How to use the command darkhttpd (with examples)

Darkhttpd is a web server that serves static content. It is a lightweight and efficient web server that does not require any configuration files. The command darkhttpd is used to start the Darkhttpd web server and specify the document root, port, and IP address.

Use case 1: Start server serving the specified document root

Code:

darkhttpd path/to/docroot

Motivation: This use case allows you to start the Darkhttpd web server and serve the specified document root. It is useful when you want to share static content or files on a local network or remotely.

Explanation:

• darkhttpd is the command to start the Darkhttpd web server.
• path/to/docroot is the path to the directory that contains the static content you want to serve.

Example output:

Serving HTTP on 0.0.0.0 port 8080...

Use case 2: Start server on specified port

Code:

darkhttpd path/to/docroot --port port

Motivation: This use case allows you to start the Darkhttpd web server on a specific port. It is useful when you want to run the server on a non-default port.

Explanation:

• path/to/docroot is the path to the directory that contains the static content you want to serve.
• --port port is an optional argument to specify the port number. The default port is 8080 if the command is run as a non-root user.

Example output:

Serving HTTP on 0.0.0.0 port 8000...

Use case 3: Listen only on specified IP address

Code:

darkhttpd path/to/docroot --addr ip_address

Motivation: This use case allows you to specify the IP address on which the Darkhttpd web server should listen. It is useful when you want to restrict access to a specific IP address or network.

Explanation:

• path/to/docroot is the path to the directory that contains the static content you want to serve.
• --addr ip_address is an optional argument to specify the IP address on which the server should listen. By default, the server listens on all interfaces.

Example output:

Serving HTTP on 192.168.1.100 port 8080...

Conclusion

The darkhttpd command is a simple and efficient way to serve static content without the need for complex configuration files. By utilizing its various options, you can easily start the web server, specify the document root, port, and IP address, giving you control over how your content is served.