This C++ Web Server is a robust, efficient, and easy-to-use web server built using the standalone ASIO library. It's designed to serve static files from a specified root directory over HTTP. The server is suitable for a wide array of applications including hosting websites, providing file downloads, or even for educational purposes to understand the basics of web server operations and HTTP protocols.

• Multi-threaded: Efficiently handles multiple connections concurrently using threads.
• MIME Type Recognition: Automatically determines the MIME type based on file extensions.
• Static File Serving: Serves files from a specified root directory.
• Local Network Accessibility: Accessible from any device within the same local network.

In addition to serving static files, the server is capable of delivering dynamic web pages. Users can interact with elements on the page, such as clickable areas that redirect to external URLs. An example implementation of this feature is provided in the project, where users can choose between two options (represented as a red pill and a blue pill) which redirect them to different YouTube videos.

The server supports custom CSS styling, allowing for fully customizable web pages. The provided example showcases a webpage with a fixed background image, flexbox-centered content, and responsive design for different viewport sizes.

  sudo apt install libasio-dev

Ensure you have g++ and the ASIO library installed. Navigate to the root directory of the project and compile the server using the following command:

g++ -std=c++11 -pthread src/server.cpp -o bin/server -l pthread

If your ASIO headers are in a non-standard directory, include the path:

g++ -std=c++11 -pthread -I/path/to/asio/include src/server.cpp -o bin/server -l pthread

Execute the compiled server using:

./bin/server

The server will start on port 8080 by default. Access it by going to http:https://localhost:8080 in your web browser.

Any device on the same local network can access the server. They need to enter http:https://<Server's Local IP Address>:8080 in their browser. The server's local IP address can be found by running ifconfig (on Linux/Mac) or ipconfig (on Windows) in the terminal.

To stop the server, you can simply press Ctrl+C in the terminal where it's running.

The server listens on port 8080 by default. Ensure that exposing this port doesn't violate your network security policies.

Ensure that the server's root directory doesn't contain sensitive files, as all files in the directory will be publicly accessible.

This server does not support encrypted connections (HTTPS). For production use, it's recommended to add SSL/TLS support or use a reverse proxy that provides encryption.

Basic error handling is implemented. However, in a production environment, more robust error handling and logging would be advisable.

The server spawns a new thread for each connection. For a high number of concurrent connections, resource management strategies should be considered.

This software is provided under the MIT License.

Orkun Acar