proxen

A dead simple, yet powerful HTTP toolset

Multifunction cli tool with zero dependency

Features: proxy, reverse proxy, redirection, remote download, static file server, in-browser file explorer

To install proxen:

npm i -g proxen

Usage

There are two ways to use proxen:

• The simple way is to type proxen <subcommand> <params>. Each subcommand corresponds to one feature of the program.

• The other way is to use a config file. You can name that file however you want. It is a Json file. Here is how to use it: proxen -f <filename> or proxen --file <filename>

The advantage of using the config file, is that you can exploit all the available features, in one call. And you can call each feature several time in the file.

proxen as a reverse proxy

This feature allows you to forward all requests from an input port, to an output port. So no more need for NGNX in simple cases ! The input port must be free, so that proxen can listen on it. You can also ask proxen to secure its server, by passing paths to a key and a cert file.

Simple method:

• HTTP without ssl or tls

proxen rprox <input port> <output port>

• Secured HTTP

proxen rprox <input port> <output port> <cert file path> <key file path>

With config file:

Add the field "rprox" to the root object of the file.

• Example 1:

{
  "rprox": {
    "<input port 1>": "<output port 1>",
    "<input port 2>": "<output port 2>",
    "<input port 3>": "<output port 3>"
  }
}

• Example 2:

{
  "rprox": {
    "<input port 1>": {
      "key": "<path to key 1>",
      "cert": "<path to cert 1>",
      "output": "<output port 1>"
    },
    "<input port 2>": { // will not use ssl or tls (no key and cert). Equivalent to example 1
      "output": "<output port 2>"
    },
    "<input port 3>": {
      "key": "<path to key 3>",
      "cert": "<path to cert 3>",
      "output": "<output port 3>"
    }
  }
}

• Example 3:

{
  "rprox": {
    "<input port 1>": {
      "<address 1>": "<output port 1>",  // For each IP address or domain name used to access the
      "<address 2>": "<output port 2>",  // input port, we can specify a different output port
      "<address 3>": "<output port 3>",
      "default": "<default output port>" // We can also add a default output port (optional)
    },
    "<input port 2>": {
      "<address 1>": "<output port 1>",
      "<address 2>": "<output port 2>",
      "<address 3>": "<output port 3>",
      "default": "<default output port>"
    },
    "<input port 3>": {
      "<address 1>": "<output port 1>",
      "<address 2>": "<output port 2>",
      "<address 3>": "<output port 3>",
      "default": "<default output port>"
    }
  }
}

• Example 4:

{
  "rprox": {
    "<input port 1>": {
      "key": "<path to key 1>", // You certificate files must cover all the provided domains !
      "cert": "<path to cert 1>",
      "hosts": {
        "<address 1>": "<output port 1>",
        "<address 2>": "<output port 2>",
        "<address 3>": "<output port 3>",
        "default": "<default output port>"
      }
    },
    "<input port 2>": {
      "hosts": { // Will not use ssl or tls (no key and cert). Equivalent of example 3
        "<address 1>": "<output port 1>",
        "<address 2>": "<output port 2>",
        "<address 3>": "<output port 3>",
        "default": "<default output port>"
      }
    },
    "<input port 3>": {
      "key": "<path to key 3>",
      "cert": "<path to cert 3>",
      "hosts": {
        "<address 1>": "<output port 1>",
        "<address 2>": "<output port 2>",
        "<address 3>": "<output port 3>",
        "default": "<default output port>"
      }
    }
  }
}

• Example 5 (All previous cases together)

{
  "rprox": {
    "<input port 1>": "<output port>",
    "<input port 2>": {
      "key": "<path to key>",
      "cert": "<path to cert>",
      "output": "<output port>"
    },
    "<input port 3>": {
      "output": "<output port>"
    },
    "<input port 4>": {
      "<address 1>": "<output port 1>",
      "<address 2>": "<output port 2>",
      "<address 3>": "<output port 3>",
      "#default": "<default output port>"
    },
    "<input port 5>": {
      "key": "<path to key>",
      "cert": "<path to cert>",
      "hosts": {
        "<address 1>": "<output port 1>",
        "<address 2>": "<output port 2>",
        "<address 3>": "<output port 3>",
        "#default": "<default output port>"
      }
    },
    "<input port 6>": {
      "hosts": {
        "<address 1>": "<output port 1>",
        "<address 2>": "<output port 2>",
        "<address 3>": "<output port 3>",
        "#default": "<default output port>"
      }
    }
  }
}

proxen as a redirection server

This feature allows you to explicitly redirect clients from a source port to another port or url. The redirection is performed through a "301" HTTP response code. The source port must be free, so that proxen can listen on it. You can also provide paths to a cert and a key file, to make the connection secure.

In the examples below, the destination (dest) can be:

• A port number: In this case, the redirection preserves:
  • the protocol
  • the domain
  • the path
  • the querystring

Only the the port changes

• The string "http" (lowercase): In this case, the redirection preserves:
  • the domain
  • the path
  • the querystring

The protocol is set to "HTTP", and the port is set to 80.

• The string "https" (lowercase): Works like the previous case. But the protocol is set to "HTTPS", and the port to 443.

• A custom url: This allows you to redirect requests wherever you want. If you want to use some parts of the original request in the destination url, you can use the following variables in your url string:

  • {protocol} -> Will be replaced by the original request's protocol
  • {domain} -> Will be replaced by the original domain
  • {port} -> The original port
  • {path} -> Original path
  • {query} -> Original querystring

Example:

proxen red 1555 https://blabla.com:{port}/custom/path{query} # Only preserves port and querystring

Simple method

• Without ssl or tls

proxen red <source port> <dest>

• Secured HTTP

proxen red <source port> <dest> <cert file path> <key file path>

With config file

Not yet implemented Will be available in version 3.1.5 Expected release date: May 5 2022

proxen as a proxy

This feature will allow you to access any resource on the web, using your server as a proxy

Not yet implemented. Will be available in version 3.2.0 Expected release date: May 30 2022

proxen as a download server

This feature will allow you to download any resource on your server, until you are ready to download it on your local machine. It can be very useful when the resource will not remain available for a long time, but you can't immediately download it because of a poor internet connection, or lack of disk space on your local machine

Not yet implemented. Will be available in version 3.3.0 Expected release date: June 30 2022

proxen as a static file server

This feature will allow you to statically serve files from any directory

Not yet implemented. Will be available in version 4.0.0 Expected release date: September 15 2022

proxen as an in-browser file explorer

This feature will allow you to serve an in-browser file explorer on your server or your local machine. Authorized people in your network will be able to upload, download, copy, paste, etc...

Not yet implemented. Will be available in version 5.0.0 Expected release date: December 31 2022

You can encourage me:

• Follow my GitHub account
• Star proxen's repository, and send pull requests
• Suggest features and point out bugs, through issues

Get in touch

• My Twitter account
• My Telegram account

By @archnim. Full-stack web developer. Open-source enthusiast. Nim-lang promoter.