Creating a Web Server Hosted by Python: A Beginner’s Guide for Devs

Welcome Devs, if you are interested in creating a web server using Python, then you have come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we will show you how to set up and host a web server with Python, step by step. Whether you are new to web development or an experienced developer, this guide has something to offer you. So, let’s begin.

Introduction to Python Web Server Hosting

Python is a popular programming language for web development. It has a large number of libraries and frameworks that make it easy to create web applications. Python can also be used as a server-side language, allowing you to host your own web server.

In this guide, we will use Python to create our own web server. The server will be hosted on our local machine, which means it will not be accessible from the internet. However, once you have learned the basics, you can easily move your server to a remote machine or cloud platform.

What is a Web Server?

A web server is a computer system that hosts websites, web applications, and other web-related content. When a user requests a website, the web server sends the requested data to the user’s browser, which renders the website on the user’s device.

Why Host a Web Server with Python?

Python is a great language for web server hosting because it is versatile and easy to use. Python code is also easy to read and maintain, making it ideal for large projects. Additionally, Python has a large community of developers who regularly contribute to libraries and frameworks, making it easy to find solutions to common problems.

What You Will Need to Follow This Guide

To follow this guide, you will need:

• A computer running Windows, Mac, or Linux
• A text editor, such as Notepad++, Sublime Text, or Atom
• A basic understanding of Python programming

Setting up a Python Environment

Before we start creating our web server, we need to set up a Python environment. This will allow us to write Python code and run it on our computer. Here’s how:

Installing Python

If you haven’t already done so, you need to install Python on your computer. Head over to the Python website, and download the latest version of Python for your operating system. Follow the instructions to install Python.

Installing a Text Editor

You will also need a text editor to write your Python code. There are many text editors to choose from, but we recommend using Notepad++ for Windows users, Sublime Text for Mac users, and Atom for Linux users. Install your preferred text editor.

Creating a Python Project

Now that you have installed Python and a text editor, you need to create a Python project. Open your text editor, and create a new folder for your project. Name it something like “webserver”. Inside this folder, create a new file called “server.py”. This will be the file where we write our Python code.

Creating a Basic Web Server

Now that we have set up our Python environment, we can start creating our web server. First, we need to import the necessary Python libraries. Here’s the code:

Code
import http.server import socketserver

The http.server library provides classes for implementing HTTP servers that can serve files from the file system and respond to HTTP requests. The socketserver library provides a framework for creating network servers.

Creating a Simple HTTP Server

Now that we have imported the necessary libraries, we can create a simple HTTP server. Here’s the code:

Code
PORT = 8000 Handler = http.server.SimpleHTTPRequestHandler with socketserver.TCPServer(("", PORT), Handler) as httpd:     print("serving at port", PORT)     httpd.serve_forever()

This code will create a simple HTTP server that serves files from the current directory. To run this code, open your terminal or command prompt, navigate to your project directory, and run the following command:

Command
python server.py

Once you run this command, you should see the message “serving at port 8000”. This means your server is running.

Viewing Your Web Server

You can now view your web server by opening your web browser and navigating to http://localhost:8000. This will load the files from your current directory.

Advanced Web Server Configuration

Now that we have created a simple web server, let’s look at some advanced configurations that will make our server more useful. We will cover:

• Serving files from a specific directory
• Setting a custom port number
• Handling multiple requests simultaneously

Serving Files from a Specific Directory

By default, our web server serves files from the current directory. However, we can change the directory that the server serves files from. Here’s the code:

Code
PORT = 8000 Handler = http.server.SimpleHTTPRequestHandler Directory = "/path/to/directory" os.chdir(Directory) with socketserver.TCPServer(("", PORT), Handler) as httpd:     print("serving at port", PORT)     httpd.serve_forever()

This code will set the directory that the server serves files from to “/path/to/directory”. Replace this with the path to the directory you want to serve files from.

Setting a Custom Port Number

By default, our web server runs on port 8000. However, we can change the port that the server runs on. Here’s the code:

Code
PORT = 8080 Handler = http.server.SimpleHTTPRequestHandler with socketserver.TCPServer(("", PORT), Handler) as httpd:     print("serving at port", PORT)     httpd.serve_forever()

This code will set the port that the server runs on to 8080. Replace this with the port that you want to use.

Handling Multiple Requests Simultaneously

By default, our web server can only handle one request at a time. However, we can change this to handle multiple requests simultaneously. Here’s the code:

Code
PORT = 8000 Handler = http.server.SimpleHTTPRequestHandler with socketserver.ThreadingTCPServer(("", PORT), Handler) as httpd:     print("serving at port", PORT)     httpd.serve_forever()

This code will create a web server that handles multiple requests simultaneously using the socketserver.ThreadingTCPServer class instead of the socketserver.TCPServer class.

FAQ

1. I’m getting a “Port already in use” error. What should I do?

This error occurs when the port that you are trying to use is already in use by another application. Try using a different port number. You can also use the netstat -ano command (on Windows) or the lsof -i :[port_number] command (on Mac or Linux) to see which application is using the port, and kill that application.

2. Can I use Python to host a web server on the internet?

Yes, you can use Python to host a web server on the internet. However, you need to be careful about security and performance issues. We recommend using a cloud hosting service such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure, which offer managed web server solutions that are optimized for performance and security.

3. Can I use Python to create dynamic web applications?

Yes, you can use Python to create dynamic web applications. There are many Python web frameworks available that allow you to create web applications with dynamic content, such as Django, Flask, and Pyramid.

Conclusion

Congratulations, Devs! You have learned how to create a web server with Python. We hope you found this guide useful and informative. Keep exploring the possibilities of Python web development, and don’t forget to experiment with the code to see what else you can create. Happy coding!