serve-here

A zero-dependency static file server for the current directory. Correct MIME types, directory listings, HTTP range requests (so video/audio seeking and resumable downloads actually work), path-traversal protection, and an SPA fallback mode.

http-server and serve both pull in dependency trees. Python's http.server gets MIME types wrong and doesn't support range requests. serve-here is one file with none of those problems.

Install

npm install -g serve-here

Or without installing:

npx serve-here

Usage

serve-here                    # Serve ./ on http://localhost:8080
serve-here dist -p 3000       # Serve ./dist on port 3000
serve-here --spa              # SPA: unknown routes → index.html
serve-here --no-cache --cors  # Dev mode (no caching + CORS)
serve-here --no-listing       # 404 instead of directory listings

The port auto-increments if the chosen one is busy.

Example

serve-here  serving  /home/me/project/dist

  Local    http://localhost:8080
  Network  http://192.168.1.42:8080

  Ctrl+C to stop

  14:22:01  200  GET  /index.html  3ms
  14:22:01  200  GET  /app.js  1ms
  14:22:05  206  GET  /demo.mp4  8ms      ← range request (video seek)
  14:22:09  404  GET  /missing.png  0ms

The Network URL means you can open the site on your phone or another machine on the same Wi-Fi.

Features

| Feature | Why it matters | |---|---| | Range requests (206) | Video/audio scrubbing, resumable downloads | | Correct MIME types | .mjs, .wasm, .webp, .woff2, etc. served correctly | | Directory listings | Browsable, with sizes and dates (dark-mode aware) | | Path-traversal protection | ../ escapes outside the root are blocked (403) | | SPA mode | --spa serves index.html for client-side routes | | LAN access | Binds all interfaces so phones/other devices can connect |

Options

| Flag | Default | Description | |---|---|---| | -p, --port <n> | 8080 | Port (auto-increments if busy) | | --host <addr> | 0.0.0.0 | Bind address | | --spa | off | Serve index.html for unknown routes | | --no-listing | off | Return 404 instead of a directory listing | | --no-cache | off | Send no-cache headers (development) | | --cors | off | Add permissive CORS headers | | --quiet | off | Don't log requests |

License

MIT

Keywords

static server · http server · serve files · http-server alternative · serve alternative · local web server · range requests · spa server · zero dependencies · cli

Built to solve, shared to help — Rushabh Shah 🛠️✨

One of 40+ zero-dependency developer CLI tools — no node_modules, ever.