SWS: The Shell Script as Web Server
Developer Brett Wynkoop has written the code for a simple web server called Simple/Small/Shell Web Server (SWS) in the form of a shell script.
SWS is ideal to serve static content on the web; however, the open source program lacks a CGI-Interface. The script works with Bourne-compatible shells and requires the standard Unix programs dirname, cat, and date. According to Wynkoop, installation consists of putting the program somewhere, making it executable, creating the document directory, and creating an entry in inetd.conf. He has tested his small server in FreeBSD, Solaris, and Linux.
SWS 1.0 creates index pages for directory listings on the fly and includes a "404 Page" for the "File not found" error message. The server is available for download as a stand-alone script and as a tarball, and includes a man page on the SWS-powered project home page.
The SWS is published with a BSD-license.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Manjaro 26.0 Primary Desktop Environments Default to Wayland
If you want to stick with X.Org, you'll be limited to the desktop environments you can choose.
-
Mozilla Plans to AI-ify Firefox
With a new CEO in control, Mozilla is doubling down on a strategy of trust, all the while leaning into AI.
-
Gnome Says No to AI-Generated Extensions
If you're a developer wanting to create a new Gnome extension, you'd best set aside that AI code generator, because the extension team will have none of that.
-
Parrot OS Switches to KDE Plasma Desktop
Yet another distro is making the move to the KDE Plasma desktop.
-
TUXEDO Announces Gemini 17
TUXEDO Computers has released the fourth generation of its Gemini laptop with plenty of updates.
-
Two New Distros Adopt Enlightenment
MX Moksha and AV Linux 25 join ranks with Bodhi Linux and embrace the Enlightenment desktop.
-
Solus Linux 4.8 Removes Python 2
Solus Linux 4.8 has been released with the latest Linux kernel, updated desktops, and a key removal.
-
Zorin OS 18 Hits over a Million Downloads
If you doubt Linux isn't gaining popularity, you only have to look at Zorin OS's download numbers.
-
TUXEDO Computers Scraps Snapdragon X1E-Based Laptop
Due to issues with a Snapdragon CPU, TUXEDO Computers has cancelled its plans to release a laptop based on this elite hardware.
-
Debian Unleashes Debian Libre Live
Debian Libre Live keeps your machine free of proprietary software.