Using NanoHTTPD in Android

Question

I am trying to use NanoHTTP to serve up an HTML file. However, NanoHTTP is relatively un-documented, and I am new to Android. My question is, where do I store the html file, and how specifically can I serve it up using NanoHTTP.

Answer 1

A late answer but may be useful to others.

Here is a simple hello Web Server, not exactly what you ask, but you can continue from here. The following program supposes you have a www directory in the root of the SD Card and a file index.html inside.

Main activity Httpd.java:

package com.inforscience.web;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.Environment;
import android.util.Log;
import java.io.*;
import java.util.*;


public class Httpd extends Activity
{
    private WebServer server;
    /** Called when the activity is first created. */
    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);
        server = new WebServer();
        try {
            server.start();
        } catch(IOException ioe) {
            Log.w("Httpd", "The server could not start.");
        }
        Log.w("Httpd", "Web server initialized.");
    }


    // DON'T FORGET to stop the server
    @Override
    public void onDestroy()
    {
        super.onDestroy();
        if (server != null)
            server.stop();
    }

    private class WebServer extends NanoHTTPD {

        public WebServer()
        {
            super(8080);
        }

        @Override
        public Response serve(String uri, Method method, 
                              Map<String, String> header,
                              Map<String, String> parameters,
                              Map<String, String> files) {
            String answer = "";
            try {
                // Open file from SD Card
                File root = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory();
                FileReader index = new FileReader(root.getAbsolutePath() +
                        "/www/index.html");
                BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(index);
                String line = "";
                while ((line = reader.readLine()) != null) {
                    answer += line;
                }
                reader.close();

            } catch(IOException ioe) {
                Log.w("Httpd", ioe.toString());
            }


            return new NanoHTTPD.Response(answer);
        }
    }

}

Obviously the NanoHTTPD class must be in the same package.

You need to grant internet permission in AndroidManifest.xml.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />

and read external storage permission.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>

EDIT: To access the server open you web browser with the IP of your device, e.g. 192.168.1.20:8080.

NOTES:

• Tested in Android 2.3
• The use of port 80 is restricted to the root user(http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg47377.html).