Question 1

How to parse an HTTP request with PicoHTTPParser in C?

Accepted Answer

Use the phr_parse_request function as shown in the README example: read data into a buffer, call the function with pointers to output structures, and handle return values for incomplete (-2) or erroneous (-1) requests. It's stateless, so you must manage the buffer and retry on incomplete data.

Question 2

PicoHTTPParser vs http-parser from node.js: which is better?

Accepted Answer

PicoHTTPParser is lighter and faster for HTTP/1 parsing in C, with zero allocation and stateless design, while http-parser offers more features and is integrated with Node.js. Choose PicoHTTPParser for raw speed in C projects, and http-parser for a more feature-rich, ecosystem-friendly option in Node.js environments.

Question 3

Does PicoHTTPParser handle chunked encoding?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it includes phr_decode_chunked for decoding chunked transfer encoding, as shown in the README. It decodes in-place and allows configuring whether to consume trailers, making it efficient but requiring careful buffer management.

Question 4

Is PicoHTTPParser thread-safe?

Accepted Answer

Since it's stateless and doesn't allocate memory, it can be thread-safe if used with separate buffers per thread. However, the caller must ensure proper synchronization if shared buffers are involved, as the parser itself has no internal locks.

Question 5

How to bind PicoHTTPParser to a language like Python or Rust?

Accepted Answer

Create C bindings using tools like CFFI for Python or unsafe blocks in Rust, wrapping the simple C API. Its minimal interface makes it relatively easy, as seen in Perl modules that use XS, but you'll need to handle memory and error propagation manually.

Question 6

What security risks should I watch for with PicoHTTPParser?

Accepted Answer

Its minimal validation means applications should add checks for header injection, request smuggling, or buffer overruns. Since it prioritizes speed, it may not catch all malformed inputs, so complement it with custom security logic based on your use case.

PicoHTTPParser

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