EliteSoftware HTML - HTTP Test Server: A Multi-Config GUI for PowerShell
EliteSoftware HTML - HTTP Test Server is a compact, multi-threaded HTTP server application built entirely with PowerShell and Windows Forms (.NET WinForms). It's designed to provide developers and testers with a simple, yet robust, GUI-based platform for quickly hosting and testing local static web content (HTML, CSS, JS, etc.).
This tool allows you to run multiple server configurations simultaneously, each on its own thread, ensuring stability and non-blocking operation. It features a modern, themed GUI, configuration saving, dynamic port checking, and a graceful shutdown mechanism.
Built by: Zachary Whiteman & Google Gemini AI.
This application is a single PowerShell script and does not require a complex installation process.
To run this script, you only need:
Windows Operating System (Windows 7 or later).
PowerShell 5.1 or newer (PowerShell Core is supported, but the script is optimized for the full .NET Framework available in Windows PowerShell for WinForms).
The required .NET Framework assemblies (System.Windows.Forms, System.Drawing, System.Net) which are included with modern Windows installations and loaded automatically by the script.
Download: Download the EliteSoftware HTML - HTTP Test Server.PS1 script file.
Unblock: Right-click the file, go to Properties, and click Unblock if the file was downloaded from the internet (a common necessity for scripts downloaded from the web).
Run: Execute the script from a PowerShell console or by double-clicking it (if your system is configured to run PS1 files).
.\EliteSoftware HTML - HTTP Test Server.PS1
The application's configuration files and custom icon (if present) are stored in: C:\Users<YourUser>\AppData\Roaming\EliteSoftware\HTML_HTTP_TEST_SERVER
The application is designed for rapid local testing via a simple three-step process:
Configure: In the main control panel, specify the Server Root Folder (where your HTML/CSS/JS files are located) and the desired Server Port (e.g., 8080).
Start: Click the "Start Server" button. The application will automatically check for port availability and launch the server on a dedicated thread.
Test: Click the "Open in Browser" button to immediately launch the hosted URL in your default web browser, allowing you to test your content instantly.
Use the left sidebar to save and switch between up to 10 distinct server configurations instantly.
This application leverages PowerShell WinForms and multi-threading for a fully-featured desktop experience:
Multi-Server Configuration UI: Manage up to 10 distinct server setups with their own root paths, default files, and ports via an intuitive sidebar and configuration list.
Multi-Threaded HTTP Server: The server logic uses the robust System.Net.HttpListener on a separate background thread, ensuring the GUI remains responsive while handling incoming requests.
Dynamic Port Resolution: Automatically detects and increments the server port by +1 if the specified port is already in use, preventing startup conflicts.
Detailed Real-Time Logging: Logs all successful (200), 404 Not Found, and 500 Server Error requests to the GUI console in real-time. Logs include file size (in KB), client IP, and HTTP method.
Graceful Shutdown: Implements an explicit shutdown routine for all active servers and includes a custom, themed "Goodbye" popup window on exit, ensuring no lingering processes.
Configuration Persistence: Automatically saves and loads all server settings (up to 10 configs) to a JSON file in your AppData folder, maintaining your workflow across sessions.
Browser Integration: Includes a one-click button to open the hosted server URL in the default web browser.
The entire application is a self-contained PowerShell script, utilizing:
Scripting Language: PowerShell (5.1+)
GUI Framework: .NET Windows Forms (WinForms)
Core HTTP Service: System.Net.HttpListener (a high-performance, built-in Windows HTTP service)
Threading: System.Threading.Thread for non-blocking server operation.
GUI Styling: Uses [System.Windows.Forms.Application]::EnableVisualStyles() and System.Drawing.Drawing2D for custom, system-themed buttons and gradient headers.
This application is built as a highly specialized, local-only test environment. Understanding its architecture is key to proper usage and security:
The core server functionality is provided by the .NET System.Net.HttpListener class. This class is highly optimized for lightweight serving and is configured to:
- Prevent Global Access: The default IP address binding is set to
127.0.0.1(localhost) to ensure the server is not accidentally accessible from external network connections. This is crucial for security when testing local files. - Static Content Only: The server is designed exclusively to serve static files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, etc.). It does not execute any server-side scripts (like PHP or ASP.NET) and is safe to use for testing front-end components.
The GUI runs on the main PowerShell thread, while the HttpListener operates on a separate, dedicated System.Threading.Thread. This architecture ensures:
- Non-Blocking UI: The user interface remains responsive to clicks and input, even while the server is busy handling requests.
- Graceful Exit: The script uses a global flag (
$Script:IsExiting) and explicitStop()calls on the listener to guarantee that the server threads are terminated cleanly when the application window is closed.
Configuration data for up to 10 servers (root path, port, default file) is stored locally as a simple JSON file in the designated AppData directory. No external connections or databases are used for configuration or logging.
Distributed under the MIT License. See LICENSE.txt for more information.
Zach Whiteman - elitesoftwarecolimited@gmail.com
HuggingFace - https://huggingface.co/EliteSoftware
HuggingFace (Personal) - https://huggingface.co/TheShadyRainbow
LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/zachrainbow
