LinkDisplay: Creating a Clean Link Management Tool

LinkDisplay started from a simple need: I wanted a clean way to share my important links in one place. No bloat, no unnecessary features, just links displayed beautifully.

The Problem Space

Social media link-in-bio tools exist, but they're often overdesigned. Heavy pages, analytics tracking, upsell prompts. I wanted something minimal and fast.

Design Philosophy

Minimal by Default

Every feature I considered went through one filter: "Is this absolutely necessary?" If not, it didn't make the cut.

Performance First

The page had to load instantly. No waiting, no loading spinners, just content.

User Control

Users should customize everything: colors, layout, fonts, but without overwhelming options.

Technical Stack

I built LinkDisplay with:

Next.js for fast static generation
TypeScript for type safety
Tailwind CSS for rapid styling
Vercel for deployment

Static generation means the page loads instantly. No database queries, no API calls on the client.

Key Features

Drag-and-Drop Reordering

Users can rearrange links by dragging. It feels natural and requires zero explanation.

const handleDragEnd = (result: DropResult) => {
  if (!result.destination) return;
  
  const items = Array.from(links);
  const [reordered] = items.splice(result.source.index, 1);
  items.splice(result.destination.index, 0, reordered);
  
  setLinks(items);
};

Live Preview

Changes appear instantly in the preview. No "save and refresh" nonsense.

Export to JSON

Users can export their configuration and use it anywhere. No vendor lock-in.

Challenges

Styling Flexibility vs Simplicity

Balancing customization with simplicity was hard. Too many options = confusion. Too few = limiting.

I settled on a preset system: choose a theme, tweak if needed, but sane defaults for most users.

Performance with Many Links

Some users add 50+ links. I had to ensure the page stayed fast:

Virtualization for long lists in the editor
Optimized re-renders with React.memo
Efficient state updates

Mobile Experience

Most people access link pages on mobile. The design had to work perfectly on small screens, not just be "responsive."

What I Learned

Start Simple, Add Later

I launched with basic features. User feedback showed what to add next. I would have wasted time building unused features otherwise.

Performance is a Feature

A fast page feels better, even if users don't consciously notice. Speed creates trust.

Good Defaults Matter

Most users won't customize. The default experience must be great.

Usage and Impact

LinkDisplay is used by content creators, developers, and small businesses. Seeing people actually use something I built never gets old.

Future Plans

I'm exploring:

Analytics (simple ones, privacy-focused)
Custom domains
Team collaboration features
API for programmatic updates

But every feature will be evaluated through the lens of: "Does this maintain the simplicity?"

Conclusion

Building LinkDisplay taught me that sometimes the best product is the one that does less. Focus on solving one problem well, and the users will come.

Keep it simple, keep it fast, keep it focused.