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This project is a small collection of Python3 web server implementations, built
to run simple, uncomplicated applications in the browser without reaching for a
full framework.

`web.py` uses the standard library's `http.server` module together with
`socketserver.TCPServer` to serve a static `index.html` file — the same approach
Python3 uses to replace the old Python2 `SimpleHTTPServer`. It handles requests
synchronously, one at a time, which is enough for local development, quick file
sharing on a network, or serving static assets during offline work.

`async-server.py` takes the same basic goal — serve a page over HTTP — and
implements it with `asyncio` instead, using `asyncio.start_server` and a
coroutine-based request handler. It's considerably more code than the
`socketserver` version for the same result, which is part of the point: it shows
what asyncio buys you (non-blocking, concurrent request handling) and what it
costs in complexity versus the synchronous approach.

For the full breakdown, see the companion post,
[Creating a basic Python web server in Linux](https://www.mariadcampbell.com/blog/creating-a-basic-python-web-server-in-linux).
It covers the difference between `ForkingMixIn` and `ThreadingMixIn`, and how
`socketserver`'s server classes divide responsibility with request handler
classes. Finally, it provides a line-by-line look at the asyncio implementation.


A Python3 project exploring how to build simple synchronous and asynchronous HTTP servers using http.server, socketserver, and asyncio.

projects tag: web-server

Basic Python Web Server