HTTPServer

Overview

In this feature, an apprentice will build an HTTP server which includes routes, requests, and responses. The routes must be customizable with a URL, a verb, and an action to take when the route is called. This work will form the basis of many other features.

This feature corresponds to the acceptance tests in 01_getting_started in the HTTP Server Spec.

Functional Requirements

A user should be able to interact with the HTTP server as follows:

• When a client sends a properly formatted request to the server, the server sends an appropriate response back to the client.
• A client can send different HTTP requests to the server and get the appropriate response back each time.
• Different clients can send messages to server and get back their proper responses.
• The server should be able to handle 200, 300, and 400-level responses. Not every response code needs to be complete, but there should be a few representative response codes implemented for each level.

Implementation Requirements

• The server should establish a socket connection with the client using a low-level socket library. The goal of this exercise is to work with sockets directly.
• The server should accept and return streams of data rather than raw strings.
• The HTTP server should be covered by a robust suite of unit tests.
• The HTTP server should pass all of the tests covered in 01_getting_started in the HTTP Server Spec.

Dependencies

• Elixir 1.15.2
• Erlang/OTP 26
• Echo Server

Setup

1. Clone the repository to your local computer.
2. Use your terminal to navigate into your new http_server folder and install project dependencies by running mix compile.
3. To start the HTTP Server, call mix start from within the http_server folder.

Using the Server

For more information about connecting to the server as a client, basic routing, as well as handling redirects and static files, please see the doc folder.

Testing

Running the ExUnit Test Suite:

To run the ExUnit test suite, call mix test from within the http_server folder.

Acceptance Tests:

Dependencies

• Ruby 2.7.6

Running the Acceptance Test Suite:

1. Start your HTTP server by calling MIX_ENV=integration_test mix start from within the http_server folder.
2. Use your terminal to navigate into the test/http_server_spec folder and install project dependencies by running bundle install.
3. Once the server is running, call rake test from within the http_server_spec folder.
4. You can also run the tests from a specific section of the features:

rake test:f1 # Run all of the tests in 01_getting_started
rake test:f2 # Run all of the tests in 02_structured_data
rake test:f3 # Run all of the tests in 03_file_server
rake test:f4 # Run all of the tests in 04_todo_list

See test/http_server_spec/README.md for more information about the acceptance tests.