HTTP Server in Rust

This repository contains a simple HTTP server implemented in Rust. The server can handle incoming requests, parse them, and generate appropriate responses. Below are the key components and functionalities of the server.

Getting Started

Prerequisites: Make sure you have Rust installed on your system. If not, you can download it from here.

Clone the Repository:

git clone https://github.com/your-username/http-server-rust.git
cd http-server-rust

Build and Run:

cargo build
cargo run

The server will start listening on port 8080 by default.

Components

1. Request Parsing

The server parses incoming HTTP requests into three main components:

Start Line: Extracts the request method, request path, and HTTP version. Headers: Parses headers into a HashMap for easy access. Body: Retrieves the body content (if any).

2. handle_connection Function

The heart of the server lies in the handle_connection function:

Rust

fn handle_connection(mut stream: TcpStream) {
    // Implementation details...
}

This function is called for each incoming connection. It reads the request, processes it, and generates an appropriate response.

3. Response Generation

The server currently provides a basic response for requests:

For the root path (“/”), it returns an “HTTP 200 OK” response. For paths starting with “/echo/”, it echoes back the requested path.

Usage

Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:8080. Send requests to http://localhost:8080/your-path. Feel free to customize this server for your specific use case!

Customizing Responses

You can easily customize the server’s behavior by modifying the handle_connection function. Here are some ideas:

1. Dynamic Content

Instead of fixed responses, generate dynamic content based on the request. For example:

Return the current date and time. Fetch data from a database or an external API. Serve files from a specific directory.

2. Error Handling

Improve error handling by adding appropriate status codes and error messages. For instance:

Handle invalid request paths with a “404 Not Found” response. Check for malformed requests and respond with a “400 Bad Request” status.

3. Security Measures

Consider security aspects:

Implement rate limiting to prevent abuse. Validate input data to prevent injection attacks. Set up HTTPS for secure communication. Contributing Contributions are welcome! If you find any issues or have ideas for improvements, feel free to open an issue or submit a pull request.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.