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# 📘 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This page provides our most frequently asked questions regarding our service.

# Which DNS record types are supported?

We support the following DNS record types:

  • A
  • AAAA
  • CAA
  • CNAME
  • DS
    • Note: Can only be used alongside NS records.
  • MX
  • NS
    • Note: Only approved in specific cases. See Who can use NS records? for details.
  • SRV
  • TLSA
  • TXT
  • URL
    • Note: This is not a true DNS record. It is a custom made redirector specifically for is-a.dev.

# Why does my domain still redirect to the is-a.dev homepage?

This usually happens due to browser caching. Clear your browser cache and try again.

# Can I use a CNAME record with other record types?

No, unless the domain is proxied. A CNAME cannot be combined with other record types (A, MX, TXT, etc.) in the same record set. For exceptions and setup instructions, see Proxying Your Domain.

# How long does it take for my pull request to be merged?

We're a team of volunteers, and is-a.dev is a side project for us, so review times can vary. We'll get to your PR as soon as we can. To potentially speed things up, share your PR link in #pull-requests on our Discord server.

# Which platforms or services are supported?

While you can use almost any service, these are the most commonly used with is-a.dev:

  • Cloudflare Pages
  • GitHub Pages
  • Netlify
  • Railway
  • Vercel

# Can I create nested subdomains (e.g., sub.example.is-a.dev)?

Yes! You can nest subdomains as deeply as you'd like. To create one, name your file like blog.example.json. You must own example.is-a.dev to register blog.example.is-a.dev.

# I get an SSL error using GitHub Pages. How do I fix it?

Go to your GitHub Pages settings for your repository and enable "Enforce HTTPS". This resolves most SSL issues.

# Can I become a maintainer or join the is-a.dev team?

We don't accept direct applications. Team members are handpicked, often based on community involvement and support activity. Even then, it does not guarantee a position.

# I accidentally leaked sensitive data in my PR, what can I do?

  • If your PR has not been merged, contact us immediately:

  • If your PR has already been merged, we cannot retroactively remove it.

# Can I use my domain for a Minecraft server?

Yes, use an A record and an SRV record. Refer to this Namecheap article for guidance.

⚠️ Root subdomains (e.g., yourname.is-a.dev) must relate to software development as required in our Terms of Service. Use a nested subdomain (e.g., mc.yourname.is-a.dev) for Minecraft.

# Who can use NS records?

We allow NS records only when:

  • The standard DNS record types we support aren't sufficient.
  • A provider (e.g. Aternos) requires NS delegation and does not have any other method of setting up a subdomain.
    • This is mostly regarding SaaS providers, not DNS providers like Cloudflare or deSEC.

We do not allow NS records for:

  • Self hosting
    • Note: This can vary from case to case
  • Convenience or ease of use
  • Unverifiable or unsupported claims
  • Non-functional or placeholder purposes
  • Self hosting websites that can be easily hosted on a free platform like GitHub Pages
  • If we have security or abuse concerns
  • New users of is-a.dev
    • If you have not had an is-a.dev subdomain for at least 30 days, you will be denied due to security reasons.
  • Users that have abused is-a.dev subdomains in the past

⚠️ We reserve the right to deny any NS request at our discretion for any reason.

All NS record requests are reviewed on a case by case basis by the service owner.

Any PRs that clearly lack approved reasoning or evidence can be immediately denied by any maintainer, without a review from the service owner. If denied by another maintainer, you do reserve the right to request a more thorough review from the service owner, which is possible by requesting the maintainer to escalate the PR.

How long will it take for my NS record request to be reviewed?

Times can vary, usually with-in 24-72 hours, however in some rare cases it can take up to 2 weeks.

# Why are NS records restricted?

NS records give full control over DNS for a subdomain. That opens the door to misuse, abuse, and security concerns. To protect the community and domain integrity, we must be strict about who receives NS delegation.

# How can I update or delete my is-a.dev subdomain?

Follow these steps:

  1. Review the documentation and ToS.
  2. Open your JSON file (in /domains/your-subdomain.json).
  3. Make your changes (or delete the file if you're removing your domain).
  4. Commit the changes to your fork.
  5. Push them to your GitHub fork.
  6. Open a pull request from your forked repo.
  7. Wait for approval and merging by a maintainer.

💡 Keep an eye on your pull request, we may request changes before merging.

# Why does my PR have the "low priority" label?

This is because you have mentioned or messaged maintainers to get your PR approved.