Broken links on the web are inevitable, but losing valuable context doesn’t have to be.
I’ve been working on a plugin at work, in conjunction with the Internet Archive, to help combat link rot on WordPress sites.
- The plugin scans your content for outgoing links and checks the link statuses on an ongoing basis.
- If a link is broken 3 times in 9 days, it gets redirected to a snapshot on the Wayback Machine if there is one.
- The link continues to get checked, and if it comes back, the redirect stops.
- The plugin also archives your site’s content on the Wayback Machine, future-proofing links that point to your site, too.
I consider this a “set it and forget it” plugin. One it is running, you don’t need to take any action. It works quietly behind the scenes. I’ve been running it on this site for months. Check out the links in Making Rosin and Fly Tying Wax… one of them is broken, and because it redirects to the Wayback Machine, you’ll be able to tell which one it is.
After a soft launch in October, the announcements went out today. I wrote the one for Automattic:
One went out at the Internet Archive, too:
Glynn Quelch is the main person building it with me, and he has been an incredible collaborator. Thank you for your help, Glynn!
If your site runs on WordPress, consider installing the plugin to protect your links.
Update: TechCrunch picked it up!
Other coverage:
- TheTechBuzz – Internet Archive launches Link Fixer to combat link rot
- Beritaja – The Wayback Machine Debuts A New Plugin Designed To Fix The Internet’s Broken Links Problem
- FindArticles – Wayback Machine Launches Link Fixer Plugin
- Digital Trends – This new WordPress plugin uses the Wayback Machine to help you see fewer dead links
- Gigazine – Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine launches new plugin to fix broken links
- Dataconomy – Internet Archive and Automattic launch new tool to combat link rot
- BetaNews – The Wayback Machine is looking to make deadlinks a thing of the past
- iGaming – Internet Archive and WordPress Launch Tool to Fix Broken Links
- Webpronews: Automattic and Internet Archive Launch Unprecedented Alliance to Combat Digital Decay
- PC World – Internet Archive unveils tool to save the web from dead links
- RTT News – Internet Archive And WordPress Partnership Launches Preservation Tool
- Filmogaz – Wayback Machine Launches Plugin to Fix Broken Internet Links
- Infobae: ¿Enlace roto o perdido? Esta es la solución rápida para volver a acceder
- Ecosistema Startup: Wayback Machine lanza plugin WordPress contra enlaces rotos
- WWWhatsnew: El Wayback Machine y WordPress se unen para frenar la “pobredumbre” de enlaces.
- PC Magazine – Hate Dead Links? The Wayback Machine Has the WordPress Plug-In for You
- RS Web Solutions – Tired of Broken Links? The Wayback Machine Offers a WordPress Plugin Just for You
- Heise Online – Internet Archive’s WordPress Plugin Brings Dead Links Back to Life
- TechNetBook – Wayback Machine WordPress Plugin Link Fixer Repairs Broken Links and Prevents Link Rot for Better Website SEO Rankings
- ExtremeTech – Internet Archive Releases WordPress Plugin Aimed at Solving ‘Link Rot’
- WP Builds podcast – This Week in WordPress #365 (the link fixer was one of the topics they covered, at 41m)
- This Week in Tech podcast – Ep 1070 – “A Yacht for Your Yacht – Super Bowl LX Gets a Surge of AI Ads!”
- The plugin also saw some convo in this Slashdot post.
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