modlib

modlib is a small library that makes it easy to write 'mod' plugins for Erlang's httpd server.

Motivation

The standard Erlang language environment ships with a powerful set of network tools in the 'inets' OTP application. This includes a full featured HTTP server in the httpd module.

httpd supports a plugin model that's similar to Apache's 'mod' API. It also ships with a number of useful mods, including support for authentication, authorization, URL aliases, and several others.

modlib makes it drop dead simple to write extensions for httpd, including Erlang based web apps.

Sample Code

A simple hello world app:

-module(hello_http).

-include_lib("modlib/include/webapp.hrl").

-export([start/1, request/3]).

start(Port) ->
    modlib:start([{port, Port}, {modules, [?MODULE]}]).

wrequest("GET", _Path, _Info) ->
    {ok, {html, "Hello modlib!"}};
request(_Method, _Path, _Info) ->
    {error, "Bad Request"}.

To Do

• Need a "catch all" handler that doesn't barf with 500 when httpd runs out of modules (e.g. there's a single webapp that returns not_handled as its catch all).
• If modlib_webapp is declared as a behavior, it breaks the wrapping that's done by the webapp include.
• Remove mochiweb util module dependencies, lazy!

inets Wish List

• Simplify the list of the options that are needed in inets:start/2