webserv — HTTP/1.1 server in C++

School project: a from-scratch HTTP/1.1 web server in C++ 98. Supports multiple virtual servers, static files, autoindex, redirects, error pages, request body limits, and CGI.

Features

• HTTP/1.1 parsing & responses for GET POST and DELETE.
• Virtual servers (server { listen …; server_name …; }) with per-location config.
• Static files with root, index, autoindex on/off.
• Redirects (return 3xx <url>).
• Error pages (error_page <code> <path> per server).
• Request size limit (client_max_body_size 10M, etc.).
• CGI gateway: map file extensions to executables (e.g. .bash → /bin/bash, .cgi → /bin/perl).
• Method control per location (e.g., forbid_method POST DELETE).

Build

make

Run

./webserv your-config-file.conf

Config (nginx-like-syntax)

# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Example config for webserv (HTTP/1.1)
# - Syntax inspired by nginx; directives supported by this project.
# - Size units: B, K, M (e.g., 10B, 512K, 20M).
# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

# =========================
# Virtual Server #1 (site1)
# =========================
server {
  # Map CGI by extension to interpreter binaries
  cgi .bash /bin/bash
  cgi .cgi  /bin/perl

  # Listen on all interfaces, port 8080
  listen 0.0.0.0:9090

  # Host header to match (optional) 
  server_name localhost:9090

  # Custom error pages (per server)
  error_page 403 /var/www/site1/403.html
  error_page 404 /var/www/site1/404.html
  error_page 500 /var/www/site1/500.html

  # Max allowed request body
  client_max_body_size 150M

  # ---------- Root location ----------
  location / {
    # Directory to serve static files from
    root /var/www/site1;
    # Turn directory listing on/off
    autoindex off;
    # Default document(s) to try
    index index.html index.htm;
  }

  # ---------- Autoindex example ----------
  location /autoindex {
    # Serve a different folder with listing enabled
    root /var/www/site1/autoindex;
    autoindex on;
  }

  location /autoindex {
    root /mnt/nfs/homes/sasaicic/webserv/www/autoindex
    autoindex on
  }

  # ---------- Simple redirect ----------
  location /redirection {
    return 302 http://google.fr
  }
}

# =========================
# Virtual Server #2
# =========================
server {
  listen 0.0.0.0:8080;
  server_name site2.local:8080;

  client_max_body_size 10B;

  # Serve a different document root
  location / {
    root /var/www/site2;
    autoindex off;
    index index.html;
    # Forbid specific HTTP methods on this location
    forbid_method POST DELETE;
  }

  location /redirection {
    return 302 https://intra.42.fr/;
  }
}

Public assets

• www/ and www2/ hold example sites, images, fonts, Next.js static export, default 403/404/500 pages, and a sample upload form/CGI.