🚀 LocalServer

A fast, lightweight local development server written in C for macOS.
Designed for serving static websites with a clean CLI workflow and useful developer features.

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📦 Build Instructions (macOS)

No external dependencies required.

1. Install Apple Command Line Tools

xcode-select --install

2. Compile

cc -Wall -Wextra -O2 main.c -o localserver -pthread

3. Run

./localserver --folder ./site --port 8080

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🖥️ CLI Usage Examples

Serve one folder

./localserver --folder ./site

➡️ Runs at: http://127.0.0.1:8080

Custom port

./localserver --folder ./site --port 3000

Multiple folders

./localserver \
  --folder ./site1 --port 8080 \
  --folder ./site2 --port 8081

Custom host

./localserver --host 127.0.0.1 --folder ./site --port 8080

Bind to all interfaces (LAN access)

./localserver --host 0.0.0.0 --folder ./site --port 8080

Access locally via:

http://127.0.0.1:8080

Open browser automatically

./localserver --open --folder ./site

Logging modes

./localserver --verbose --folder ./site   # detailed logs
./localserver --quiet --folder ./site     # minimal output

Enable directory listing

./localserver --dir-list --folder ./site

Enable CORS

./localserver --cors --folder ./site

Enable caching headers

./localserver --cache --folder ./site

Route alias

./localserver --folder ./site --route /assets=./shared-assets

Then:

http://127.0.0.1:8080/assets/logo.png

Serves:

./shared-assets/logo.png

List config + port availability

./localserver --folder ./site --port 8080 --list

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⚙️ Config File Support

Create a server.conf:

host=127.0.0.1

folder=./site
port=8080
route=/assets=./shared-assets

folder=./docs
port=8081

dir_list=true
cache=false
cors=true
verbose=true

Run with config

./localserver

or:

./localserver --config server.conf

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✨ Features Explained

📁 Static File Serving

Requests like:

/assets/style.css

Are:

1. URL decoded
2. validated for safety
3. resolved using realpath()
4. streamed to the browser

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📄 Automatic index.html

When visiting:

/

The server serves:

index.html

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🚫 Custom 404 Page

If present:

404.html

It will be returned automatically for missing files.

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🔐 Safe Path Handling

Prevents:

../

Also blocks symlinks escaping the root directory.

Example blocked:

/../../etc/passwd

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⚡ Concurrency Model

• 1 thread per server
• 1 detached thread per client

Allows multiple simultaneous requests without blocking.

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📦 Large File Streaming

Files are streamed in chunks:

#define FILE_STREAM_BUFFER_SIZE 65536

Prevents high memory usage.

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🔀 Route Aliases

--route /assets=./shared-assets

Maps:

/assets → ./shared-assets

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⚙️ Config System

Simple format:

key=value

Rules:

• folder defines a server block
• port + route apply to the last folder

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🧠 Customization Guide

Upgrade	Where to edit
Add MIME types	mime_type_for_path()
Increase servers	#define MAX_SERVERS 3
Increase routes	#define MAX_ROUTES 8
Change default port	#define DEFAULT_PORT 8080
Modify cache headers	send_headers()
Add SPA fallback	serve_request_path()
Add JSON logs	handle_client()
Add IPv6	use getaddrinfo()

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🔮 Suggested Next Feature

SPA Mode (--spa)

Fallback unknown routes to index.html.

Useful for:

• React
• Vue
• Svelte

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🎯 Summary

• ⚡ Fast C-based HTTP server
• 🧩 Multiple folders / ports
• 🔐 Safe file handling
• 🧵 Concurrent requests
• ⚙️ Config + CLI support
• 🧪 Ideal for local web development