Static Web Server

Overview

Static Web Server is an asynchronous, high-performance web server written in Rust, specifically designed for serving static files efficiently and securely. It offers a robust set of features that go beyond basic file serving, including support for HTTP/1 and HTTP/2 with TLS, various compression methods (Gzip, Brotli, Zstd), and advanced caching controls. This makes it an excellent choice for modern web applications and static sites.

The server provides extensive configuration options via command-line arguments, environment variables, or a TOML configuration file, allowing for fine-grained control over its behavior. Key functionalities like URL rewrites, redirects, custom error pages, basic authentication, and security headers enhance its utility for production environments. Its lightweight nature and Docker support make it ideal for containerized deployments and microservices architectures, ensuring fast startup times and low resource consumption while maintaining high throughput.

Best For

Hosting single-page applications (SPAs) built with frameworks like React, Angular, or Vue

Serving static websites, blogs, or documentation sites

Providing a fast and secure file server for assets (images, CSS, JS)

Developing and testing front-end projects locally

Deploying lightweight web services or APIs that only return static data

Creating a simple file sharing solution with basic authentication

Key Features

HTTP/1 and HTTP/2 with TLS support

HTTP to HTTPS redirect

Gzip, Brotli, and Zstd compression (on-the-fly and pre-compressed files)

Cache-Control headers management

CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing)

Security Headers (HSTS, X-Frame-Options, etc.)

Basic Authentication

Directory Listing

URL Rewrites and Redirects

Custom Error Pages

Virtual Hosting

Maintenance Mode

Docker support

Graceful Shutdown

Health endpoint

Pros & Cons

Pros

High performance and low resource consumption due to Rust implementation
Comprehensive feature set for static file serving, including advanced security and caching
Flexible configuration options (CLI, environment variables, TOML file)
Supports modern web standards like HTTP/2 and TLS out-of-the-box
Easy to deploy with Docker or as a standalone binary
Includes features like maintenance mode and graceful shutdown for robust operations

Cons

Primarily focused on static content; not suitable for dynamic application hosting without a proxy
Configuration can become complex with many options across different methods
Requires some technical understanding for advanced setup like TLS certificates or virtual hosting
Limited to serving files; lacks database integration or server-side scripting capabilities

Quick Info

Overview

Best For

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

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