How to use Python with mod_wsgi

• Install mod_wsgi, e.g. on CentOS:

  yum install mod_wsgi

  On FreeBSD:

  make -C /usr/ports/www/mod_wsgi install clean

• Add something like this to your httpd.conf:

  WSGIScriptAlias /wsgi/ /var/www/wsgi/
  <Directory /var/www/wsgi>
    Order allow,deny
    Allow from all
  </Directory>
  

• Restart your Apache webserver
• Boilerplate for HTTP GET:

  #!/usr/bin/python
  
  import urlparse
  
  def application(environ, start_response):
    params = urlparse.parse_qs(environ["QUERY_STRING"]
  
    body = "query strings:\n"
    for k in sorted(params.iterkeys()):
      body += k + ":\n  "
      body += "\n  ".join(params[k]) + "\n\n"
  
    start_response("200 Ok",
                   [("Content-Type", "text/plain"),
                    ("Content-Length", str(len(body)))])
  
    return [body]
  

• Alternatively:

  #!/usr/bin/python
  
  import urlparse
  
  def application(environ, start_response):
    params = urlparse.parse_qs(environ["QUERY_STRING"]
  
    writer = start_response("200 Ok",
                            [("Content-Type", "text/plain")])
  
    writer("query strings:\n")
    for k in sorted(params.iterkeys()):
      writer(k + ":\n  ")
      writer("\n  ".join(params[k]) + "\n\n")
  
    return [""]
  

• Boilerplate for HTTP POST:

  #!/usr/bin/python
  
  import urlparse
  
  def application(environ, start_response):
    reader = environ["wsgi.input"]
    contentlen = int(environ["CONTENT_LENGTH"])
    params = urlparse.parse_qs(reader.read(contentlen))
  
    writer = start_response("200 Ok",
                            [("Content-Type", "text/plain")])
  
    writer("post strings:\n")
    for k in sorted(params.iterkeys()):
      writer(k + ":\n  ")
      writer("\n  ".join(params[k]) + "\n\n")
  
    return ["last line of output\n"]