How to set up HTTPS with CivetWeb?

Use OpenSSL or Mbed TLS by following the OpenSSL.md documentation; it involves linking the library and configuring SSL certificates via CivetWeb's API or configuration files.

CivetWeb vs Nginx for embedded systems?

CivetWeb is lighter and embeddable in C/C++ apps, ideal for resource-constrained devices, while Nginx is more feature-rich but heavier, better for standalone servers.

Can CivetWeb handle WebSocket connections?

Yes, it supports WebSocket server and client functionality, enabling real-time communication, as noted in the protocol support section of the README.

What scripting languages are supported?

It primarily supports Lua for server-side scripting and JavaScript via Duktape, with examples in the documentation for dynamic content generation.

Is CivetWeb good for IoT projects?

Yes, its lightweight, cross-platform nature and Lua scripting make it suitable for IoT devices needing web interfaces, but lack of advanced scaling might limit high-traffic use.

How to embed CivetWeb in a C++ application?

Include the single civetweb.c file, link necessary dependencies, and use the embedding API detailed in Embedding.md to add HTTP server functionality with callbacks.

Open-Awesome

Civetweb

NOASSERTIONCv1.16

An easy-to-use, embeddable C/C++ web server with optional CGI, SSL, and Lua support.

GitHub

3.4k stars1.0k forks0 contributors

What is Civetweb?

CivetWeb is an embedded web server library written in C/C++ that enables developers to add HTTP server functionality to existing applications or deploy it as a standalone server. It solves the need for a lightweight, cross-platform web server with scripting support, making it ideal for embedded systems and applications requiring web interfaces without heavy dependencies.

Target Audience

C/C++ developers building embedded systems, IoT devices, or applications that require an integrated web server for configuration, monitoring, or user interfaces.

Value Proposition

Developers choose CivetWeb for its simplicity, permissive MIT license, and rich feature set including Lua scripting, SSL support, and cross-platform compatibility, all packaged in a single-file library for easy integration.

Overview

Embedded C/C++ web server

Use Cases

Best For

Adding a web-based configuration interface to embedded C/C++ applications
Creating lightweight web servers for IoT devices with Lua scripting
Developing standalone web servers for Windows or Linux without installation
Building web-enabled tools with WebSocket support for real-time communication
Embedding HTTP server functionality in existing desktop or mobile applications
Setting up a simple web server with CGI support for prototyping or testing

Not Ideal For

Large-scale web applications needing advanced load balancing and clustering
Teams requiring extensive third-party integrations or a rich plugin ecosystem
Projects where rapid development with high-level frameworks and ORM is critical

Pros & Cons

Pros

Single-File Embeddability

Can be integrated as a single source file for easy compilation, minimizing dependencies and simplifying deployment, as stated in the README's overview.

Cross-Platform Flexibility

Works on a wide range of platforms including Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, and embedded systems like Buildroot, ensuring broad compatibility.

Built-in Scripting Support

Includes Lua Server Pages, server-side Lua scripts, and JavaScript via Duktape, offering dynamic content creation without external dependencies.

Comprehensive Security Features

Supports HTTPS via OpenSSL, HTTP digest authorization, IP-based ACL, and optional client X.509 certificates, providing robust security options for embedded use.

Cons

Experimental HTTP/2 Support

HTTP/2 functionality is labeled as experimental in the README, which may lead to instability or missing features for production-grade applications.

Limited Ecosystem and Documentation

Compared to mainstream web servers, it has fewer third-party integrations and relies on GitHub issues for support, with documentation scattered across multiple files.

Platform-Specific Bugs

The README mentions a bug in Git for Windows V2.24 requiring workarounds, indicating potential cross-platform quirks that could complicate development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Drogon

Drogon: A C++14/17/20 based HTTP web application framework running on Linux/macOS/Unix/Windows

Stars13,967

Forks1,339

Last commit3 days ago

oat++

🌱Light and powerful C++ web framework for highly scalable and resource-efficient web application. It's zero-dependency and easy-portable.

Stars8,609

Forks1,356

Last commit6 months ago

C++ REST SDK

The C++ REST SDK is a Microsoft project for cloud-based client-server communication in native code using a modern asynchronous C++ API design. This project aims to help C++ developers connect to and interact with services.

Stars8,260

Forks1,687

Last commit7 days ago

lwan

Experimental, scalable, high performance HTTP server

Stars6,032

Forks551

Last commit12 days ago

Community-curated · Updated weekly · 100% open source

Found a gem we're missing?

Open-Awesome is built by the community, for the community. Submit a project, suggest an awesome list, or help improve the catalog on GitHub.

Submit a project Star on GitHub