Webserver — Nginx-like HTTP Server in C++
A high-performance, non-blocking HTTP server built in C++98 inspired by Nginx. Engineered with epoll() for I/O multiplexing to handle thousands of concurrent connections.
Overview
Modern frameworks hide the complexity of the web. My goal was to rebuild an actual HTTP server from scratch to understand connection handling, request parsing, and protocol compliance at the lowest level.
Event-Driven Architecture
Inspired by Nginx, I implemented a non-blocking, event-driven architecture using epoll() for I/O multiplexing. This allows the server to manage thousands of simultaneous client connections efficiently. It supports core HTTP methods, CGI execution for dynamic content, and strict RFC-compliant request validation.
What I Mastered
Low-level network programming, socket management, and the HTTP protocol itself. I learned how to handle concurrent connections without blocking the main thread, parse raw HTTP requests, optimize server performance under heavy load, and implement precise, RFC-compliant HTTP status codes for every response.
How this helps in the real world
Every web application and API sits on top of HTTP. Knowing this protocol deeply means I can make smarter caching decisions, optimize Core Web Vitals, configure reverse proxies flawlessly, and debug network bottlenecks that ordinary web developers simply can't see.
Key features & competencies
- Event-driven design with epoll for thousands of concurrent connections
- RFC-oriented HTTP parsing and response generation
- CGI path for dynamic content execution and extensibility
- Nginx-inspired configuration with virtual hosts and route matching
Want to Build Something Like This?
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