It’s not the same 0.12 that was available last year, honest!
A new version of Thomas Milius’ freeware web server, HTTPServ is now available – with a version number confusingly reminiscent of the version released back in May 2022, though according to Thomas there’s a reason for that.
The new version is 0.12, while last May’s version was also 0.12, and there have been updates since suffixing a letter to that number. However, Thomas explains that he’s done this because the changes in previous versions may have only been small – or external to the program itself – and with this 0.12 everything, including the manual and program, is up to date.
HTTPServ has gained a number of new features in this version, such as the provision of header files that can be evaluated by scripts, new CGI variables to aid cookie creation, the ability to authenticate users based on access to a base directory – and related to that, a CGI variable containing details of the authenticated user – and more.
There are also a couple of new examples provided of ways the server can be used – one being a simple cloud, and another for streaming a simple MJPEG video (though the browser at the other end needs to be able to support the stream, obviously!)
Thomas also warns that the new version is not fully backwards compatible, so people using it may need to make changes to their set up to accommodate the way the program now works. The specific things he mentions in this respect are:
- The configuration file no longer has a ‘Server Directory’ entry – instead this information is provided via a parameter when starting the program.
- A new parameter has been added for anything called as ‘adapter’ programs, which may in particular affect programs written in BASIC that use OS_ReadArgs.
- The way the CGI$S variable is handled in such programs has also been changed, which will affect all BASIC programs and Obey scripts.
HTTPServ is free to download, the software can be found from the Computer Activities section of Thomas’ homepage. It can also be found via !Store, and that version also includes the associated !SSI program. However, please note that because of the version number confusion mentioned above, !Store may indicate that a new version is available.