Ferron

Ferron is an open-source web server written in Rust. It functions as a server application that handles HTTP requests, serves static files, and manages network traffic through a configurable interface. The software is deployed as a binary on GNU/Linux and Windows Server environments, providing a foundation for hosting web content or managing API traffic.

The application focuses on memory safety and high concurrency to ensure stability under load. It is used primarily to host static websites or act as a gateway for backend services. Configuration is handled via KDL files, which allow users to define specific root directories for static content or specify backend URLs for proxying. This approach allows for a clear separation between the server configuration and the hosted assets.

Key features

• Automatic SSL/TLS certificate acquisition and renewal via Let's Encrypt
• Reverse proxy capabilities with load balancing
• Health check support for backend services
• Static file serving from defined root directories
• Modular architecture for custom extensions
• Memory safety guarantees provided by the Rust language
• Support for high concurrency and optimized speed

The server utilizes a modular architecture that allows developers to create and integrate external modules for specific functionality. Its reverse proxy system is designed to distribute incoming traffic across multiple backend servers, ensuring availability through integrated health checks. For installation, the project provides pre-built installers for major operating systems, though it also supports manual compilation from source using Cargo and Make. This flexibility allows users to cross-compile the server for different target architectures as defined by Rust target triples.

The configuration system employs secure defaults to simplify the setup process for new deployments. By using the KDL configuration format, the server maintains a readable structure for defining domain-specific rules and proxy targets. This makes it suitable for administrators who need a lightweight yet extensible server for various infrastructure needs.

Ferron is positioned as a modern infrastructure tool for users requiring a memory-safe web server with integrated certificate management.