Dev releases free open-source TLD registry platform
A Ukrainian developer has released a free, open-source domain registry management platform that he says is compliant with ICANN standards and should be suitable for organizations that want to self-host ccTLDs or new gTLDs they apply for in the next round.
Named Namingo, lead dev Taras Kondratyuk says the software incorporates EPP, Whois and RDAP and can interface with the popular DNS servers and database management systems.
The software has been released under a standard MIT open-source license, which basically means you can do whatever you want with it with very few limitations. Kondratyuk describes the current release as a beta but said he hopes a stable version will emerge before the end of the month.
“So far, no registry or registrar has used Namingo. However, there’s interest from one ccTLD and two regional second-level domains, which plan to conduct tests soon,” he said in an email interview.
“ccTLDs can currently run Namingo without any issue, with all components being complete,” he said. “We’re just ironing out a few details for the first stable release, like making parts of panel more ‘beautiful’ or easier to work with.”
It sounds like a labor of love. Kondratyuk said he has no background in the domain industry, no plans to commercialize the software or offer paid support services. The software was scratch-built in PHP with the help of ChatGPT.
“Having worked with small hosting providers, I noticed a gap in free and open tools for managing registries or ICANN accredited registrars,” he said. “Existing solutions were either complex, infrastructure-specific, not fully supportive of gTLDs, or not genuinely free. Namingo aims to address these gaps.”
“It was developed as a community contribution,” he said. “If a company wishes to adopt it for registry services, they’re welcome to, thanks to the permissive MIT license. My role is more in line with offering guidance rather than fully engaging in a commercial venture.”
“While I’m open to providing installation support, my capacity for hosting or round-the-clock support is limited. I just hope that a company might show interest in the future and offer this service,” he said.
After the registry platform is finished, Namingo will finish off its platform for ICANN-accredited registrars too, he said.
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