An API to provision custom hostnames with SSL
We launched an API for custom hostnames today. A simple HTTP post with a hostname gets a temp hostname with CNAME/a record instructions, as soon as DNS is setup we issue SSL and start accepting traffic for that hostname. It's the quickest way we know of to provision custom hostnames: https://fly.io/mix/custom-hostnames/ When we started building Fly, we figured it was too late to "make SSL easy and the customers will come". Lets Encrypt changed the world, and we knew many companies rolling their own SSL support with nginx, Traefik, etc, etc. It seemed like a…
An API to provision custom hostnames with SSL launched on August 30, 2017 with 90 votes, #504 of 3,214 launches that month and more than 90% of that year's launches.
In plain words
This API automates custom hostname provisioning with automatic SSL certificate issuance. Users send an HTTP request with a hostname and receive temporary DNS instructions; once DNS is configured, the system issues an SSL certificate and begins accepting traffic. It's designed for developers and companies managing multiple custom hostnames for their customers, particularly those using self-hosted solutions like nginx or Traefik. The service eliminates manual certificate management and renewal workflows.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
In the maker’s words, at launch
We launched an API for custom hostnames today. A simple HTTP post with a hostname gets a temp hostname with CNAME/a record instructions, as soon as DNS is setup we issue SSL and start accepting traffic for that hostname. It's the quickest way we know of to provision custom hostnames…
Does a similar job
all alternatives →
Fly Custom Hostnames API2017 · fly.io · ▲152A simple API for custom hostnames, handles DNS, SSL, etc.
I built a DNS resolver from scratch in Rust – no DNS librariesApr 2026 · github.com · ▲115I built a DNS resolver that lets me use https://frontend.numa instead of localhost:5173 — auto-generated TLS certs, WebSocket passthrough, path routing. No mkcert, no nginx, no /etc/hosts.
Backname.io – every IP address gets its own domain2023 · backname.io · ▲46I was setting up tests involving DNS resolution recently, where something like 127.0.0.1.service.foo would have been tremendously useful. Back in the day, I'd have used xip.io - but sadly that service died. Well, every excuse is a good one when it comes to writing a DNS server! Backname.io joins nip.io and sslip.io in the wildcard DNS game.
- OHOne hostname to rule them all2017 · onehostname.com · ▲111
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