http-server

Start an HTTP server listening on the default port to serve the current directory

$ http-server

$ http-server [path/to/directory] [[-p|--port]] [port]

$ http-server --username [username] --password [password]

$ http-server -d [false]

$ http-server [[-S|--ssl]] [[-C|--cert]] [path/to/cert.pem] [[-K|--key]] [path/to/key.pem]

$ http-server --log-ip

$ http-server --cors

$ http-server [[-s|--silent]]

http-server [options] [<path>]

-p, --port <port>
    Port to listen on (default: 8080)

-a, --address <address>
    Address to bind to (default: all interfaces)

-d, --directory-listing
    Enable/disable directory listings (default: enabled)

--cors
    Enable CORS headers (Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *)

--corslist <origins>
    Comma-separated list of allowed origins

-o, --open
    Open browser window on startup

-s, --silent
    Suppress log messages

--gzip
    Enable GZIP compression

--brotli
    Enable Brotli compression

-c, --cache <seconds>
    Cache time in seconds (default: 3600)

-w, --watch
    Watch for file changes and reload

--https, -S
    Enable HTTPS

--cert <path>
    Path to SSL certificate

--key <path>
    Path to SSL private key

--proxy <host:port>
    Proxy requests to another host

--spa
    Serve single-page apps (no .html except index)

--basic-auth <user:pass>
    HTTP basic authentication

--no-dotfiles
    Don't show dotfiles in listings

-h, --help
    Display help

-v, --version
    Show version

http-server is a simple, zero-configuration command-line tool for serving static files via HTTP. Built with Node.js, it is installed via npm and instantly turns any directory into a web server accessible at http://localhost:8080 by default.

Key features include automatic directory listings, GZIP/Brotli compression, CORS support, file watching for live reloads, HTTPS with custom certificates, proxying, HTTP basic auth, and SPA routing. It logs requests and supports binding to specific interfaces or ports.

Ideal for local development, testing front-end apps, or quick file sharing without full web servers like Apache or Nginx. No setup needed beyond installation; highly portable across platforms including Linux.

Usage starts in a project directory: http-server serves the current folder. Customize with flags for production-like setups during dev.

Not a native Linux command; requires Node.js (≥14) and npm. Install globally: npm install -g http-server. Runs as user process, not daemonized. For production, use dedicated servers like Nginx.

npm install --global http-server
Then run http-server in any directory.

http-server -p 3000 -o -w
Serves on port 3000, opens browser, watches files.

http-server -S --cert cert.pem --key key.pem
Generates self-signed certs if paths omitted.

Created in 2011 by Charlie Robbins (indexzero) as a Node.js static file server. Evolved from node-static; current version (~14.x) maintained by community on npm with 20M+ weekly downloads. Key updates: Brotli support (v13+), better SPA handling.

python3 -m http.server(1), php -S(1), busybox httpd(8), nginx(8)