Curl2Url

Convert your cur commands to URLs

In today's digital age, browsers are ubiquitous, seamlessly integrated into our computers, phones, TVs, watches, and even glasses. With access to over 200 million active websites, the internet is a treasure trove of information. Yet, the quickest route to accessing this wealth of data often lies in a simple direction or link. While browsers execute HTTP GET requests when accessing links, it's essential to note that HTTP offers additional methods beyond URLs. These methods empower users to interact with forms, manipulate data, and more – capabilities inaccessible through traditional URL access. However, fear not, today I officially present you Curl2Url.

As a seasoned software engineer with years of experience in extracting and parsing data from various web sources, my passion for harvesting insights from the web has only grown since completing my bachelor's degree. Yet, amidst the thrill of extracting data lies the repetitive nature of the process. While certain websites pose intriguing challenges with their security measures, today's discussion will focus on simplifying this process.

Numerous factors fuel my drive for data extraction, ranging from leveraging data for product development to monitoring responses and optimizing the efficiency of accessing specific website information. However, I've often found the process of copying a curl command, tweaking its format if necessary, and executing it in a terminal to be cumbersome. From my point of view, there should be a simpler solution, one that could be streamlined through the sharing of URLs.

Curl2Url is the culmination of addressing my pain points and streamlining cumbersome processes into a product.

Curl2Url future

Looking ahead, my vision for Curl2Url encompasses continuous enhancements to its curl-to-code feature. This includes expanding programming language support, offering customization options, and implementing response serialization, akin to the curl to Python code implementation. Additionally, I aim to introduce features enabling users to track requests and receive alerts for any changes in the response.

With a plethora of ideas aimed at simplifying web data extraction, my ultimate goal is to garner sustainable active users to support the longevity of this project. While Curl2Url has some free users, the transition to a paid model remains a pivotal milestone. Product Hunt launch will serve as a litmus test, gauging user interest and validating the project's viability.

However, should the outcome deviate from expectations and I can’t achieve something sustainable, Curl2Url will stand as a valuable tool in my arsenal, empowering me to navigate the labor market with a newfound perspective on indie hacker ventures. This journey has not only equipped me with different skills to grow possible future products but also instilled a mindset primed for future entrepreneurial endeavors while balancing traditional employment.

Acknowledgments

Even though I built Curl2Url, it is inspired by curlconverter project, and it also uses several open-source libraries. If it wasn’t for all the people who contributed to these projects, it would take me much more time to build Curl2Url, I’m very grateful to them.

I also appreciate the invaluable feedback received from the Small Bets community and my friends and ex-coworkers, especially Alex, Thibault, Máté and Sergiu.