In this article we will see how to install Apache from scratch and prepare your environment on Windows for development web with Apache and C++.

Let’s go step by step!

01. Install Apache

1. Visit: https://www.apachelounge.com/.

2. Click Downloads on the left corner

Download the file: Apache 2.4.57 Win64 | [Apache VS17 Win64 Binary] httpd-2.4.57-win64-VS17.zip

3. Unzip the file: Extract to httpd-2.4.57-win64-VS17

4. Move the unzipped folder to the root of the :C\ drive

5. Open CMD (Run as Administrator) and enter the folder: cd C:\Apache24\bin\

6. Run the command: httpd -k install

7. Now enter the folder: C:\Apache24\conf and open the file: httpd.conf with Notepad

8. I renamed the line that has:

#ServerName www.example.com:80 to ServerName localhost (remember to remove the junk (#) from the beginning of the line), save!

FROM:

TO:

9. Now in CMD, restart Apache by running the command: httpd -k stop and then httpd -k start

10. Now open the browser and access: http://localhost/

If the phrase: It works! appears, everything is ok, if not, repeat all the steps, because this procedure should work!

02. Run C++ on the Web

1. Enter the folder: cd C:\Apache24\cgi-bin and create a file named main.cpp and insert this content inside:

#include <iostream>

int main(int argc, char **argv){
   std::cout << "Content-Type: text/html\n\n";
   std::cout << "<h1>C++ running on the Web on Windows via Apache</h1>" << '\n';
   return 0;
}

2. Compile the code (it’s a good idea to use MinGW ) and save the binary ( can be named index.html) within the same folder:

g++ main.cpp -o index.html

3. Access the address: http://localhost/cgi-bin/, it is important to put the slash (/) at the end.

4. If you want Apache to automatically render index.cpp, edit the file: C:\Apache24\conf\httpd.conf, look for the line: DirectoryIndex index.html and add index. cpp at the end, looking like this:

<IfModule dir_module>
DirectoryIndex index.html index.cpp
</IfModule>

Now just compile to binary: index.cpp (remove index.html) RESTART Apache and access: http://localhost/cgi-bin/.

See the video

The video below is in Portuguese, but you can watch the procedure if you have any difficulties.

For more information visit: https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/howto/cgi.html.

windows cpp apache

Marcos Oliveira

Software developer

https://github.com/terroo