CS631 -- Advanced Programming in the UNIX Environment

Code Reading Exercise: Compare HTTP Implementations

Compare the following simple HTTP daemons:

• bozohttpd
• mini_httpd
• mathopod
• null httpd
• muhttpd

As you read through the code, identify the following logical / functional blocks and pay attention to how they are implemented:

• program startup and daemonization
• network logic (socket(2), bind(2), ...)
• request handling (pre-forking? select(2)? threads?
• input / request parsing and validation (how robust is this logic?)
• does this server support CGIs?
• does this server support ~-user directories?
• does this server support index generation?
• how does it handle regular file serving?
• what kind of coding style does the project use?
• would the code pass our standards?