Offering modules for core httpd distro

[Nick Kew <ni...@webthing.com>]

In the course of a brainstorming session on #apache-modules (IRC)
last night, it was suggested that some of my modules might be of
interest for the Apache core distro (mod_diagnostics was
specifically identified).  I have compiled a list of four filter
modules that are opensource and sufficiently general-purpose that
they could be of interest.  They are all open source, and can be 
licensed under the Apache license if you are interested in adopting them.


Specifically:

1. mod_diagnostics
mod_diagnostics is a very simple module that can be inserted anywhere
in the filter chain, and logs buckets and brigades passing through.  
Typical usage is to insert it immediately before and after a filter in 
development to help with debugging and testing.

2. mod_upload
mod_upload is an input filter for "multipart/form-data".  It decodes
the upload, passing the contents of an uploaded file through, and
exporting uploaded data other than the file itself as an
apr_table_t of name/value.
A second filter is available to capture the file itself as a tempfile;
this serves for handlers that need synchronous upload by guaranteeing
that all the form data has been captured before processing.

3. mod_xml_gnome_xslt
This XSLT output filter is spinoff from mod_xml (and is in more
widespread production use than other mod_xml components).  It performs
XSLT transformation, and offers several optimisations including
supporting a cache of pre-compiled stylesheets, and accepting a
document tree in-memory as an alternative to conventional filter input.

4. mod_proxy_html (NEW!)
Apache as a reverse-proxy has hitherto been incomplete, as it falls
down when HTML links in proxied pages fail outside the proxy.
mod_proxy_html is an output filter to rewrite HTML links where
necessary into the proxy's address space.


Any interest?

-- 
Nick Kew

Re: Offering modules for core httpd distro

[Mads Toftum <ma...@toftum.dk>]

On Thu, Jul 24, 2003 at 10:17:25PM +0100, Nick Kew wrote:
> 1. mod_diagnostics

I'd very much like to see this included.
(http://access.www.webthing.com/software/mod_diagnostics.c)

> 3. mod_xml_gnome_xslt
> 
link?

> 4. mod_proxy_html (NEW!)

While this is _very_ useful for reverse proxying, I do not think it should
be included mainly because of the dependency on libxml2.

vh

Mads Toftum
-- 
`Darn it, who spiked my coffee with water?!' - lwall

Re: Offering modules for core httpd distro

[Erik Abele <er...@codefaktor.de>]

On 24/07/2003, at 11:45, André Malo wrote:

> Looks like we get closer to the point we should develop a CAHSMAN [1]. 
> Spare
> time available somewhere? :)

just fyi: there's a discussion about a possible revamp of 
modules.apache.org going on on apache-modules@covalent.net and 
irc://#apache-modules. Under consideration are the following topics: 
site design, possible new features, backend clean-up/enhancements, 
etc... perhaps this is a starting point :)

Cheers,
Erik

Ahh, and WRT Nicks module offer, I completely agree with you, nd.

> nd
>
> [1] Comprehensive Apache HTTP Server Module Archive Network ...

Re: Offering modules for core httpd distro

[André Malo <nd...@perlig.de>]

* Nick Kew wrote:

> 1. mod_diagnostics
> mod_diagnostics is a very simple module that can be inserted anywhere
> in the filter chain, and logs buckets and brigades passing through.
> Typical usage is to insert it immediately before and after a filter in
> development to help with debugging and testing.

This sounds like a good tool for the test category.

> 2. mod_upload
> 3. mod_xml_gnome_xslt
> 4. mod_proxy_html (NEW!)

Hmm. IMHO these modules are too specific for the core distro (though
interesting!).

Looks like we get closer to the point we should develop a CAHSMAN [1]. Spare
time available somewhere? :)

nd

[1] Comprehensive Apache HTTP Server Module Archive Network ...

Re: Offering modules for core httpd distro

[Joshua Slive <jo...@slive.ca>]

On Fri, 25 Jul 2003, Mads Toftum wrote:

> On Fri, Jul 25, 2003 at 11:33:42AM -0400, Joshua Slive wrote:
> > If you could provide a long-term stable url, we could at least point to
> > this from the ProxyPassReverse docs.  It certainly qualifies as a
> > frequently requested feature.
> >
> Or just use http://modules.apache.org/search.php?id=625

And that's going to stay consistent through whatever happens to
modules.apache.org?  Somehow I doubt it.  I hate dead links.

Joshua.

Re: Offering modules for core httpd distro

[Mads Toftum <ma...@toftum.dk>]

On Fri, Jul 25, 2003 at 11:33:42AM -0400, Joshua Slive wrote:
> If you could provide a long-term stable url, we could at least point to
> this from the ProxyPassReverse docs.  It certainly qualifies as a
> frequently requested feature.
> 
Or just use http://modules.apache.org/search.php?id=625

vh

Mads Toftum
-- 
`Darn it, who spiked my coffee with water?!' - lwall

Re: Offering modules for core httpd distro

[Joshua Slive <jo...@slive.ca>]

On Thu, 24 Jul 2003, Nick Kew wrote:
> 4. mod_proxy_html (NEW!)
> Apache as a reverse-proxy has hitherto been incomplete, as it falls
> down when HTML links in proxied pages fail outside the proxy.
> mod_proxy_html is an output filter to rewrite HTML links where
> necessary into the proxy's address space.

If you could provide a long-term stable url, we could at least point to
this from the ProxyPassReverse docs.  It certainly qualifies as a
frequently requested feature.

Joshua.

Re: Offering modules for core httpd distro

[Eli Marmor <ma...@netmask.it>]

Nick Kew wrote:

> In the course of a brainstorming session on #apache-modules (IRC)
> last night, it was suggested that some of my modules might be of
> interest for the Apache core distro (mod_diagnostics was
> specifically identified).  I have compiled a list of four filter
> modules that are opensource and sufficiently general-purpose that
> they could be of interest.  They are all open source, and can be
> licensed under the Apache license if you are interested in adopting them.
> 
> Specifically:
> 
> 1. mod_diagnostics
> ...
> 
> 2. mod_upload
> ...
> 
> 3. mod_xml_gnome_xslt
> ...
> 
> 4. mod_proxy_html (NEW!)
> ...
> 
> Any interest?

Although my humble opinion doesn't play any role here, I must say that
all of the four modules look COOL in my eyes.
I believe that these 4 are the pieces that are missing from the puzzle
which is called "Apache 2".
I, personally, would love to see them as an integral part of Apache.

By the way: what is the difference between mod_xml_gnome_xslt and
mod_xslt?

-- 
Eli Marmor
marmor@netmask.it
CTO, Founder
Netmask (El-Mar) Internet Technologies Ltd.
__________________________________________________________
Tel.:   +972-9-766-1020          8 Yad-Harutzim St.
Fax.:   +972-9-766-1314          P.O.B. 7004
Mobile: +972-50-23-7338          Kfar-Saba 44641, Israel

Re: Offering modules for core httpd distro

[Justin Erenkrantz <ju...@erenkrantz.com>]

On Thu, Jul 24, 2003 at 10:17:25PM +0100, Nick Kew wrote:
> 1. mod_diagnostics
> mod_diagnostics is a very simple module that can be inserted anywhere
> in the filter chain, and logs buckets and brigades passing through.  
> Typical usage is to insert it immediately before and after a filter in 
> development to help with debugging and testing.

Sounds like mod_bucketeer in modules/test, which is already included.
Or, at the very least, whatever additional functionality mod_diagnostics
offers could be folded into mod_bucketeer.

So, if you'd like to provide a patch to do that, it'd probably be
welcomed.  Or, if you don't want to do that, you can just submit a
patch to add it into modules/test.  -- justin

Re: Offering modules for core httpd distro

[Nick Kew <ni...@webthing.com>]

On Thu, 24 Jul 2003, Nick Kew wrote:

> 1. mod_diagnostics

Well, the feedback seems to indicate interest in that.
Shall I take that as a cue to do a writeup?

(BTW, someone said mod_bucketeer, but I can't see any overlap)

> 2. mod_upload
> 3. mod_xml_gnome_xslt

OK, no interest - fair enough.

> 4. mod_proxy_html (NEW!)

I may reorganise my URLs, but I'm happy to undertake to set up a
working 301 if http://www.webthing.com/software/mod_proxy_html/
is affected.

-- 
Nick Kew