Question 1

How to set up HTTPS with http-server?

Accepted Answer

Use the -S flag for SSL, along with -C for cert.pem and -K for key.pem. First, generate certificates using openssl, and if using a passphrase, set it via the NODE_HTTP_SERVER_SSL_PASSPHRASE environment variable, as explained in the TLS/SSL section.

Question 2

http-server vs live-server: which is better for development?

Accepted Answer

http-server is more focused on static serving with production features like caching and proxy support, while live-server often includes live reloading. Choose http-server for robustness and simplicity, but live-server if you need automatic reloads on file changes.

Question 3

How to disable caching in http-server?

Accepted Answer

Use the -c-1 option when starting the server to disable caching entirely, as noted in the caching defaults. This is useful for development to avoid stale file issues.

Question 4

Can http-server handle API requests or dynamic content?

Accepted Answer

No, it only serves static files. For dynamic content, you'd need a separate backend server or use the proxy feature to forward requests, but it won't process server-side logic itself.

Question 5

How to use http-server as a proxy for local development?

Accepted Answer

Use the -P flag with the proxy URL, and for advanced setups, add --proxy-options or --proxy-config. The README even shows a hack for catch-all redirects by proxying to the same server with a ? at the end.

Question 6

Is http-server good for hosting single-page applications?

Accepted Answer

Yes, its magic files feature automatically serves index.html for directories and 404.html for missing routes, making it well-suited for SPAs with client-side routing without additional configuration.

http-server

What is http-server?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions