Sinkzone: The Allowlist-Only DNS Tool for Laser Focus
The internet is designed to distract you. Between social media pings, breaking news banners, and that one website you swear you’ll only check "real quick," staying focused feels like a losing battle. Enter Sinkzone, a DNS tool that flips the script: block everything by default, allow only what you need.
Think of it as a bouncer for your internet traffic—no domain gets in unless it’s on your VIP list.
What It Does
Sinkzone is a local DNS resolver that:
- Blocks all internet access by default (yes, everything)
- Lets you create an allowlist of domains (e.g.,
git.example.com,docs.example.org) - Supports wildcards (
*.example.com) for flexible rules - Runs as a lightweight service with a CLI or TUI (terminal UI) for management
Unlike traditional ad-blockers or parental controls, Sinkzone operates at the DNS level—meaning blocked domains won’t resolve anywhere on your system, not just in browsers.
Why It’s Cool
- Deep work mode: Block Slack, Twitter, and news sites system-wide during crunch time.
- Child safety: Lock down devices to only whitelisted educational sites.
- No distractions, no willpower needed: If the domain isn’t allowed, it’s not happening.
- Self-hosted and private: No creepy analytics or third-party servers.
The implementation is clean too—it’s written in Go, supports Docker, and exposes an HTTP API for automation (think: curl to toggle focus mode).
How to Try It
- Install: Grab a pre-built binary or run with Docker:
docker run -d --name sinkzone -p 53:53/udp berbyte/sinkzone - Configure: Add your allowed domains via CLI:
sinkzone allow "*.git.example.com" - Point your device’s DNS to
127.0.0.1(or your Sinkzone server’s IP).
For a full walkthrough, check the project’s docs.
Final Thoughts
Sinkzone isn’t for everyone—blocking everything by default is extreme. But if you’ve ever lost hours to algorithmic feeds or need a nuclear option for focus, it’s a clever solution. I’d love to see this paired with a mobile client or scheduled rules (e.g., "block social media from 9–5").
What would you allow on your internet VIP list?
—
Follow us for more cool projects: @githubprojects