algernon

Distro Packages

Quick installation

go install github.com/xyproto/algernon@latest

git clone https://github.com/xyproto/algernon
cd algernon
go build -mod=vendor
./welcome.sh

Releases and pre-built images

Getting Started

Docker

mkdir localhost
echo 'hi!' > localhost/index.md
docker run -it -p4000:4000 -v .:/srv/algernon xyproto/algernon

Technologies

Design decisions

Features and limitations

Q&A

Installation

macOS

Arch Linux

Any system where Go is available

go install github.com/xyproto/algernon@main

Utilities

Overview

Screenshots

Samples

Getting started

Run Algernon in "dev" mode

Configure the required ports for local use

Prepare for running the samples

git clone https://github.com/xyproto/algernon
cd algernon
make

Launch the "welcome" page

Create your own Algernon application, for regular HTTP

Create your own Algernon application, for HTTP/2 + HTTPS

Using AI / LLMs / Ollama

lua> ollama()
Autumn leaves, crisp air, poetry flowing - this is what comes to mind when I think of Algernon.

lua> ollama("Write a haiku about software developers")
The software developer,
In silence, tapping at keys,
Creating digital worlds.

lua> oc = OllamaClient("mixtral")
lua> oc:ask("Write a quicksort function in OCaml")
Sure! Here's an implementation of the quicksort algorithm in OCaml:

let rec qsort = function
  | [] -> []
  | pivot :: rest ->
      let smaller, greater = List.partition (fun x -> x < pivot) rest in
      qsort smaller @ [pivot] @ qsort greater

This function takes a list as input and returns a new list with the same elements but sorted in ascending order using the quicksort algorithm. The `qsort` funct.

Here are some examples of using the `qsort` function:

# qsort [5; 2; 9; 1; 3];;
- : int list = [1; 2; 3; 5; 9]

# qsort ["apple"; "banana"; "cherry"];;
- : string list = ["apple"; "banana"; "cherry"]

# qsort [3.14; 2.718; 1.618];;
- : float list = [1.618; 2.718; 3.14]

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions or need further clarification.

lua> oc = OllamaClient("llama3")
lua> oc:distance("cat", "dog")
0.3629187146002938
lua> oc:distance("cat", "kitten")
0.3584441305547792
lua> oc:distance("dog", "puppy")
0.2825554473355113
lua> oc:distance("dog", "kraken", "manhattan")
7945.885516248905
lua> oc:distance("dog", "kraken", "cosine")
0.5277307399621305

text/html
gemma

Generate a fun and over the top web page that demonstrates the use of CSS animations and JavaScript.
Everything should be inline in one HTML document. Only output the full and complete HTML document.

Basic Lua functions

// Return the version string for the server.
version() -> string

// Sleep the given number of seconds (can be a float).
sleep(number)

// Log the given strings as information. Takes a variable number of strings.
log(...)

// Log the given strings as a warning. Takes a variable number of strings.
warn(...)

// Log the given strings as an error. Takes a variable number of strings.
err(...)

// Return the number of nanoseconds from 1970 ("Unix time")
unixnano() -> number

// Convert Markdown to HTML
markdown(string) -> string

// Sanitize HTML
sanhtml(string) -> string

// Return the directory where the REPL or script is running. If a filename (optional) is given, then the path to where the script is running, joined with a path separator and the given filename, is returned.
scriptdir([string]) -> string

// Read a glob, ie. "*.md" in the current script directory, or the given directory (optional). The contents of all found files are returned as a table.
readglob(string[, string]) -> table

// Return the directory where the server is running. If a filename (optional) is given, then the path to where the server is running, joined with a path separator and the given filename, is returned.
serverdir([string]) -> string

Lua functions for handling requests

// Set the Content-Type for a page.
content(string)

// Return the requested HTTP method (GET, POST etc).
method() -> string

// Output text to the browser/client. Takes a variable number of strings.
print(...)

// Same as print, but does not add a newline at the end.
print_nonl(...)

// Return the requested URL path.
urlpath() -> string

// Return the remote address ("host:port") of the connected client.
remoteaddr() -> string

// Return the HTTP header in the request, for a given key, or an empty string.
header(string) -> string

// Set an HTTP header given a key and a value.
setheader(string, string)

// Return the HTTP headers, as a table.
headers() -> table

// Return the HTTP body in the request (will only read the body once, since it's streamed).
body() -> string

// Set a HTTP status code (like 200 or 404). Must be used before other functions that writes to the client!
status(number)

// Set a HTTP status code and output a message (optional).
error(number[, string])

// Serve a file that exists in the same directory as the script. Takes a filename.
serve(string)

// Serve a Pongo2 template file, with an optional table with template key/values.
serve2(string[, table)

// Return the rendered contents of a file that exists in the same directory as the script. Takes a filename.
render(string) -> string

// Return a table with keys and values as given in a posted form, or as given in the URL.
formdata() -> table

// Return a table with keys and values as given in the request URL, or in the given URL (`/some/page?x=7` makes the key `x` with the value `7` available).
urldata([string]) -> table

// Redirect to an absolute or relative URL. May take an HTTP status code that will be used when redirecting.
// Returns false if the connection has been closed.
redirect(string[, number]) -> bool

// Permanent redirect to an absolute or relative URL. Uses status code 302.
// Returns false if the connection has been closed.
permanent_redirect(string) -> bool

// Send "Connection: close" as a header to the client, flush the body and also
// stop Lua functions from writing more data to the HTTP body.
close()

// Transmit what has been outputted so far, to the client. Returns true if it worked out and the connection has not been closed.
flush() -> bool

Lua functions for formatted output

// Output rendered Markdown to the browser/client. The given text is converted from Markdown to HTML. Takes a variable number of strings. A script tag may also be added.
mprint(...)

// Output rendered Markdown to the browser/client. The given text is converted from Markdown to HTML. Takes a variable number of strings. If a script tag needs to be added to the HTML, it is returned as a string.
mprint_ret(...) -> string

// Output rendered Amber to the browser/client. The given text is converted from Amber to HTML. Takes a variable number of strings.
aprint(...)

// Output rendered GCSS to the browser/client. The given text is converted from GCSS to CSS. Takes a variable number of strings.
gprint(...)

// Output rendered HyperApp JSX to the browser/client. The given text is converted from JSX to JavaScript. Takes a variable number of strings.
hprint(...)

// Output rendered React JSX to the browser/client. The given text is converted from JSX to JavaScript. Takes a variable number of strings.
jprint(...)

// Output rendered HTML to the browser/client. The given text is converted from Pongo2 to HTML. The first argument is the Pongo2 template and the second argument is a table. The keys in the table can be referred to in the template.
poprint(string[, table])

// Output a simple HTML page with a message, title and theme.
// The title and theme are optional.
msgpage(string[, string][, string])

Lua functions related to JSON

// Use, or create, a JSON document/file.
JFile(filename) -> userdata

// Takes a JSON path. Returns a string value, or an empty string.
jfile:getstring(string) -> string

// Takes a JSON path. Returns a JNode or nil.
jfile:getnode(string) -> userdata

// Takes a JSON path. Returns a value or nil.
jfile:get(string) -> value

// Takes a JSON path (optional) and JSON data to be added to the list.
// The JSON path must point to a list, if given, unless the JSON file is empty.
// "x" is the default JSON path. Returns true on success.
jfile:add([string, ]string) -> bool

// Take a JSON path and a string value. Changes the entry. Returns true on success.
jfile:set(string, string) -> bool

// Remove a key in a map. Takes a JSON path, returns true on success.
jfile:delkey(string) -> bool

// Convert a Lua table, where keys are strings and values are strings or numbers, to JSON.
// Takes an optional number of spaces to indent the JSON data.
// (Note that keys in JSON maps are always strings, ref. the JSON standard).
json(table[, number]) -> string

// Create a JSON document node.
JNode() -> userdata

// Add JSON data to a node. The first argument is an optional JSON path.
// The second argument is a JSON data string. Returns true on success.
// "x" is the default JSON path.
jnode:add([string, ]string) -> bool

// Given a JSON path, retrieves a JSON node.
jnode:get(string) -> userdata

// Given a JSON path, retrieves a JSON string.
jnode:getstring(string) -> string

// Given a JSON path and a JSON string, set the value.
jnode:set(string, string)

// Given a JSON path, remove a key from a map.
jnode:delkey(string) -> bool

// Return the JSON data, nicely formatted.
jnode:pretty() -> string

// Return the JSON data, as a compact string.
jnode:compact() -> string

// Sends JSON data to the given URL. Returns the HTTP status code as a string.
// The content type is set to "application/json; charset=utf-8".
// The second argument is an optional authentication token that is used for the
// Authorization header field.
jnode:POST(string[, string]) -> string

// Alias for jnode:POST
jnode:send(string[, string]) -> string

// Same as jnode:POST, but sends HTTP PUT instead.
jnode:PUT(string[, string]) -> string

// Fetches JSON over HTTP given an URL that starts with http or https.
// The JSON data is placed in the JNode. Returns the HTTP status code as a string.
jnode:GET(string) -> string

// Alias for jnode:GET
jnode:receive(string) -> string

// Convert from a simple Lua table to a JSON string
JSON(table) -> string

Lua functions for making HTTP requests

// Create a new HTTP Client object
HTTPClient() -> userdata

// Select Accept-Language (ie. "en-us")
hc:SetLanguage(string)

// Set the request timeout (in milliseconds)
hc:SetTimeout(number)

// Set a cookie (name and value)
hc:SetCookie(string, string)

// Set the user agent (ie. "curl")
hc:SetUserAgent(string)

// Perform a HTTP GET request. First comes the URL, then an optional table with
// URL parameters, then an optional table with HTTP headers.
hc:Get(string, [table], [table]) -> string

// Perform a HTTP POST request. It's the same arguments as for `Get`, except
// the fourth optional argument is the POST body.
hc:Post(string, [table], [table], [string]) -> string

// Like `Get`, except the first argument is the HTTP method (like "PUT")
hc:Do(string, string, [table], [table]) -> string

// Shorthand for HTTPClient():Get()
GET(string, [table], [table]) -> string

// Shorthand for HTTPClient():Post()
POST(string, [table], [table], [string]) -> string

// Shorthand for HTTPClient():Do()
DO(string, string, [table], [table]) -> string

Lua functions for AI

// Connect to the local Ollama server and use either the `qwen2.5-coder:1.5b` model, or the supplied model string (like ie. mixtral:latest).
// Also takes an optional host address.
OllamaClient([string], [string]) -> userdata

// Download the required model, if needed. This may take a while if the model is large.
oc:pull()

// Pass a prompt to Ollama and return the reproducible generated output. If no prompt is given, it will request a poem about Algernon.
// Can also take an optional model name, which will trigger a download if the model is missing.
oc:ask([string], [string]) -> string

// Pass a prompt to Ollama and return the generated output that will differ every time.
// Can also take an optional model name, which will trigger a download if the model is missing.
oc:creative([string], [string]) -> string

// Check if the given model name is downloaded and ready
oc:has(string)

// List all models that are downloaded and ready
oc:list()

// Get or set the currently active model name, but does not pull anything
oc:model([string])

// Get the size of the given model name as a human-friendly string
oc:size(string) -> string

// Get the size of the given model name, in bytes
oc:bytesize(string) -> number

// Given two prompts, return how similar they are.
// The first optional string is the algorithm for measuring the distance: cosine, euclidean, manhattan, chebyshev or hamming.
// Only the two first letters of the algorithm name are needed, so "co" or "ma" are also valid. The default is cosine.
// The second optional string is the model name.
oc:distance(string, string, [string], [string]) -> number

// Convenience function for the local Ollama server that takes an optional prompt and an optional model name.
// Generates a poem with the `qwen2.5-coder:1.5b` model by default.
ollama([string], [string]) -> string

// Convenience function for Base64-encoding the given file
base64EncodeFile(string) -> string

// Describe the given base64-encoded image using Ollama (and the `llava-llama3` model, by default)
describeImage(string, [string]) -> string

// Given two embeddings (tables of floats, representing text or data), return how similar they are.
// The optional string is the algorithm for measuring the distance: cosine, euclidean, manhattan, chebyshev or hamming.
// Only the two first letters of the algorithm name are needed, so "co" or "ma" are also valid. The default is cosine.
embeddedDistance(table, table, [string]) -> number

Lua functions for plugins

// Load a plugin given the path to an executable. Returns true on success. Will return the plugin help text if called on the Lua prompt.
// Pass in true as the second argument to keep it running.
Plugin(string, [bool])

// Returns the Lua code as returned by the Lua.Code function in the plugin, given a plugin path. May return an empty string.
// Pass in true as the second argument to keep it running.
PluginCode(string, [bool]) -> string

// Takes a plugin path, function name and arguments. Returns an empty string if the function call fails, or the results as a JSON string if successful.
CallPlugin(string, string, ...) -> string

Lua functions for code libraries

// Create or uses a code library object. Optionally takes a data structure name as the first parameter.
CodeLib([string]) -> userdata

// Given a namespace and Lua code, add the given code to the namespace. Returns true on success.
codelib:add(string, string) -> bool

// Given a namespace and Lua code, set the given code as the only code in the namespace. Returns true on success.
codelib:set(string, string) -> bool

// Given a namespace, return Lua code, or an empty string.
codelib:get(string) -> string

// Import (eval) code from the given namespace into the current Lua state. Returns true on success.
codelib:import(string) -> bool

// Completely clear the code library. Returns true on success.
codelib:clear() -> bool

Lua functions for file uploads

// Creates a file upload object. Takes a form ID (from a POST request) as the first parameter.
// Takes an optional maximum upload size (in MiB) as the second parameter.
// Returns nil and an error string on failure, or userdata and an empty string on success.
UploadedFile(string[, number]) -> userdata, string

// Return the uploaded filename, as specified by the client
uploadedfile:filename() -> string

// Return the size of the data that has been received
uploadedfile:size() -> number

// Return the mime type of the uploaded file, as specified by the client
uploadedfile:mimetype() -> string

// Return the full textual content of the uploaded file
uploadedfile:content() -> string

// Save the uploaded data locally. Takes an optional filename. Returns true on success.
uploadedfile:save([string]) -> bool

// Save the uploaded data as the client-provided filename, in the specified directory.
// Takes a relative or absolute path. Returns true on success.
uploadedfile:savein(string)  -> bool

// Return the uploaded data as a base64-encoded string
uploadedfile:base64() -> string

Lua functions for the file cache

// Return information about the file cache.
CacheInfo() -> string

// Clear the file cache.
ClearCache()

// Load a file into the cache, returns true on success.
preload(string) -> bool

Lua functions for data structures

Set

// Get or create a database-backed Set (takes a name, returns a set object)
Set(string) -> userdata

// Add an element to the set
set:add(string)

// Remove an element from the set
set:del(string)

// Check if a set contains a value
// Returns true only if the value exists and there were no errors.
set:has(string) -> bool

// Get all members of the set
set:getall() -> table

// Remove the set itself. Returns true on success.
set:remove() -> bool

// Clear the set
set:clear() -> bool

List

// Get or create a database-backed List (takes a name, returns a list object)
List(string) -> userdata

// Add an element to the list
list:add(string)

// Get all members of the list
list:getall() -> table

// Get the last element of the list
// The returned value can be empty
list:getlast() -> string

// Get the N last elements of the list
list:getlastn(number) -> table

// Remove the list itself. Returns true on success.
list:remove() -> bool

// Clear the list. Returns true on success.
list:clear() -> bool

// Return all list elements (expected to be JSON strings) as a JSON list
list:json() -> string

HashMap

// Get or create a database-backed HashMap (takes a name, returns a hash map object)
HashMap(string) -> userdata

// For a given element id (for instance a user id), set a key
// (for instance "password") and a value.
// Returns true on success.
hash:set(string, string, string) -> bool

// For a given element id (for instance a user id), and a key
// (for instance "password"), return a value.
// Returns a value only if they key was found and if there were no errors.
hash:get(string, string) -> string

// For a given element id (for instance a user id), and a key
// (for instance "password"), check if the key exists in the hash map.
// Returns true only if it exists and there were no errors.
hash:has(string, string) -> bool

// For a given element id (for instance a user id), check if it exists.
// Returns true only if it exists and there were no errors.
hash:exists(string) -> bool

// Get all keys of the hash map
hash:getall() -> table

// Remove a key for an entry in a hash map
// (for instance the email field for a user)
// Returns true on success
hash:delkey(string, string) -> bool

// Remove an element (for instance a user)
// Returns true on success
hash:del(string) -> bool

// Remove the hash map itself. Returns true on success.
hash:remove() -> bool

// Clear the hash map. Returns true on success.
hash:clear() -> bool

KeyValue

// Get or create a database-backed KeyValue collection (takes a name, returns a key/value object)
KeyValue(string) -> userdata

// Set a key and value. Returns true on success.
kv:set(string, string) -> bool

// Takes a key, returns a value.
// Returns an empty string if the function fails.
kv:get(string) -> string

// Takes a key, returns the value+1.
// Creates a key/value and returns "1" if it did not already exist.
// Returns an empty string if the function fails.
kv:inc(string) -> string

// Remove a key. Returns true on success.
kv:del(string) -> bool

// Remove the KeyValue itself. Returns true on success.
kv:remove() -> bool

// Clear the KeyValue. Returns true on success.
kv:clear() -> bool

Lua functions for external databases

SQLite

// Query a SQLite database with a SQL query and an optional filename
// The default filename is "sqlite.db" and the default query is "SELECT sqlite_version()"
SQLite([string], [string]) -> table

// Open (or reuse) a SQLite database file and return a handle object
// The default filename is "sqlite.db"
SQLiteFile([string]) -> userdata

// Execute a SQL query and return the results as a table of rows
// Each row is a table with column names as keys
db:query(string, [table]) -> table

// Execute a SQL statement and return the number of affected rows and success
db:exec(string, [table]) -> number, bool

// Execute a function within a transaction (BEGIN/COMMIT/ROLLBACK)
// All db:query, db:exec, and doc store operations inside the callback use the transaction
db:transaction(function) -> bool

// Add a JSON document to a named collection and return the row ID
db:add(string, table) -> string

// Retrieve a single document from a named collection by its row ID
db:get(string, string) -> table

// Retrieve documents from a named collection, with an optional filter table
db:docs(string, [table]) -> table

// Delete documents from a named collection matching the given filter
db:del(string, table) -> bool

// Update documents in a named collection matching the where-filter, setting fields from the set-table
db:update(string, table, table) -> bool

// Return the number of documents in a named collection
db:len(string) -> number

// Close the database connection
db:close() -> bool

db = SQLiteFile("app.db")
db:add("users", {name = "Alice", age = 30})
db:add("users", {name = "Bob", age = 25})
docs = db:docs("users", {name = "Alice"})  -- returns {{name = "Alice", age = 30}}
db:update("users", {name = "Alice"}, {age = 31})
db:del("users", {name = "Bob"})
count = db:len("users")  -- returns 1

// Query a PostgreSQL database with a SQL query and a connection string
PQ([string], [string]) -> table

// Query a MSSQL database with SQL, a connection string, and a parameter table
MSSQL([string], [string], [table]) -> table

Lua functions for handling users and permissions

// Check if the current user has "user" rights
UserRights() -> bool

// Check if the given username exists (does not look at the list of unconfirmed users)
HasUser(string) -> bool

// Check if the given username exists in the list of unconfirmed users
HasUnconfirmedUser(string) -> bool

// Get the value from the given boolean field
// Takes a username and field name
BooleanField(string, string) -> bool

// Save a value as a boolean field
// Takes a username, field name and boolean value
SetBooleanField(string, string, bool)

// Check if a given username is confirmed
IsConfirmed(string) -> bool

// Check if a given username is logged in
IsLoggedIn(string) -> bool

// Check if the current user has "admin rights"
AdminRights() -> bool

// Check if a given username is an admin
IsAdmin(string) -> bool

// Get the username stored in a cookie, or an empty string
UsernameCookie() -> string

// Store the username in a cookie, returns true on success
SetUsernameCookie(string) -> bool

// Clear the login cookie
ClearCookie()

// Get a table containing all usernames
AllUsernames() -> table

// Get the email for a given username, or an empty string
Email(string) -> string

// Get the password hash for a given username, or an empty string
PasswordHash(string) -> string

// Get all unconfirmed usernames
AllUnconfirmedUsernames() -> table

// Get the existing confirmation code for a given user,
// or an empty string. Takes a username.
ConfirmationCode(string) -> string

// Add a user to the list of unconfirmed users
// Takes a username and a confirmation code
// Remember to also add a user, when registering new users.
AddUnconfirmed(string, string)

// Remove a user from the list of unconfirmed users
// Takes a username
RemoveUnconfirmed(string)

// Mark a user as confirmed
// Takes a username
MarkConfirmed(string)

// Removes a user
// Takes a username
RemoveUser(string)

// Make a user an admin
// Takes a username
SetAdminStatus(string)

// Make an admin user a regular user
// Takes a username
RemoveAdminStatus(string)

// Add a user
// Takes a username, password and email
AddUser(string, string, string)

// Set a user as logged in on the server (not cookie)
// Takes a username
SetLoggedIn(string)

// Set a user as logged out on the server (not cookie)
// Takes a username
SetLoggedOut(string)

// Log in a user, both on the server and with a cookie
// Takes a username
Login(string)

// Log out a user, on the server (which is enough)
// Takes a username
Logout(string)

// Get the current username, from the cookie
Username() -> string

// Get the current cookie timeout
// Takes a username
CookieTimeout(string) -> number

// Set the current cookie timeout
// Takes a timeout number, measured in seconds
SetCookieTimeout(number)

// Get the current server-wide cookie secret. This is used when setting
// and getting browser cookies when users log in.
CookieSecret() -> string

// Set the current server-side cookie secret. This is used when setting
// and getting browser cookies when users log in. Using the same secret
// makes browser cookies usable across server restarts.
SetCookieSecret(string)

// Get the current password hashing algorithm (bcrypt, bcrypt+ or sha256)
PasswordAlgo() -> string

// Set the current password hashing algorithm (bcrypt, bcrypt+ or sha256)
// ‘bcrypt+‘ accepts bcrypt or sha256 for old passwords, but will only use
// bcrypt for new passwords.
SetPasswordAlgo(string)

// Hash the password
// Takes a username and password (username can be used for salting sha256)
HashPassword(string, string) -> string

// Change the password for a user, given a username and a new password
SetPassword(string, string)

// Check if a given username and password is correct
// Takes a username and password
CorrectPassword(string, string) -> bool

// Checks if a confirmation code is already in use
// Takes a confirmation code
AlreadyHasConfirmationCode(string) -> bool

// Find a username based on a given confirmation code,
// or returns an empty string. Takes a confirmation code
FindUserByConfirmationCode(string) -> string

// Mark a user as confirmed
// Takes a username
Confirm(string)

// Mark a user as confirmed, returns true on success
// Takes a confirmation code
ConfirmUserByConfirmationCode(string) -> bool

// Set the minimum confirmation code length
// Takes the minimum number of characters
SetMinimumConfirmationCodeLength(number)

// Generates a unique confirmation code, or an empty string
GenerateUniqueConfirmationCode() -> string

Lua functions that are available for server configuration files

// Set the default address for the server on the form [host][:port].
// May be useful in Algernon application bundles (.alg or .zip files).
SetAddr(string)

// Set the HTTP (non-TLS) listen address.
SetHTTPAddr(string)

// Set the HTTPS (TLS) listen address.
SetHTTPSAddr(string)

// Enable or disable HTTP to HTTPS redirect.
SetRedirect(bool)

// Enable or disable Let's Encrypt / CertMagic.
SetLetsEncrypt(bool)

// Enable or disable interactive mode (the REPL).
SetInteractive(bool)

// Set a base URL for the links in the directory listing, like "/files".
// Useful when Algernon is behind a proxy that serves it from a sub-path.
SetDirBaseURL(string)

// Configure listeners with full control over protocol, port and TLS.
// Takes a table of tables: SetPorts{{":8080","http",false},{":8443","http2",true}}
// Named keys are also supported: SetPorts{{addr=":8080", protocol="http", tls=false}}
// Valid protocols: "http", "http2", "http3" (or "quic"), "event"
SetPorts(table)

// Reset the URL prefixes and make everything *public*.
ClearPermissions()

// Add an URL prefix that will have *admin* rights.
AddAdminPrefix(string)

// Add a reverse proxy given a path prefix and an endpoint URL
// For example: "/api" and "http://localhost:8080"
AddReverseProxy(string, string)

// Add an URL prefix that will have *user* rights.
AddUserPrefix(string)

// Provide a lua function that will be used as the permission denied handler.
DenyHandler(function)

// Return a string with various server information.
ServerInfo() -> string

// Direct the logging to the given filename. If the filename is an empty
// string, direct logging to stderr. Returns true on success.
LogTo(string) -> bool

// Returns the version string for the server.
version() -> string

// Logs the given strings as INFO. Takes a variable number of strings.
log(...)

// Logs the given strings as WARN. Takes a variable number of strings.
warn(...)

// Logs the given string as ERROR. Takes a variable number of strings.
err(...)

// Provide a lua function that will be run once, when the server is ready to start serving.
OnReady(function)

// Use a Lua file for setting up HTTP handlers instead of using the directory structure.
ServerFile(string) -> bool

// Serve files from this directory.
ServerDir(string) -> bool

// Get the cookie secret from the server configuration.
CookieSecret() -> string

// Set the cookie secret that will be used when setting and getting browser cookies.
SetCookieSecret(string)

Functions that are only available for Lua server files

// Given an URL path prefix (like "/") and a Lua function, set up an HTTP handler.
// The given Lua function should take no arguments, but can use all the Lua functions for handling requests, like `content` and `print`.
handle(string, function)

// Given an URL prefix (like "/") and a directory, serve the files and directories.
servedir(string, string)

Functions related to HTTP requests and JSON

content("application/json")
local fields = formdata()
local username = sanhtml(fields["username"] or "")
if username == "" then
  print(json({error = "Missing username"}))
  return
end
print(json({ok = true}))

Injected JS functions

postForm("login.lua", { username, password }).then((data) => {
  if (data.ok) {
    console.log("Logged in");
  } else {
    console.log(data.error);
  }
});

Commands that are only available in the REPL

Extra Lua functions

// Pretty print. Outputs the values in, or a description of, the given Lua value(s).
pprint(...)

// Takes a Python filename, executes the script with the `python` binary in the Path.
// Returns the output as a Lua table, where each line is an entry.
py(string) -> table

// Takes one or more system commands (separated by `;`) and runs them.
// Returns the output lines as a table.
run(string) -> table

// Takes one or more system commands (separated by `;`) and runs them.
// Returns stdout as a table, stderr as a table and the exit code as a number.
run3(string) -> table, table, number

// Lists the keys and values of a Lua table. Returns a string.
// Lists the contents of the global namespace `_G` if no arguments are given.
dir([table]) -> string

Markdown

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Serving several domains

HTTPS certificates with Let's Encrypt and Algernon

Method 1

Method 2

Releases

Requirements

Access logs

Example usage

algernon --accesslog=access.log -x

goaccess --no-global-config --log-format=COMBINED access.log

goaccess access.log

.alg files

Logo license

Listening to port 80 without running as root

sudo setcap cap_net_bind_service=+ep /usr/bin/algernon

Other resources

Algernon as a Lua runtime

x = 42
print("The number is " .. x)
os.exit()

algernon -lua main.lua

The number is 42

$ algernon -lua main.lua
The number is 42
Ready
lua> x
42
lua>

hello = function()
  print("Hello, World!")
end

handle("/", hello)

General information

Stargazers over time