Deploy Slash Link Shortener with Docker and Dockge

Slash is a self-hosted link shortener and bookmark manager you can deploy with Docker and Dockge in under 15 minutes. Since its initial release, the project has grown to over 3,200 GitHub stars and 100K+ Docker Hub pulls. It gives you full control over your short links. No third-party tracking, no monthly fees, and no rate limits.

Link shortening has real benefits for anyone managing links regularly:

• Makes URLs user-friendly and memorable
• Saves space in social media posts, emails, and messages
• Lets you redirect users based on device, location, or time
• Tracks clicks, conversions, and engagement with built-in analytics
• Keeps your original URLs and parameters hidden from the public

If you’re comparing options, also check out Sink, another self-hosted link shortener that takes a different approach.

What is Slash (A Self-Hosted Bookmark & Link Manager)

Slash is an open source, self-hosted bookmarks and link sharing platform. It’s built with Go on the backend and TypeScript/React on the frontend. The platform lets you organize links with tags, share them with custom shortened URLs, and track performance through analytics.

The Collections feature (added in v0.5.0) deserves a closer look. Collections are virtual folders that group related shortcuts. They have their own URL scheme (c/collection-name), visibility controls, and can be shared publicly or with teammates. This was the biggest improvement over the flat link list the original version offered.

Slash also supports internationalization (i18n) with Chinese translation as of v0.4.5, and API access tokens for programmatic access since v0.4.1.

Browser extensions

Slash offers extensions for both Chrome and Firefox:

• Chrome Web Store
• Firefox Add-ons

Both extensions let you save and shorten links directly from your browser, customize short URLs, and access Slash’s bookmark management without leaving the page.

If you are interested in more free, open source, self-hosted apps, check toolhunt.net self hosted section.

Deploy Slash with Docker Compose and Dockge

This guide uses Docker Compose for containerization, Dockge for GUI-based stack management, and Cloudflare Tunnels for secure remote access. The modern Docker CLI uses docker compose (with a space). The old docker-compose (hyphen) was fully removed in April 2025.

1. Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following in place:

• A VPS where you can host Slash. You can use Hetzner, Hostinger, or use an ASUS Mini PC as a home server
• Dockge installed on your server for Docker Compose management
• Cloudflare Tunnels configured for your VPS (details are covered in the Dockge install article)

You can also use Traefik as a reverse proxy for your apps instead of Cloudflare Tunnels. I have a full tutorial with Dockge install that covers the setup.

2. Add the Docker Compose file in Dockge

Below is the Docker Compose file for Slash. Note there’s no version: line. That field is obsolete in modern Docker Compose.

services:
  slash:
    image: yourselfhosted/slash:latest
    container_name: slash
    ports:
      - 5006:5231
    volumes:
      - ./slash:/var/opt/slash
    restart: unless-stopped

services:
  slash:
    image: yourselfhosted/slash:latest
    container_name: slash
    ports:
      - 5006:5231
    volumes:
      - ./slash:/var/opt/slash
    environment:
      - SLASH_DRIVER=postgres
      - SLASH_DSN=postgresql://user:password@db:5432/slash
    restart: unless-stopped
  db:
    image: postgres:16
    container_name: slash-db
    environment:
      - POSTGRES_USER=user
      - POSTGRES_PASSWORD=password
      - POSTGRES_DB=slash
    volumes:
      - ./pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Slash also maintains an official docker-compose.yml in the repository if you want a reference.

In Dockge, hit compose and save. After that, you can choose the Dockge-default external network:

Hit save and start the container. It should start running without issues.

3. Configure Cloudflare Tunnels for secure access

You need to tell Cloudflare Tunnel which port Slash is using. Go to your Cloudflare Zero Trust dashboard and configure the tunnel:

Add a public hostname that maps a domain or subdomain to your Slash container’s port (5006 in our example):

Enter your server IP and the port you chose in the compose file.

You can also check CloudPanel as a reverse proxy or use Traefik as a reverse proxy as alternatives to Cloudflare Tunnels. See also our Cloudreve Docker guide for a similar Cloudflare Tunnel setup with another self-hosted app.

4. Access Slash and organize links with collections

Access Slash using the domain you configured in Cloudflare. On first visit, you’ll be asked to create an admin account.

Collections are the standout feature since the original version of this article. You can create collections like c/dev-tools or c/social to organize links into logical groups. Each collection has its own URL, can be set to public or private, and can be shared with teammates.

Conclusion

Slash has matured since its early releases. With 3,200+ GitHub stars, PostgreSQL support, collections, API access tokens, and an active Discord community, it’s a solid choice for anyone who wants a self-hosted link shortener with full control over their data.

The deployment is straightforward: Docker Compose handles the container, Dockge gives you a clean web UI to manage it, and Cloudflare Tunnels expose it securely without opening ports on your firewall. Slash is also available as a one-click deploy on Coolify if you prefer that workflow.