HTTPD

Project Overview

HTTPd is a rigorous implementation of a web server capable of handling HTTP/1.1 requests. The goal was to understand the underlying mechanisms of the web: parsing protocols, managing connections, and running as a background system service (Daemon).
Grade achieved: 77% (Successful validation of core features and stability).

Core Architecture

The project required building a robust architecture handling the full lifecycle of a request without blocking the system.

1. Network Layer (Sockets)

Implementation of the TCP/IP stack using C sockets (socket, bind, listen, accept). The server handles client connections and ensures data integrity during transmission.

2. HTTP Parsing (RFC 9112)

A custom parser processes raw bytes into structured HTTP requests. It validates:

• Request Line: Methods (GET, HEAD), URI, and HTTP Version.
• Headers: Parsing key-value pairs (Host, Content-Length, etc.).
• Body: Handling payloads for specific requests.
• Error Handling: Generating appropriate error codes (400 Bad Request, 404 Not Found, 505 Version Not Supported).

Key Features

Feature	Description
Daemon Mode	The server detaches from the terminal (double fork), manages PID files, and handles signals (SIGINT, SIGTERM) for graceful shutdowns.
Configuration	Dynamic loading of settings (Port, IP, Root Directory) via a configuration file.
Virtual Hosts	Basic support for vhosts to serve different content based on the requested Host header.
Logging	Detailed access logs allowing traffic monitoring and debugging.

Conclusion

This project provided deep insights into network programming and system calls. Handling the strict constraints of the HTTP RFC taught me precision in protocol implementation and memory management in long-running processes.