Setting Up a Local Server with Python

This guide explains how to set up and use a local server using Python's built-in HTTP server.

Prerequisites

• Python installed on your computer
• Your project files in a directory

Steps to Start the Server

1. Open your terminal or command prompt

2. Navigate to your project directory:

   cd path/to/your/project

3. Run one of these commands depending on your Python version:

   • For Python 3:

     python -m http.server 8000

   • For Python 2:

     python -m SimpleHTTPServer 8000

4. You should see a message like:

   Serving HTTP on 0.0.0.0 port 8000 ...
   

Accessing Your Website

1. Open your web browser

2. Type one of these URLs in the address bar:

   • http://localhost:8000
   • or http://127.0.0.1:8000

3. Your website should now be visible in the browser

Important Notes

• The server will serve files from the directory where you started it
• Keep the terminal window open while using the server
• To stop the server, press Ctrl + C in the terminal
• If port 8000 is in use, you can try a different port (e.g., 8080, 3000)
• The server automatically refreshes when you make changes to your files

Troubleshooting

1. If you get a "port already in use" error:

   • Try a different port number
   • Check if another server is running
   • Restart your computer if needed

2. If files don't update:

   • Clear your browser cache
   • Do a hard refresh (Ctrl + F5)

3. If you can't access the server:

   • Make sure you're in the correct directory
   • Check if Python is installed correctly
   • Verify your firewall settings

Benefits of Using Python's HTTP Server

• Simple to set up and use
• No additional software needed
• Works on all major operating systems
• Perfect for local development
• Automatically serves index.html files