TinyWebServer: An Exceptionally Lightweight and Feature-Loaded Web Server
In this digital age where the internet has become the backbone of many services, web servers hold immense significance. One such compelling project hosted on GitHub is the TinyWebServer, an impressively lightweight yet powerful web server. The project, available at https://github.com/qinguoyi/TinyWebServer, intends to facilitate an easier understanding of how web servers work and caters to those keen on learning or experimenting with web server development.
Project Overview:
TinyWebServer aims at providing a simplified, efficient, and accessible open-source web server for users to study, modify, and develop. Addressing the need for a non-complex and comprehensible web server, this project serves as an excellent starting point for beginner developers and students. Moreover, it intends to offer a platform for rigorous testing and acts as a catalyst for open-source contributions.
Project Features:
The simplicity of this project does not compromise its functionality. It supports HTTP processing, the cornerstone of web communication. Besides, it features a robust thread pool, capable of handling multiple client requests concurrently. Furthermore, it comes with timer management that addresses disconnection and idle connection problems. Its database component, based on Redis, simplifies data handling. It also supports an analysis of web status facilitating the users to learn from the website's operating status data.
Technology Stack:
The TinyWebServer project predominantly uses C++ for its development, providing the efficiency and control required for a web server. It employs the Linux Server Model, where the server operates in user mode and kernel mode to enhance its performance further. It leverages the Redis database system, an in-memory database, renowned for its speed and efficiency.
Project Structure and Architecture:
The project structure of TinyWebServer is well-organized and easy to follow. The main components include an HTTP connector, a timer, a thread pool, and a database component. These components work in unison to capture, process and respond to client requests, manage idle and live connections and handle data efficiently.