How to Get a Free is-a.dev Subdomain for Your Vercel App
If you're looking for a free and unique subdomain for your Vercel-hosted app, is-a.dev is a fantastic option. is-a.dev is a community-driven service that offers free subdomains for developers, making it perfect for personal projects, portfolios, or open-source initiatives. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to claim your free is-a.dev subdomain and link it to your Vercel app.
What is is-a.dev?
is-a.dev is a free domain service that allows developers to register subdomains like yourname.is-a.dev for their projects. It’s a great way to get a professional-looking domain without spending money on a custom domain. The service is powered by community contributions and is designed to support developers in showcasing their work.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
A Vercel App: Your app should already be deployed on Vercel. If you haven’t deployed your app yet, follow this guide to publish your Next.js app on Vercel.
A GitHub Account: You’ll need a GitHub account to submit a pull request to the
is-a.devrepository.Basic Knowledge of Git: Familiarity with Git and GitHub will make the process easier.
Step 1: Choose Your Subdomain
First, decide on the subdomain you want. It should be unique, meaningful, and relevant to your project or personal brand. For example:
yourname.is-a.devprojectname.is-a.devportfolio.is-a.dev
Make sure your desired subdomain is available by visiting https://is-a.dev and searching for it. If it’s already taken, try a different variation.
Step 2: Fork the is-a.dev Repository
The is-a.dev service uses a GitHub repository to manage subdomain registrations. To claim your subdomain, you’ll need to fork the repository and submit a pull request.
Visit the Repository:
Go to theis-a.devGitHub repository: https://github.com/is-a-dev/register.Fork the Repository:
Click the "Fork" button in the top-right corner to create a copy of the repository in your GitHub account.
Step 3: Add Your Subdomain
Once you’ve forked the repository, you’ll need to add your subdomain to the domains directory. This involves creating two files: one for the CNAME record and one for the TXT record.
Step 3.1: Add the Domain to Vercel
Before creating the files, you need to add your desired subdomain to your Vercel project to obtain the TXT record.
Log in to Vercel:
Go to vercel.com and log in to your account.Select Your Project:
Navigate to the project you want to link to youris-a.devsubdomain.Add the Subdomain:
Go to the "Domains" section and add your new subdomain (e.g.,yourname.is-a.dev).Obtain the TXT Record:
Vercel will provide aTXTrecord for domain verification. It will look something like this:
vc-domain-verify=yourname.is-a.dev,1234567890abcdef1234
Copy this value as you’ll need it in the next step.
Step 3.2: Create the JSON Files
- Clone Your Fork: Clone your forked repository to your local machine:
git clone https://github.com/your-username/register.git
cd register
-
Create the TXT Record File:
Inside the
domainsdirectory, create a new JSON file named_vercel.yourname.json. Replaceyournamewith your desired subdomain. For example, if your subdomain isyourname.is-a.dev, create a file named_vercel.yourname.json.
Add the following content to the file:
{
"owner": {
"username": "your-github-username",
"email": "your-email@example.com"
},
"record": {
"TXT": "vc-domain-verify=yourname.is-a.dev,1234567890abcdef1234"
}
}
Replace the placeholders with your information:
-
owner.username: Your GitHub username. -
owner.email: Your email address (optional). -
record.TXT: TheTXTrecord provided by Vercel.
-
Create the CNAME Record File:
In the same
domainsdirectory, create another JSON file namedyourname.json. Replaceyournamewith your desired subdomain. For example, if your subdomain isyourname.is-a.dev, create a file namedyourname.json.
Add the following content to the file:
{
"owner": {
"username": "your-github-username",
"email": "your-email@example.com"
},
"record": {
"CNAME": "your-production-domain.vercel.app"
}
}
Replace the placeholders with your information:
-
owner.username: Your GitHub username. -
owner.email: Your email address (optional). -
record.CNAME: Your production domain on Vercel (e.g.,yourname.vercel.app).
Step 4: Commit and Push Your Changes
- Stage Your Changes: Add the new files to Git:
git add domains/_vercel.yourname.json domains/yourname.json
- Commit Your Changes: Commit the changes with a meaningful message:
git commit -m "Add yourname.is-a.dev subdomain"
- Push Your Changes: Push the changes to your forked repository:
git push origin main
Step 5: Submit a Pull Request
Go to Your Fork:
Visit your forked repository on GitHub.Create a Pull Request:
Click the "Contribute" button and select "Open Pull Request." Ensure the base repository isis-a-dev/registerand the base branch ismain.Use the Premade Message:
The repository provides a premade pull request template. Check the boxes and enter your website URL for a preview.Submit the Pull Request:
Click "Create Pull Request" to submit your request.
Step 6: Wait for Approval
The is-a.dev maintainers will review your pull request. This process usually takes a few hours to a couple of days. Once approved, your subdomain will be live and linked to your Vercel app.
Step 7: Test Your Subdomain
Once the DNS propagates (this can take a few minutes to a few hours), visit your new subdomain (e.g., https://yourname.is-a.dev) in your browser. You should see your Vercel app live on the subdomain.
Conclusion
Claiming a free is-a.dev subdomain for your Vercel app is a simple and rewarding process. By following this guide, you can secure a professional-looking domain for your project without any cost. Whether you’re showcasing your portfolio, hosting a personal blog, or sharing an open-source project, is-a.dev is a great way to make your app stand out. Happy coding! 🚀
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