Apache HTTP Server vs Lighttpd

Developers should learn Apache HTTP Server when deploying web applications on Linux-based servers, as it offers robust performance, security features, and flexibility through modules like mod_rewrite for URL rewriting and mod_ssl for HTTPS meets developers should learn lighttpd when building web applications that require high concurrency and low resource consumption, such as content delivery networks (cdns), streaming services, or embedded systems. Here's our take.

Apache HTTP Server

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Apache HTTP Server when deploying web applications on Linux-based servers, as it offers robust performance, security features, and flexibility through modules like mod_rewrite for URL rewriting and mod_ssl for HTTPS

Pros

• It is ideal for hosting static websites, serving as a reverse proxy, or integrating with backend technologies like PHP via mod_php, making it a staple in LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) stacks
• Related to: linux, nginx

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Lighttpd

Developers should learn Lighttpd when building web applications that require high concurrency and low resource consumption, such as content delivery networks (CDNs), streaming services, or embedded systems

Pros

• It is particularly useful for serving static files quickly and handling many simultaneous connections without significant overhead, making it a good choice for performance-focused deployments
• Related to: nginx, apache-http-server

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Apache HTTP Server is a tool while Lighttpd is a platform. We picked Apache HTTP Server based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Apache HTTP Server wins

Based on overall popularity. Apache HTTP Server is more widely used, but Lighttpd excels in its own space.