nullbin

A privacy-first, client-side encrypted pastebin alternative. No accounts, no tracking, just secure sharing.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Tech Stack
• Features
• Installation
• Usage
• Deployment
• Contributing
• License
• Contact

Overview

NullBin solves the problem of sharing sensitive code, notes, or data securely without requiring user accounts or exposing content to servers. All content is encrypted client-side before transmission, ensuring complete privacy.

Who it's for: Developers, security-conscious users, and anyone who needs to share encrypted content temporarily.

Tech Stack

• Frontend: Next.js 15, React, TypeScript
• Styling: Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui components
• Database: MongoDB with TTL indexes
• Encryption: Web Crypto API (AES-256-GCM)
• Syntax Highlighting: Shiki
• Deployment: Vercel-ready

Features

• Client-Side Encryption: All content encrypted in browser before transmission
• Auto-Expiring Pastes: Set expiration times (1h, 1d, 7d, 30d, or never)
• Syntax Highlighting: Support for 40+ programming languages
• Optional Password Protection: Add extra security layer
• No Registration: Share instantly without accounts
• Secure Sharing: Decryption keys in URL hash, never sent to server

Installation

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/marvellousz/nullbin.git
   cd nullbin

2. Install dependencies

   npm install

3. Set up environment variables

   cp .env.example .env.local

   Create .env.local with:

   MONGODB_URI=mongodb://localhost:27017
   MONGODB_DB=nullbin
   NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:3000

4. Start MongoDB

   # Local MongoDB
   mongod
   
   # Or use MongoDB Atlas (cloud)

5. Run the application

   npm run dev

Visit http://localhost:3000 to use the application.

Usage

Creating a Paste

1. Click "Start Creating" on the homepage
2. Enter your content in the editor
3. Select language for syntax highlighting
4. Choose expiry time (1h, 1d, 7d, 30d, or never)
5. Optionally set password for extra security
6. Click "Create Paste" to generate encrypted link
7. Share the link - decryption key is in the URL hash

Viewing a Paste

1. Click "Find Paste" on the homepage
2. Enter paste ID or full URL with hash fragment
3. Content decrypts automatically in your browser
4. No server access to your content

Deployment

Vercel (Recommended)

1. Connect your GitHub repository to Vercel
2. Add environment variables in Vercel dashboard:
   • MONGODB_URI: Your MongoDB Atlas connection string
   • MONGODB_DB: Your database name
   • NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL: Your production domain
3. Deploy - Vercel handles the build automatically

Manual Deployment

# Build the application
npm run build

# Start production server
npm start

Environment Variables for Production

Ensure all environment variables are set in your deployment platform:

• MONGODB_URI (MongoDB Atlas connection string)
• MONGODB_DB (database name)
• NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL (production domain)

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add amazing feature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Contact

• Email: pranavmurali024@gmail.com
• GitHub: https://github.com/marvellousz/nullbin

---

Built with ❤️ for privacy