> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://chadboyce.gitbook.io/notes/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://chadboyce.gitbook.io/notes/web-servers.md).

# web-servers

Each of these commands will run an ad hoc http static server in your current (or specified) directory, available at <http://localhost:8000>. Use this power wisely.

[Discussion on reddit](http://www.reddit.com/r/webdev/comments/1fs45z/list_of_ad_hoc_http_server_oneliners/).

#### Python 2.x

```shell
$ python -m SimpleHTTPServer 8000
```

#### Python 3.x

```shell
$ python -m http.server 8000
```

#### Twisted (Python)

```shell
$ twistd -n web -p 8000 --path .
```

Or:

```shell
$ python -c 'from twisted.web.server import Site; from twisted.web.static import File; from twisted.internet import reactor; reactor.listenTCP(8000, Site(File("."))); reactor.run()'
```

Depends on [Twisted](http://twistedmatrix.com/trac/wiki/Downloads).

#### Ruby

```shell
$ ruby -rwebrick -e'WEBrick::HTTPServer.new(:Port => 8000, :DocumentRoot => Dir.pwd).start'
```

Credit: [Barking Iguana](http://barkingiguana.com/2010/04/11/a-one-line-web-server-in-ruby/)

#### Ruby 1.9.2+

```shell
$ ruby -run -ehttpd . -p8000
```

Credit: [nobu](https://gist.github.com/willurd/5720255#comment-855952)

#### adsf (Ruby)

```shell
$ gem install adsf   # install dependency
$ adsf -p 8000
```

Credit: [twome](https://gist.github.com/willurd/5720255/#comment-841393)

*No directory listings.*

#### Sinatra (Ruby)

```shell
$ gem install sinatra   # install dependency
$ ruby -rsinatra -e'set :public_folder, "."; set :port, 8000'
```

*No directory listings.*

#### Perl

```shell
$ cpan HTTP::Server::Brick   # install dependency
$ perl -MHTTP::Server::Brick -e '$s=HTTP::Server::Brick->new(port=>8000); $s->mount("/"=>{path=>"."}); $s->start'
```

Credit: [Anonymous Monk](http://www.perlmonks.org/?node_id=865239)

#### Plack (Perl)

```shell
$ cpan Plack   # install dependency
$ plackup -MPlack::App::Directory -e 'Plack::App::Directory->new(root=>".");' -p 8000
```

Credit: [miyagawa](http://advent.plackperl.org/2009/12/day-5-run-a-static-file-web-server-with-plack.html)

#### Mojolicious (Perl)

```shell
$ cpan Mojolicious::Lite   # install dependency
$ perl -MMojolicious::Lite -MCwd -e 'app->static->paths->[0]=getcwd; app->start' daemon -l http://*:8000
```

*No directory listings.*

#### http-server (Node.js)

```shell
$ npm install -g http-server   # install dependency
$ http-server -p 8000
```

*Note: This server does funky things with relative paths. For example, if you have a file `/tests/index.html`, it will load `index.html` if you go to `/test`, but will treat relative paths as if they were coming from `/`.*

#### node-static (Node.js)

```shell
$ npm install -g node-static   # install dependency
$ static -p 8000
```

*No directory listings.*

#### PHP (>= 5.4)

```shell
$ php -S 127.0.0.1:8000
```

Credit: [/u/prawnsalad](http://www.reddit.com/r/webdev/comments/1fs45z/list_of_ad_hoc_http_server_oneliners/cad9ew3) and [MattLicense](https://gist.github.com/willurd/5720255#comment-841131)

*No directory listings.*

#### Erlang

```shell
$ erl -s inets -eval 'inets:start(httpd,[{server_name,"NAME"},{document_root, "."},{server_root, "."},{port, 8000},{mime_types,[{"html","text/html"},{"htm","text/html"},{"js","text/javascript"},{"css","text/css"},{"gif","image/gif"},{"jpg","image/jpeg"},{"jpeg","image/jpeg"},{"png","image/png"}]}]).'
```

Credit: [nivertech](https://gist.github.com/willurd/5720255/#comment-841166) (with the addition of some basic mime types)

*No directory listings.*

#### busybox httpd

```shell
$ busybox httpd -f -p 8000
```

Credit: [lvm](https://gist.github.com/willurd/5720255#comment-841915)

#### webfs

```shell
$ webfsd -F -p 8000
```

Depends on [webfs](http://linux.bytesex.org/misc/webfs.html).

#### IIS Express

```shell
C:\> "C:\Program Files (x86)\IIS Express\iisexpress.exe" /path:C:\MyWeb /port:8000
```

Depends on [IIS Express](http://www.iis.net/learn/extensions/introduction-to-iis-express/iis-express-overview).

Credit: [/u/fjantomen](http://www.reddit.com/r/webdev/comments/1fs45z/list_of_ad_hoc_http_server_oneliners/cada8no)

*No directory listings. `/path` must be an absolute path.*

## Meta

If you have any suggestions, drop them in the comments below or on the reddit discussion. To get on this list, a solution must:

1. serve static files using your current directory (or a specified directory) as the server root,
2. be able to be run with a single, one line command (dependencies are fine if they're a one-time thing),
3. serve basic file types (html, css, js, images) with proper mime types,
4. require no configuration (from files or otherwise) beyond the command itself (no framework-specific servers, etc)
5. must run, or have a mode where it can run, in the foreground (i.e. no daemons)


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