
Related: #5536

[bondz]

As discussed in the previous thread. I prefer firebase page.link dynamic links which would generate shortened links like https://cra.page.link/docs and allows us change the target destination as well. I am open to transferring it to a maintainer once we agree on what to do.

[iansu]

I somehow missed that suggestion in the previous thread. Seems like an okay option. Depending on anything Google related long-term worries me a bit though.

What would be really great is if Docusaurus supported shortlinks/aliases and we could use those instead. That combined with a custom URL for Create React App would be really nice. Not sure how feasible that is though.

[bondz]

Docusaurus supporting this natively would be best and that could be taken upstream and would take a while if they decide to add that.

Thought of getting create-react.app and createreact.app but they are both taken.

[iansu]

Yeah, @Timer and I noticed createreact.app was taken. Sad that neither of them are being used. A bunch of other CRA related domains are also being squatted. 😞

[stale]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any recent activity. It will be closed in 5 days if no further activity occurs.

[petetnt]

We could use Netlify's __redirects file to do the short links similar to @kentcdodds netlify-shortener

This would give us

1. The benefit of already using Netlify for the docs builds
2. Full control over the URLs

The usage is rather simple, a __redirects file in the root redirects (with 301s or 302) or rewrites relative and absolute URLs according to the specification that looks something like this:

/cra             /create-react-app
/cra2           /foobar 302
/fOb             https://facebook.github.io/create-react-app/docs/setting-up-your-editor
/google          https://www.google.com

only thing missing would be the domain name :)

[iansu]

I think this is a pretty good option, provided we get our own domain name. It's nice to not be tied to any particular shortening service.

[stale]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any recent activity. It will be closed in 5 days if no further activity occurs.

[stale]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any recent activity. It will be closed in 5 days if no further activity occurs.

[stale]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had any recent activity. It will be closed in 5 days if no further activity occurs.

[pimlottc-gov]

I appreciate the thoughtful discussion on a better long term solution, but in meantime, documentation links have broken for months.

Perhaps just create new bit.ly links for now and replace them with more durable links later?

[nel417]

any action on this?

[mikeperrotta]

Just noticing the links are still old and wanted to echo @pimlottc-gov's comment. There's lots of very thoughtful discussion here, but it might be good to sub in a bit.ly link in the meantime if this isn't moving forward. Could be a case of perfect being the enemy of good.