I built an HTTP/2 server in C++ to learn the protocol and language

In plain words

This is a custom HTTP/2 server built in C++ as a learning project for both the protocol and modern C++ development. The creator uses it to host their personal website and has documented the development process, hosting decisions, and security hardening measures in blog posts. While not a complete HTTP/2 implementation, it achieves the builder's core learning objectives and is actively serving production traffic.

written from the facts on this page · September 2026

From the sources

Light-weight C++ HTTP/2 server. Contribute to rhargreaves/ion development by creating an account on GitHub.

I'm using this as a learning exercise to learn more about HTTP/2 and modern C++. As such, I am intentionally using low-level APIs and avoiding libraries for the core flow (but using modern C++ features to wrap the POSIX interfaces). It is not intended to be a production-ready server! I'm documenting non-obvious stuff I've learnt along the way in LEARNINGS.md . # include " ion/http2_server.h " int main () { ion::Http2Server server{}; auto & router = server. router (); router. add_route ( " / " , " GET " , []( const ion::HttpRequest&) { const std::string body_text = " hello " ; const std::vector< uint8_t > body_bytes (body_text. begin (), body_text. end ()); return ion::HttpResponse{ .…from github.com

In the maker’s words, at launch

I wanted to learn more about the HTTP&#x2F;2 protocol but also deep dive into modern C++ development. I'm currently using it to host my personal web site - https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.roberthargreaves.com. I've also blogged a bit about the development process, hosting options and steps I took to harden the application…

• 
  My embeddable C/C++ webserver2011 · github.com · ▲84
• 
  Hosting my website using my C web server2024 · github.com · ▲303

  Custom web server for my blog. Contribute to cozis/BlogTech development by creating an account on GitHub.

• 
  I built a small browser engine from scratch in C++Jan 2026 · github.com · ▲146

  Hi HN! Korean high school senior here, about to start CS in college. I built a browser engine from scratch in C++ to understand how browsers work. First time using C++, 8 weeks of development, lots of debugging—but it works! Features: - HTML parsing with error correction - CSS cascade and inheritance - Block&#x2F;inline layout engine - Async image loading + caching - Link navigation + history Hardest parts: - String parsing(html, css) - Rendering - Image Caching & Layout Reflowing What I learned (beyond code): - Systematic debugging is crucial - Ship with known bugs rather than chase…

• 
  How to compile C/C++ for WASM, pure Clang, no libs, no framework2022 · github.com · ▲217

  A little help for programmers, who wants to run C&#x2F;C++ code in the browser. (This is my second attempt to show it, first time I got banned bcoz of my personal page domain, I don't really understand it why is is suspicious.)

• 
  The Silicon C++14 Web Framework2015 · github.com · ▲140

  A high performance, middleware oriented C++14 http web framework please use matt-42/lithium instead - matt-42/silicon

• 
  Micro HTTP server in 22 lines of C2021 · twitter.com · ▲223

  This post is from a protected account.

• 
  SimCity, but with Permits▲930

  A free city-building game in your browser. You are the mayor. You know what the city needs. Now get it past the zoning board, the neighbors, the appeals court and the next election.

  Life & fun · 2d ago · permit.petercai.com

• IV
  I've been paying for a rural Tanzanian's education for 10 years▲778

  Life & fun · 14d ago · tanzaniaeducationproject.org

• 
  Bigwords.page – Turn any screen into a sign. The URL is the app▲728

  Turn a phone, tablet or TV into a sign. Type a message and it fills the screen: welcome signs, timers, Wi-Fi passwords and more. No app, no account, free.

  Life & fun · 15d ago · bigwords.page

• 
  Guitoro, a virtual guitar you strum with your keyboard▲573

  Play a free virtual guitar online with your keyboard or by touch. Slow songs down and see every chord, string and strum. Acoustic, classic, electric and bass.

  Life & fun · 9d ago · guitoro.com

• 
  See *almost* any carriers phone settings▲432

  Carrier settings from iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy firmware, decoded and compared: APNs, VoLTE, 5G and Wi-Fi Calling per carrier, and what each build changed.

  Life & fun · 13d ago · carrierexplode.com

• 
  The whole Solar System and every tracked satellite, live in the browser▲407

  Life & fun · 23d ago · space.bl2.net

• IN
  isometric.nyc – giant isometric pixel art map of NYC▲1,325

  Hey HN! I wanted to share something I built over the last few weeks: isometric.nyc is a massive isometric pixel art map of NYC, built with nano banana and coding agents. I didn't write a single line of code. Of course no-code doesn't mean no-engineering. This project took a lot more manual labor than I'd hoped! I wrote a deep dive on the workflow and some thoughts about the future of AI coding and creativity: http:&#x2F;&#x2F;cannoneyed.com&#x2F;projects&#x2F;isometric-nyc

  AI · Jan 2026 · cannoneyed.com

• 
  Cowork▲1,088

  Turn Claude into your digital coworker

  AI · Jan 2026 · claude.com

• 
  DataFast▲867

  Revenue-first analytics

  Growth · Jan 2026 · datafa.st

• 
  OpenClaw▲836

  The AI that actually does things

  AI · Jan 2026 · openclaw.ai

• 
  Kilo Code Reviewer▲799

  Automatic AI-powered code reviews the moment you open a PR

  Dev tools · Jan 2026 · kilo.ai

• 
  PostSyncer▲793

  AI Content Maker, for Social Media Publishing

  AI · Jan 2026 · postsyncer.com