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.

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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.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

1. 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.

2. A GitHub Account: You’ll need a GitHub account to submit a pull request to the is-a.dev repository.

3. Basic Knowledge of Git: Familiarity with Git and GitHub will make the process easier.

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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.dev

• projectname.is-a.dev

• portfolio.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.

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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.

1. Visit the Repository: Go to the is-a.dev GitHub repository: https://github.com/is-a-dev/register.

2. Fork the Repository: Click the "Fork" button in the top-right corner to create a copy of the repository in your GitHub account.

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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.

1. Log in to Vercel: Go to vercel.com and log in to your account.

2. Select Your Project: Navigate to the project you want to link to your is-a.dev subdomain.

3. Add the Subdomain: Go to the "Domains" section and add your new subdomain (e.g., yourname.is-a.dev).

4. Obtain the TXT Record: Vercel will provide a TXT record 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

1. Clone Your Fork: Clone your forked repository to your local machine:

    git clone https://github.com/your-username/register.git
    cd register
   

2. Create the TXT Record File: Inside the domains directory, create a new JSON file named _vercel.yourname.json. Replace yourname with your desired subdomain. For example, if your subdomain is yourname.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: The TXT record provided by Vercel.

3. Create the CNAME Record File: In the same domains directory, create another JSON file named yourname.json. Replace yourname with your desired subdomain. For example, if your subdomain is yourname.is-a.dev, create a file named yourname.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).

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Step 4: Commit and Push Your Changes

1. Stage Your Changes: Add the new files to Git:

    git add domains/_vercel.yourname.json domains/yourname.json
   

2. Commit Your Changes: Commit the changes with a meaningful message:

    git commit -m "Add yourname.is-a.dev subdomain"
   

3. Push Your Changes: Push the changes to your forked repository:

    git push origin main
   

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Step 5: Submit a Pull Request

1. Go to Your Fork: Visit your forked repository on GitHub.

2. Create a Pull Request: Click the "Contribute" button and select "Open Pull Request." Ensure the base repository is is-a-dev/register and the base branch is main.

3. Use the Premade Message: The repository provides a premade pull request template. Check the boxes and enter your website URL for a preview.

4. Submit the Pull Request: Click "Create Pull Request" to submit your request.

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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.

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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.

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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! 🚀