MacHTTP is a web server designed to run on the classic Mac OS versions 7.x through 9.x.[1][2]: 65  Written by software developer Chuck Shotton, it was the first ever web server for Mac OS.[3]: 181  It was originally released as shareware in 1993 but was commercialized starting in November 1994 with version 2.0 through Biap Systems.[4][5] It was later commercialized as WebSTAR, sold originally by StarNine and later bought by Quarterdeck Corporation; both companies continued to offer MacHTTP as a freeware version of WebSTAR.[6] Both MacHTTP and WebSTAR were the predominant web server software for Macintosh computers through to the late 1990s.[7] It is now available in source code form from SourceForge and GitHub under the Perl Artistic License. The current version is 2.6.1.[8] It is still used on some older Macintosh hardware.[9]

The program runs on Mac OS X under the Classic Environment, but has not been ported to run natively on Mac OS X.[9] It has functionally been replaced with the Apache web server.[10]

MacHTTP supports the Common Gateway Interface standard for generating dynamic content, as well as Apple Events for scriptability.[11][5]

References

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  1. ^ Palmer, Pete; Adam Schneider; Anne Chenette (1996). The Web Server Handbook. Prentice Hall PTR. p. 181. ISBN 9780132399302 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Engst, Adam C. (July 2001). "Put That Mac Back to Work as a Web Server". Macworld. Vol. 18, no. 7. IDG Publications. p. 62–67. Gale A76445768.
  3. ^ Mara, Mary Jane (1995). Web Head: A Mac Guide to the World Wide Web. Peachpit Press. p. 181–195. ISBN 9781566091763 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Anthony, Tobin (1996). Building and Maintaining an Intranet with the Macintosh. Hayden Books. p. 67. ISBN 9781568302799 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ a b Morgenstern, David (October 24, 1994). "MacHTTP Web server spins to 2.0". MacWeek. Vol. 8, no. 42. IDG Publications. p. 10 et seq. Gale A16174989.
  6. ^ Frentzen, Jeff (September 2, 1996). "Mac Web servers: They're strong and steady". PC Week. Vol. 13, no. 35. Ziff-Davis. p. 10 et seq. Gale A18643692.
  7. ^ Hart, David L.; Philip E. Bourne (1998). Mac OS 8 Web Server Cookbook. Prentice Hall PTR. p. 79. ISBN 9780135200162 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Shotton, Chuck (July 12, 2016). "MacHTTP 2 – Releases". GitHub. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Bashur, Dan (December 12, 2023). "Mac OS 9 Is Still Alive and Kicking... and That's Not a Bad Thing". Low End Mac.
  10. ^ Potter, Bruce; Preston Norvell; Brian Wotring (2003). Mac OS X Security. New Riders. p. 133. ISBN 9780735713482 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Frentzen, Jeff (January 9, 1995). "MacHTTP: Good Web server for small sites". PC Week. Vol. 12, no. 1. Ziff-Davis. p. 20. Gale A16027207.
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