About InstantDNS
InstantDNS is an experiment in making dynamic DNS extremely easy to start using: no registration, no account and no control panel required.
Why?
Sometimes you just need a hostname for a Raspberry Pi, home server, camera, dashboard, lab machine or temporary project.
Creating an account, verifying an email address and clicking through a dashboard can feel like a lot of ceremony for something that should be possible with one command.
curl https://api.instantdns.io/new
No accounts
Instead of a user account, every allocation receives a random secret token.
That token is the credential used to manage the hostname and its child records.
Reversible by default
Child records can be disabled without immediately destroying their metadata. Updating a disabled child with the correct token brings it back.
Designed to stay small
The goal is not to become a giant DNS control panel. The useful core is:
Fast setup
Create a usable hostname from a shell in seconds.
Simple automation
Update it from curl, cron, a router, a Pi or your own software.
Human-readable hostnames
Generated names are designed to be easier to recognise than random strings.
Useful child records
One base allocation can organise several devices and services.
Early-stage service
InstantDNS is currently being tested. Behaviour, limits and API details may evolve while real-world usage is evaluated.
If you're one of the early testers, sensible bug reports and examples of how you're using it are particularly useful.