Introduction
I always wanted my programs to be controlled over the Internet or a LAN. Indeed, the .NET Framework includes many features to help you achieve this; but I needed more, so I decided to start from the very beginning and created my own, different HTTP server.
Talking about an HTTP server, usually an application sending local files to clients, comes to one's mind. But InsomniaServer
is different. It is all about customizing. You are absolutely free to answer every request your very own way, without having to use ASP.NET on IIS or some scripting language on Apache, which are quite big and often inconvenient for special tasks.
Let's pick up my first sentence: You wrote a program, which needs a Web interface. Do you really want to learn all about HTTP to do so? No, you need an easy way, to achieve everything you want - fast, transparent and stable. InsomniaServer
is perfect for you.
Another thing: You created a .NET assembly, that does a special (for example mathematical) thing, and want to present its output/reaction on some input on the Internet. Just reference InsomniaServer
and you are nearly done.
It would be possible to talk for hours about special cases, in which InsomniaServer
is great. Even though it is much better to think about your project and its special scenario, maybe you are looking for something like IS - so I would like to invite you to test it.
Using the Code
Initially I tried to insert the tutorials, I have written for InsomniaServer
, here - but had to see that they are a little too long for one article, and I did not want to scare you. So I do (for now) not post them as articles on The CodeProject, but provide them together with my demo projects included within the documentation, which can be downloaded here.
I recommend testing the MultiPaint
sample first (best, server and HTTP browser on different machines), as it shows what InsomniaServer
is all about. Afterwards, read the tutorials and play with the code, as this is in my opinion the best way to get into a new "technique".
The full documentation of InsomniaServer
can be found here.
Points of Interest
While looking at InsomniaServer
or developing some program using it (<- I would be pleased to hear about something like that:)), please do not miss the InsomniaSoftware.Server.Debug
namespace. I really liked it while debugging and tuning the Web interface of my software.
History
02/04/07 - Version 1.0 completed
17/04/07 - Small bugfix in HttpRequest.cs (thanks to Alberto aka rwtrecasd)
04/05/07 - InsomniaServer
version 1.0.1.0 uploaded
- Major fixes in HTML-form handling and encoding
- New functions added
- Added
SystemBrowser
sample for those who doubt IS's practical use;). It allows you to view a PC's hardware and disk content via webbrowser (including login and user management).
This is how SystemBrowser
works:
12/05/07 - InsomniaServer
version 1.0.2.1 uploaded
HtmlSource
added. It enables you to create a structure of HTML elements (many pre-defined and any customized one that you want) - IS builds the final page for you. Just to give a simple example:
HtmlSource page = new HtmlSource("Hello!");
page.curNode.AddSubNode(HtmlObjects.BoldText
("Hello world! Sp€c?a£ cHäRa?t?r?"));
This results in:
<html><head><title>Hello!</title></head>
<body>
<b>Hello world! Sp€cїą£
cHäRαсtЄrЅ</b>
</body></html>
10/01/08 - InsomniaServer
version 1.0.3.0 uploaded
- Added IPv6 support to IS, which fixed problems with Windows Vista
- Minor changes
- Updated examples
Please update to 1.0.3.0. You will have to make no changes within your code.
References
- HTTP: The Definitive Guide 1st edition by David Gourley and Brian Totty
I was born in 1987. Unfortunately too late to experience the real rise of the PC. But fortunately late enough to enjoy things like MS's .net during my school time
From the time when some relative taught me a little BASIC under MS DOS, I loved to tell computers what to do - even though my real start in programming was around the age of 16.
At the moment, I am studying Software Engineering at University of Augsburg, always hoping to find time to design and program.
Besides, I like meeting friends, spent time with my girlfriend and enjoy life