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SimpleHTTPServer VS WEBrick

Compare SimpleHTTPServer VS WEBrick and see what are their differences

SimpleHTTPServer logo SimpleHTTPServer

Serve a single directory over HTTP

WEBrick logo WEBrick

WEBrick is a Ruby library providing simple HTTP web server services.
  • SimpleHTTPServer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-22
  • WEBrick Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-09

SimpleHTTPServer features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    SimpleHTTPServer is extremely easy to use, requiring just a single command to spin up a basic web server, making it ideal for quick testing and development purposes.
  • No Installation Required
    As a standard module in Python 2.7, SimpleHTTPServer does not require any additional installation processes, reducing setup time for developers.
  • Platform Independent
    Being part of Python's standard library, it is platform-independent and can run on any system that supports Python.

Possible disadvantages of SimpleHTTPServer

  • Security
    SimpleHTTPServer lacks security features like HTTPS, authentication mechanisms, and protection against vulnerabilities, which makes it unsuitable for production environments.
  • Limited Functionality
    Designed for serving static files, SimpleHTTPServer lacks advanced functionalities like CGI scripting or integration with databases needed for dynamic content serving.
  • Obsolete
    Being a part of Python 2.7 which is no longer maintained, SimpleHTTPServer is obsolete, and users are encouraged to use Python 3, specifically the http.server module for better functionality and support.
  • Single Threaded
    By default, SimpleHTTPServer handles requests sequentially in a single-threaded manner, which can result in performance bottlenecks when handling multiple requests simultaneously.

WEBrick features and specs

  • Simplicity
    WEBrick is simple to set up and use, making it an excellent choice for lightweight and straightforward applications or for developers who need a quick HTTP server solution.
  • Built-In Ruby Support
    As part of the Ruby standard library, WEBrick is included with Ruby installations, providing easy access without the need for additional installations, making it convenient for developers.
  • Flexibility
    WEBrick can be easily customized and extended through its modular design, allowing developers to tailor it to specific needs or integrate it into larger applications.
  • Useful for Development and Testing
    It's useful for developing and testing Ruby applications because it can quickly provide a local server environment without additional configuration.

Possible disadvantages of WEBrick

  • Performance
    WEBrick is not designed for high performance and can become slow under heavy load, making it unsuitable for production environments requiring high traffic handling.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    It lacks many of the features found in more robust web servers like SSL termination, load balancing, and extensive logging, limiting its use in more complex scenarios.
  • Threading Limitations
    WEBrick's threading model may not effectively handle concurrent requests, which can lead to bottlenecks in applications that require handling many simultaneous requests.
  • Limited Ecosystem Support
    Compared to other Ruby servers, WEBrick has a smaller ecosystem and community support, making it harder to find resources or plugins for advanced use cases.

SimpleHTTPServer videos

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WEBrick videos

Webricks cc Review [August 2020] Prove It Is Legit or Scam? | Scam Adviser Reports

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Webrick bulk ordering tutorial video
  • Review - Scam Alert! WEBRICKS.CC | WEBRICKS.CC Review | WebRicks Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SimpleHTTPServer and WEBrick)
Application Server
55 55%
45% 45
Web Servers
54 54%
46% 46
Web And Application Servers
HTTP/2 Web Server
50 50%
50% 50

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing SimpleHTTPServer and WEBrick, you can also consider the following products

nginx - A high performance free open source web server powering busiest sites on the Internet.

Apache HTTP Server - Apache httpd has been the most popular web server on the Internet since April 1996

lighttpd - A secure, fast, compliant, and very flexible web-server that has been optimized for high-performance environments

mongrel - A small fast HTTP library and server that runs Rails, Camping, Nitro and Iowa apps.

Microsoft IIS - Internet Information Services is a web server for Microsoft Windows

Oracle WebLogic - Receive a complimentary technical review and consultation on moving your Oracle WebLogic Server applications into containers.