Overview
Shelf Static is a Dart package that provides static file serving capabilities for the Shelf web server framework. It enables developers to serve static assets such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images from a specified directory, making it ideal for hosting simple web applications or serving frontend resources alongside dynamic APIs. Built on top of the Shelf ecosystem, it integrates seamlessly with other Shelf middleware and handlers. The package supports efficient file caching, content type detection, and optional directory listing.
Use cases
- Serving static frontend files
- Hosting simple websites
- Providing asset delivery for APIs
- Enabling local development servers
- Supporting hybrid app backends
Key features
- Easy integration with Shelf
- Automatic content type detection
- Directory listing support
- File caching for performance
- Configurable root directory
Suitable for
- Web developers using Shelf
- Full-stack Dart applications
- Local development environments
- Simple API + static site setups
- Backend services needing file serving
Considerations
- Not recommended for production at scale
- Requires manual security configuration
- Limited advanced features like compression
- No built-in authentication
- Best suited for small to medium static file needs