Using Python in web development with Apache2 and mod_python

| Categories: Experiment

Target system: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS Disclaimer: This is not a good practice. The experiment is for learning purpose only

Installing necessary tools and libraries

  1. Installing: apache2 and libapache2-mod-python

     sudo apt-get install apache2 libapache2-mod-python -y
  2. Check installation complete by going to http://localhost/
  3. Check if mod python has been enabled by checking the existent of /etc/apache2/mods-enabled/python.load

  4. If the file in step 3 does not exist, add the following line to /etc/apache2/apache2.conf

     LoadModule python_module /usr/lib/apache2/modules/mod_python.so

Adding test script

Add index.py to a folder (Let’s say /var/www/html/) with the following content

from mod_python import apache

def handler(request):
    request.content_type = "text/html"
    request.write("Hello World")
    return apache.OK

Adding a server config

Add a file /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/server.conf or modify the default /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/000-default.conf with the following content

<VirtualHost *:80>
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html

    <Directory /var/www/html>
        SetHandler mod_python
        PythonHandler index
        PythonDebug On
    </Directory>
</VirtualHost>

Restart apache server

sudo service apache2 restart

Test

Go to http://localhost/. Press F5 to refresh if necessary. It should show

Hello World