Wapp - A Web-Application Framework for TCL

1.0 Introduction

Wapp is a new framework for writing web applications in TCL, with the following advantages:

• Very small API surface → Simple to learn and use
• A complete application is contained in a single file
• Resistant to attacks and exploits
• Cross-platform → Works via CGI, SCGI, or using a built-in web server
• Does not require MVC, but can do MVC if desired
• The Wapp framework itself is a single-file TCL script that is "source"-ed, "package require"-ed, or even copy/pasted into the application TCL script
• 2-clause BSD license

2.0 Hello World

Here is a minimal web application written using Wapp:

#!/usr/bin/tclsh
package require wapp
proc wapp-default {} {
  wapp-subst {<h1>Hello, World!</h1>\n}
}
wapp-start $argv

To run this application using the built-in web-server, store the code above in a file (here we use the name "hello.tcl") and do:

tclsh hello.tcl

To run the app using the built-in web-server bound to all TCP addresses and listening on port 8080, use:

tclsh hello.tcl --server 8080

To run the app as an SCGI server listening on port 9001:

tclsh hello.tcl --scgi 9001

To run the application as CGI, make the hello.tcl file executable and move into the appropriate directory of your web server.

3.0 Further information

• Introduction To Writing Wapp Applications

• Quick Reference

• Wapp Parameters

• Wapp Commands

• URL Mapping

• Security Features

• Limitations of Wapp

• Example Applications

• Real-World Uses Of Wapp