Running a Free Domain Infrastructure Serving 400,000 Users

The author, at 15, acquired a four-letter domain name for experimentation and quickly built a public domain infrastructure. Initially, the project offered free subdomains, evolving into the US.KG Domain Registry and the DigitalPlat Foundation. Facing the absence of suitable tools, they developed a custom DNS management system using BIND9, Python, and Flask. Rapid growth necessitated the development of automated abuse controls to manage misuse effectively. This involved an automated review pipeline integrating registration details, GitHub identity signals, and abuse reports. A GitHub-based identity flow via OAuth enhanced accountability and streamlined abuse handling. The platform expanded across multiple domains to improve resilience and operational flexibility. The experience highlighted the importance of governance, policies, and communication alongside technical infrastructure. Contributions from early community members led to collaborative efforts fostering a reliable and responsible open infrastructure.