# Write webpages in Ruby without Rails? - Newb Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [November 7, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/write-webpages-in-ruby-without-rails-newb-question/119449 "2007-11-07T02:04:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rgossen)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/write-webpages-in-ruby-without-rails-newb-question/119449/1 "2007-11-07T02:04:49Z")
I am a programming newb and I just bought the book “Software Engineering for Internet Applications,” and I need a server to go through the labs. Unfortunately, the extent of my server experience is using script/server in Rails. To do these labs, I need to write webpages in Ruby without Rails (or any framework), but I am not sure exactly how to go about it. I started to use the Apache 1.3 webserver that comes with os x and attempted to install eruby. That doesn’t seem to be working. I am thinking there has to be an easier way. Is there a way for me to use Mongrel or Webrick outside of Rails? I initially installed everything using the Hivelogic instructions. ---
**Author:** ![rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rgossen)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/write-webpages-in-ruby-without-rails-newb-question/119449/2 "2007-11-07T02:11:59Z")
rgossen wrote: > I am a programming newb and I just bought the book “Software > Engineering for Internet Applications,” and I need a server to go > through the labs. Unfortunately, the extent of my server experience > is using script/server in Rails. To do these labs, I need to write > webpages in Ruby without Rails (or any framework), but I am not sure > exactly how to go about it. > > I started to use the Apache 1.3 webserver that comes with os x and > attempted to install eruby. That doesn’t seem to be working. I am > thinking there has to be an easier way. Is there a way for me to use > Mongrel or Webrick outside of Rails? I initially installed everything > using the Hivelogic instructions. well, you can write HTML like a string, then have the output be an HTML file. So, html\_file = File.new(“C:\web\_pages\index.html”, “w+”) html\_file.write("\n\nOMG THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME\n\n") html\_file.close Hopefully someone has a better idea 🙂 Good luck ~Jeremy ---
**Author:** ![rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rgossen)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/write-webpages-in-ruby-without-rails-newb-question/119449/3 "2007-11-07T02:20:02Z")
This is really a question for the rails-talk list, but since I am right now in rails… I would create a rails application and a default controller and index action. Then you can just write Ruby inside a \<% %\> pair in the index.rhtml file. I am sure you’ll get a dozen responses about how to set it up simpler, but that’s the way I know you can get it to work from where you are. –Colin ---
**Author:** ![rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rgossen)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 4:04am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/write-webpages-in-ruby-without-rails-newb-question/119449/4 "2007-11-07T04:04:06Z")
On Nov 6, 7:51 pm, rgossen [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Mongrel or Webrick outside of Rails? I initially installed everything > using the Hivelogic instructions. Check out webrick. Here is a simple script that will do a directory listing on wherever you run it. Just open up your browser to port 2000. Now, to get it to actually output html content-types and all, will require some more work. But, perhaps this will get you started. #!/bin/env ruby require ‘webrick’ include WEBrick s = HTTPServer.new( :Port =\> 2000, :DocumentRoot =\> Dir::pwd ) trap(“INT”){ s.shutdown } s.start ---
**Author:** ![rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rgossen)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 4:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/write-webpages-in-ruby-without-rails-newb-question/119449/5 "2007-11-07T04:15:47Z")
I would recommend the “serve” gem [http://wiseheartdesign.com/2007/9/25/introducing-serve/](http://wiseheartdesign.com/2007/9/25/introducing-serve/) It makes it simple to code and serve webpages with ruby. But there are lots of options for generating HTML code using ruby, check [rubyforge.org](http://rubyforge.org) for gems like “markaby” or “xx”. You can serve page with Mongrel like this: require ‘rubygems’ gem ‘mongrel’ require ‘mongrel’ HOST = ‘0.0.0.0’ PORT = 999 config = Mongrel::Configurator.new :host =\> HOST, :port =\> PORT do listener do uri “/”, :handler =\> Mongrel::DirHandler.new(Dir.pwd) end trap(“INT”) { stop } run end puts “Mongrel running on #{HOST}:#{PORT} with docroot #{Dir.pwd}” config.join ---
**Author:** ![rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rgossen)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 3:55am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/write-webpages-in-ruby-without-rails-newb-question/119449/6 "2007-11-07T03:55:20Z")
On 11/6/07, rgossen [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Mongrel or Webrick outside of Rails? I initially installed everything > using the Hivelogic instructions. I haven’t played with Ruby and web outside of frameworks (Rails, Camping, etc.), but you can use Apache with mod\_ruby I think. Your files will probably have to take on the eruby syntax of \<% %\> encapsulating code tags, which would be similar to other interactive web code (ala CodeFusion and others). As far as I can tell, Mongrel knows how to feed a web server( like Apache), but is not necessarily a complete web server itself. Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, because I can’t seem to find any straight example of somebody just using Mongrel with Ruby by themselves to serve pages! thx, Todd ---
**Author:** ![rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rgossen)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 5:52am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/write-webpages-in-ruby-without-rails-newb-question/119449/7 "2007-11-07T05:52:48Z")
On Nov 6, 8:14 pm, Nathan G. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I would recommend the “serve” gem > > [http://wiseheartdesign.com/2007/9/25/introducing-serve/](http://wiseheartdesign.com/2007/9/25/introducing-serve/) > > It makes it simple to code and serve webpages with ruby. Wow, this looks perfect. I was not familiar with haml, but after looking at the tutorial, it looks like a great alternative to rhtml for templating. Thanks so much for the tip. ---
**Author:** ![rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@rgossen](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/rgossen)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2007, 9:05am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/write-webpages-in-ruby-without-rails-newb-question/119449/8 "2007-11-07T09:05:47Z")
On Wed, Nov 07, 2007 at 11:53:37AM +0900, Todd B. wrote: > As far as I can tell, Mongrel knows how to feed a web server( like > Apache), but is not necessarily a complete web server itself. > Somebody correct me if I’m wrong, because I can’t seem to find any > straight example of somebody just using Mongrel with Ruby by > themselves to serve pages! You might want to give heel a try, that’s pretty much what it is, mongrel with some mime-type sugar and nice directory listings. ``` % sudo gem install heel % heel ** Signals ready. TERM => stop. USR2 => restart. INT => stop (no ``` restart). \*\* heel running at [http://127.0.0.1:4331](http://127.0.0.1:4331) with document root /home/jeremy/proj \*\* Use Ctrl-C to stop. \*\* Launching your browser… 127.0.0.1 - - [07/Nov/2007:00:58:17 MST] “GET / HTTP/1.1” 200 46615 127.0.0.1 - - [07/Nov/2007:00:58:17 MST] “GET /icons/folder.png HTTP/1.1” 200 537 127.0.0.1 - - [07/Nov/2007:00:58:17 MST] “GET /icons/application.png HTTP/1.1” 200 464 enjoy, -jeremy