Question

I downloaded the developerkit from fastcgi.com. The kit has an examples folder that has a few source files their final, runnable, compiled files. If I put these compiled files in a cgi-bin folder on my apache server (my macbook pro), add the extension fcgi, and go to the url that they are located, they run perfect.

I have a test c soruce file that I want to compile to a fastcgi script. The source file simply prints hello world.

Does anyone have a good ref or easy explanation on how to compile the source file to a runnable fcgi file? I dont understand the docs…

Answer 1

Its a mistake to think of your program as a script. That being said, a FastCGI application needs two things:

1. A web server that is able to pass requests to it (usually on port 9000)
2. The FastCGI library

Presumably, you have installed FastCGI (including the shared objects and headers) and have written something that uses it. You would then compile it via:

gcc -Wall -o myfastcgiapp -lfcgi myfastcgiapp.c

You will then need to configure your web server to start it and pass requests to it. I’m pretty sure, from the limited information you provided that you forgot to tell the linker that you were using symbols from FastCGI (hence -Lfcgi).

It could also be that you did not install the library correctly.

More information such as:

1. Web server being used
2. Compiler errors (if any)
3. Environment (OS)
4. Source to your app (as much as possible)

… would really help get better answers. The following thread discussing the same under NginX might help you. Please consider revising your question, however, even if this solves your problem.