Setting up and configuring TinyWeb takes less than 5 minutes because it is an ultra-lightweight, 53KB Win32 web server. It requires no installation wizard and no configuration files. Instead, it runs directly from the Windows command line or a shortcut. Here is how to get your server running immediately. ⏱️ The 3-Step Setup Guide 1. Download and Extract
Download the executable package directly from the official Ritlabs TinyWeb Download Page.
Create a dedicated folder on your computer (e.g., C:\TinyWeb</code>). Extract the tiny.exe file into that folder. 2. Prepare Your Web Files
Create a separate folder to hold your website files (e.g., C:\www\root</code>).
Place a simple index.html file inside this folder to act as your homepage. 3. Launch the Server via Command Line Open the Windows Command Prompt (cmd).
Execute the following command, ensuring you point to your specific website root folder: C:\TinyWeb\tiny.exe C:\www\root Use code with caution.
Open any web browser and navigate to http://localhost to view your running website. ⚙️ Command-Line Configurations
Because TinyWeb has no graphical user interface (GUI), all advanced configurations are passed as arguments directly in your command line using the following syntax: tiny.exe [Root Directory] [Port Number] [IP Address]
Change the Default Port: By default, TinyWeb uses port 80. If port 80 is blocked by another application, pass a custom port as the second parameter: tiny.exe C:\www\root 8080 Use code with caution. (Access this in your browser via http://localhost:8080)
Bind to a Specific IP: To restrict the server to local requests only or bind to a specific network card, add your IP as the third parameter: tiny.exe C:\www\root 80 127.0.0.1 Use code with caution. 🛑 Managing TinyWeb (How to Stop It)
TinyWeb runs entirely as a background daemon. It will not open a console window or display an icon in your system tray.
To verify it is running: Open the Windows Task Manager and look for tiny.exe in the Details or Processes tab.
To stop the server: Because there is no “Stop” button, you must select tiny.exe in the Task Manager and click End Task. Alternatively, you can instantly terminate it via the Command Prompt by typing: taskkill /f /im tiny.exe Use code with caution. ⚖️ Trade-offs to Consider
When to use TinyWeb: If you need an instantaneous, ultra-low resource environment for local HTML/CGI development, testing, or temporary file sharing.
When to choose alternatives: If you require a user interface, real-time logging, or automated management tools, consider downloading the Rebex Tiny Web Server which provides a simple GUI layout for Windows users. If you plan to use this frequently, TinyWeb Server - Ritlabs
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