Simple HTTP Server

Overview

This project implements a basic HTTP server in Python that serves static files and handles HTTP GET requests. The server also includes support for:

• HTTP status codes like 200 OK, 404 Not Found, 403 Forbidden, and 302 Found.
• Serving files of various types (html, txt, jpg, js, css) with appropriate Content-Type headers.
• Redirecting requests for certain resources.
• Handling forbidden files and internal server errors.

Features

• Handles HTTP GET requests: Serves requested files or returns appropriate HTTP error responses.
• Content-Type support: Automatically determines and sets the Content-Type header based on the file extension.
• Redirection: Redirects certain URLs to new locations using 302 Found.
• Forbidden access: Prevents access to specified files, returning 403 Forbidden.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.x

Usage

1. Clone or download the project files.
2. Ensure that Python 3 is installed on your system.
3. Open a terminal and navigate to the project directory.
4. Run the server using the command:

   python HTTP_server_shell.py

5. Open a web browser or use an HTTP client (e.g., curl) to access the server at:

   http://127.0.0.1:54321
   

Accessing Files

• To access the root directory (/), navigate to:

  http://127.0.0.1:54321/
  

  The server will serve the index.html file (ensure this file exists in the same directory as the server).

• To request specific files, append their paths to the URL. For example:

  http://127.0.0.1:54321/example.html
  

Handling Errors

• If the requested file does not exist, the server will return a 404 Not Found response.
• If access to the file is forbidden, the server will return a 403 Forbidden response.
• If the server encounters an unknown error, it will return a 500 Internal Server Error response.

Notes

• The server listens on 127.0.0.1 (localhost) and port 54321 by default. Make sure this port is not in use by another application.
• For testing redirection, request /html1.page to be redirected to /html2.page.

Customization

You can modify the following aspects in the HTTP_server_shell.py file:

• Port: Change the PORT constant to a different value if needed.
• Redirections: Add or modify entries in the REDIRECTION_DICTIONARY.
• Forbidden Files: Add filenames to the FORBIDDEN_FILES list to restrict access.

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Enjoy using this simple HTTP server!