http-server-cli 1.0.6

Local HTTP Server Manager

http-server-cli

Forget ports. Just preview.

Based on python3 -m http.server, zero external dependencies. Just hs . -o to preview your project.

• Zero External Dependencies — Only requires macOS (lsof/open) and Python 3.7+ (pip install http-server-cli)
• Auto Port Allocation + Preview — Default 8080, auto-increment on conflict (hs . -o)
• Smart Homepage — Auto-redirect to most recently modified HTML file when no index.html
• Project Tracking — Persistent project path ↔ port mapping (hs list)
• Process Resource Monitoring — Real-time CPU, memory usage and runtime (hs list)
• Multiple Launch Modes — Daemon background or foreground (-d daemon / -f foreground)
• JSON Output — All commands support --json for API/MCP consumption
• Custom Index Page — Specify default HTML file with -i/--index

Why hs

When developing multiple frontend projects, you constantly switch between "Which port did A use?" and "Who's occupying 8080?".

hs closes the loop: Start → Track → List → Kill — auto-find free ports, remember which project uses which port, view and close anytime.

Comparison

Scenario	Before	With hs
Start server	python3 -m http.server 8080 + manually open browser	hs . -o — auto-find free port, open browser
View servers	lsof -i :8080, then ps to see path	hs list
Switch projects	Kill old one, start new (or conflict)	hs ../project-b
Kill server	lsof to find PID → kill	hs kill 8080

Installation

pip install http-server-cli

# Upgrade to latest version
pip install --upgrade http-server-cli

Verify:

hs version     # → http-server-cli v1.0.6
hs . -o        # Start in current directory + open browser

Usage

Daily Workflow

# 1. Preview your project
cd ~/project-alpha
hs . -o                     # Auto-find free port, open browser

# 2. Check running servers
hs list
# ✅  http://localhost:8080   →  ~/project-alpha
# ✅  http://localhost:8081   →  ~/project-beta  (daemon)

# 3. Kill unwanted servers
hs kill 8080                # By port
hs kill ~/project-alpha     # By path
hs kill-all                 # Kill all

All Commands

Command	Description
hs . [-o] [-d] [-f]	Shortcut, equivalent to hs start .
hs start [path] [-o] [-d] [-f] [-i <file>]	Start server (path defaults to .; -o open browser; -d daemon; -f foreground; -i custom index)
hs list	List all running servers
hs list --json	JSON format list
hs status [port|path]	Query single server status
hs status --json [port|path]	JSON format status
hs kill <port|path>	Kill specified server
hs kill-all	Kill all servers
hs config	Show configuration
hs config --json	JSON format configuration
hs set port <num>	Set default port (default 8080)
hs set domain <str>	Set bind domain (default localhost)

Tips

• hs . -o = hs start . -o, faster to type
• hs . -d: daemon mode, runs in background, check with hs list
• hs . -f: foreground mode, Ctrl+C to stop
• hs without args = hs start . (start in current directory)
• hs . -i app.html: use app.html as the index page

Data Directory

~/.http-server-cli/
├── config.json       # Default port/domain configuration
├── registry.json     # port → {path, pid, domain, daemon, foreground, started_at}
└── logs/{port}.log   # http.server logs

Platform Requirements

Currently only supports macOS (requires lsof command). Linux/Windows support in development.

Local Development

git clone [e-mail]:imjaden/http-server-cli.git
cd http-server-cli
pip install -e .
python3 -m pytest tests/

Is This Reinventing the Wheel?

Tool	Start Server	Auto Port	Track Project↔Port	List All	Kill by Name	Open Browser
python3 -m http.server	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
http-server (npm)	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅
serve (npm)	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅
live-server	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅
portless (npm)	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅
kill-port-cli (npm)	❌	❌	❌	✅	✅	❌
lsof / netstat	❌	❌	❌	Manual	Manual	❌
http-server-cli	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅