Simple HTTP Server for Windows w/ custom Startpage

Simple HTTP Server & custom Startpage for the browser:

• on Windows using Python & Bash,
• on Linux using Lighttpd.

Windows

1. Make sure Git Bash & Python are installed (you probably do have those anyway…)

2. Make sure the bash & python are added to PATH

   Try:

   • bash --version,
   • python --version,

   if not, add them to environmental variables, e.g.,

   • "C:\Program Files\Python\" or "C:\Users\\[username]\AppData\Local\Programs\Python",
   • "C:\Program Files\Git\bin".

3. Edit the directory path in ./config/scriptStartup.bat (default: "E:\0PROGRAMOWANIE Projekty\Python WebServer HTTP\config\httpserver.sh")

4. Edit the directory path in ./config/httpserver.sh (default: DIR="/e/0PROGRAMOWANIE Projekty/Python WebServer HTTP/")

5. Edit the port in ./config/httpserver.sh (default: PORT=80)

6. Copy the ./config/scriptStartup.bat to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp (copy the file $\Rightarrow$ go to StartUp dir $\Rightarrow$ paste link here, or just paste the file)

7. Check status of the server w/ following command bash E:\0PROGRAMOWANIE Projekty\Python WebServer HTTP\config\httpserver.sh" status (remember to change the path to the ".sh" file)

8. Run bash E:\0PROGRAMOWANIE Projekty\Python WebServer HTTP\config\httpserver.sh" to see available commands (Usage: ./httpserver.sh {start|stop|status|restart}). Each command must include the path to the script (just Windows things, might try adding the dir path to PATH $\Rightarrow$ bash httpserver.sh status might work, idk haven't tested)

Linux

1. Install lighttpd (dnf install lighttpd ^{(Fedora KDE supremacy)})

2. Open the config sudo vi /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf (write /server_root to find element in vi or just use different editor)

3. Change the root dir var.server_root = "/var/www"

4. Uncomment the bind to localhost server.bind = "localhost"

5. Change port server.port = 80

6. Change website dir server.document-root = server_root + "/browserStartingPage" ("browserStartingPage" is the name of the directory where our website is located)

7. Move the files to specified location (e.g., sudo mv ~/browserStartingPage/ /var/www/)

8. Enable the service, restart it (not necessary I guess) and check if it is working systemctl enable lighttpd --now && ststemctl restart lighttpd && systemctl status lighttpd

Setup custom starting page

Firefox

1. Download the extension New Tab Override

2. Open settings about:preferences#home and go to "Home" $\Rightarrow$ "New windows and Tabs" section

3. Set the "New Window" to "other" and paste the link http://localhost

4. Open the New Tab Override extension settings, set the option to "custom" and paste the link http://localhost

Chromium browsers are trash because of Manifest V3, stop using them