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Zipline provides two powerful features for managing users: invite codes for controlling who can register, and quotas for limiting storage and resource usage per user.

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Invite Codes

Invite codes allow you to control who can register for your Zipline instance. This is useful for private instances or limiting access to trusted users.

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Configuration

Enable invites in your database configuration: 
model Zipline {
  invitesEnabled Boolean @default(true)
  invitesLength  Int     @default(6)
  
  featuresUserRegistration Boolean @default(false)
}
  • invitesEnabled: Enable the invite system
  • invitesLength: Length of generated invite codes (default: 6 characters)
  • featuresUserRegistration: Allow registration without invite codes
If featuresUserRegistration is false, users must have an invite code to register.

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Invite Code Structure

Invite codes are stored in the database: 
model Invite {
  id        String    @id @default(cuid())
  createdAt DateTime  @default(now())
  updatedAt DateTime  @updatedAt
  expiresAt DateTime?
  
  code    String @unique
  uses    Int    @default(0)
  maxUses Int?
  
  inviter   User   @relation(fields: [inviterId], references: [id])
  inviterId String
}
Fields:
  • code: The unique invite code (e.g., “abc123”)
  • uses: How many times this code has been used
  • maxUses: Maximum number of uses (null = unlimited)
  • expiresAt: When the invite expires (null = never)
  • inviterId: The user who created this invite

​
Creating Invites

Administrators can create invite codes through the admin panel or API: 
POST /api/invites
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN

{
  "maxUses": 5,
  "expiresAt": "2024-12-31T23:59:59Z"
}
Response: 
{
  "id": "clx1234567890",
  "code": "abc123",
  "uses": 0,
  "maxUses": 5,
  "expiresAt": "2024-12-31T23:59:59.000Z",
  "createdAt": "2024-01-20T10:00:00.000Z"
}

​
Using Invite Codes

When registering, users provide the invite code: 
POST /api/auth/register
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "username": "newuser",
  "password": "securepassword",
  "code": "abc123"
}
The registration process validates the invite code at src/server/routes/api/auth/register.ts:52: 
if (code) {
  const invite = await prisma.invite.findFirst({
    where: {
      OR: [{ id: code }, { code }],
    },
  });
  
  if (!invite) return res.badRequest('Invalid invite code');
  
  // Check expiration
  if (invite.expiresAt && new Date(invite.expiresAt) < new Date())
    return res.badRequest('Invalid invite code');
  
  // Check usage limit
  if (invite.maxUses && invite.uses >= invite.maxUses)
    return res.badRequest('Invalid invite code');
  
  // Increment usage counter
  await prisma.invite.update({
    where: { id: invite.id },
    data: { uses: invite.uses + 1 },
  });
}
Users can share invite links: 
https://your-domain.com/invite/abc123
This redirects to the registration page with the code pre-filled: 
https://your-domain.com/auth/register?code=abc123

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User Quotas

Quotas limit how much storage or how many files/URLs each user can create. This helps manage server resources and prevents abuse.

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Quota Types

Zipline supports three types of file quotas:

By Bytes

Limit total storage size (e.g., 1GB, 10GB)

By Files

Limit number of files (e.g., 100 files)

No Limit

No quota restrictions
Additionally, you can limit the number of shortened URLs per user.

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Database Schema

model UserQuota {
  id        String   @id @default(cuid())
  createdAt DateTime @default(now())
  updatedAt DateTime @updatedAt
  
  filesQuota UserFilesQuota  // BY_BYTES or BY_FILES
  maxBytes   String?         // e.g., "1gb", "500mb"
  maxFiles   Int?
  
  maxUrls Int?
  
  User   User?   @relation(fields: [userId], references: [id])
  userId String? @unique
}

enum UserFilesQuota {
  BY_BYTES
  BY_FILES
}

​
Setting Quotas

Administrators can set quotas for users: 
PATCH /api/users/:userId
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer ADMIN_TOKEN

{
  "quota": {
    "filesType": "BY_BYTES",
    "maxBytes": "5gb",
    "maxUrls": 100
  }
}
For file count quotas: 
{
  "quota": {
    "filesType": "BY_FILES",
    "maxFiles": 500,
    "maxUrls": 50
  }
}
To remove quotas: 
{
  "quota": {
    "filesType": "NONE"
  }
}

​
Quota Enforcement

Quotas are checked before file uploads at src/lib/api/upload.ts:32: 
export async function checkQuota(
  user: User | null,
  newSize: number,
  fileCount: number,
): Promise<true | string> {
  if (!user?.quota) return true;
  
  // Get current usage
  const stats = await prisma.file.aggregate({
    where: { userId: user.id },
    _sum: { size: true },
    _count: { _all: true },
  });
  
  const aggSize = stats?._sum?.size ? stats._sum.size : 0n;
  
  // Check byte quota
  if (user.quota.filesQuota === 'BY_BYTES' && 
      Number(aggSize) + newSize > bytes(user.quota.maxBytes!)) {
    return `uploading will exceed your storage quota of ${user.quota.maxBytes}`;
  }
  
  // Check file count quota
  if (user.quota.filesQuota === 'BY_FILES' && 
      stats?._count?._all + fileCount > user.quota.maxFiles!) {
    return `uploading will exceed your file count quota of ${user.quota.maxFiles} files`;
  }
  
  return true;
}

​
URL Quotas

URL quotas are checked when shortening URLs: 
if (req.user.quota && req.user.quota.maxUrls) {
  const countUrls = await prisma.url.count({
    where: { userId: req.user.id },
  });
  
  if (countUrls + 1 > req.user.quota.maxUrls) {
    return res.forbidden(
      `Shortening this URL would exceed your quota of ${req.user.quota.maxUrls} URLs.`
    );
  }
}

​
Byte Size Formats

Quota sizes support human-readable formats:
  • "100mb" = 100 megabytes
  • "1gb" = 1 gigabyte
  • "500kb" = 500 kilobytes
  • "1tb" = 1 terabyte
These are parsed using the bytes library.

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Admin Management

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Viewing User Quotas

Administrators can view quota usage: 
GET /api/users/:userId
Authorization: Bearer ADMIN_TOKEN
Response: 
{
  "id": "clx1234567890",
  "username": "john",
  "role": "USER",
  "quota": {
    "filesQuota": "BY_BYTES",
    "maxBytes": "5gb",
    "maxFiles": null,
    "maxUrls": 100
  },
  "currentUsage": {
    "bytes": 2147483648,  // ~2GB
    "files": 245,
    "urls": 12
  }
}

​
Managing Invites

List all invites: 
GET /api/invites
Authorization: Bearer ADMIN_TOKEN
Delete an invite: 
DELETE /api/invites/:inviteId
Authorization: Bearer ADMIN_TOKEN

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Use Cases

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Private Instance with Invites

invitesEnabled: true
featuresUserRegistration: false  // Require invites
Create limited-use invites for friends: 
{
  "maxUses": 1,
  "expiresAt": "2024-12-31T23:59:59Z"
}

​
Tiered Storage Plans

Free tier: 
{
  "quota": {
    "filesType": "BY_BYTES",
    "maxBytes": "1gb",
    "maxUrls": 50
  }
}
Premium tier: 
{
  "quota": {
    "filesType": "BY_BYTES",
    "maxBytes": "50gb",
    "maxUrls": 1000
  }
}
Unlimited tier: 
{
  "quota": {
    "filesType": "NONE"
  }
}

​
Temporary Access

Create time-limited invites for temporary users: 
{
  "code": "temp123",
  "maxUses": 1,
  "expiresAt": "2024-01-21T00:00:00Z"  // 24 hours
}
Set temporary quotas: 
{
  "quota": {
    "filesType": "BY_FILES",
    "maxFiles": 10,
    "maxUrls": 5
  }
}

​
Best Practices

  • Set reasonable defaults: Start with conservative quotas and adjust based on usage
  • Monitor usage: Regularly review user quota consumption
  • Communicate limits: Make quota limits clear to users
  • Plan for growth: Design quotas that can scale with your infrastructure
  • Use expiring invites: Set expiration dates on invite codes for security
  • Limit invite uses: Prevent invite code sharing by setting maxUses

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Troubleshooting

​
”Invalid invite code” Error

  • Check the code hasn’t expired (expiresAt)
  • Verify the code hasn’t reached max uses
  • Ensure invites are enabled (invitesEnabled: true)
  • Confirm the code exists in the database

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Quota Exceeded Errors

  • Check current usage with GET /api/users/:userId
  • Verify quota settings are correct
  • Ensure quota values are properly formatted (“1gb” not “1GB”)
  • Delete old files to free up quota

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User Can’t Register

  • If featuresUserRegistration is false, they need an invite code
  • Check that the invite code is valid and not expired
  • Verify invites are enabled in configuration
  • Ensure username isn’t already taken

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