Installing mod_lisp 2.2 under FreeBSD

Paul Hoadley

Logic Squad

Copyright © 2002 Paul A. Hoadley

2003-03-31

Abstract

This document describes how to set up mod_lisp 2.2 under FreeBSD 4.5-R. While specific versions are mentioned for various software applications, the instructions below can probably be applied to other versions, though the latest version (currently 2.2) of mod_lisp is recommended.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Install Apache
3. Install GNU CLISP
4. Install mod_lisp
A. Contacting the Author

1. Introduction

[Note]Note

This article was written in 2002, and no longer provides current information. It is preserved for historical purposes only. In particular, several of the links to other documents and the mod_lisp port are no longer functional. There is, however, a mod_lisp port in the ports tree at /usr/ports/www/mod_lisp2, and this should be the interested Lisper's first port of call.

mod_lisp is an extension module for the Apache HTTP Server that enables Apache to interface with web applications written in Lisp. This document will describe how to install:

  • Apache HTTP Server (briefly—this is a process that is well covered elsewhere)

  • GNU CLISP: an ANSI Common Lisp

  • mod_lisp

While GNU CLISP is the Lisp system used in this document, mod_lisp claims to interface equally well with other Lisp systems, such as Allegro Common Lisp and CMUCL.

2. Install Apache

Installation of Apache from the ports is relatively unproblematic. The latest version of Apache will probably work, though this document was written when the current version was Apache 1.3.22. As root, execute the following:

# cd /usr/ports/www/apache13/
# make
# make install

Some customisation of the configuration file /usr/local/etc/apache/httpd.conf will be required. Getting Apache running is beyond the scope of this article, and is well covered elsewhere.

At the end of installation and modification of httpd.conf, start Apache as root:

# /usr/local/sbin/apachectl start

The parent Apache process will run as root, and all its children will run as the user and group specified in the User and Group directives in httpd.conf. Test Apache by pointing a browser at the localhost:

# lynx http://localhost/

A default Apache page should be displayed at this point.

3. Install GNU CLISP

Installation of GNU CLISP from the ports is straightforward. As root, execute the following:

# cd /usr/ports/lang/clisp
# make
# make install

clisp should be available immediately, and can be tested by running:

# clisp

4. Install mod_lisp

Installing mod_lisp is only marginally harder. The author of mod_lisp has made a FreeBSD port of the application, though it is not currently in the FreeBSD ports hierarchy. In other words, an archive of the port skeleton can be downloaded and extracted, but the skeleton is not currently in the /usr/ports directory tree. A FreeBSD package is also available, intended for installation with the pkg_add utility, though this package expects a particular version of Apache, and will not run without modification if another version has been installed. The steps to install mod_lisp are:

  • Download the mod_lisp FreeBSD Port from the Fractal Concept website:

    # cd /usr/local 
# fetch http://www.fractalconcept.com/fcweb/download/mod_lisp.tar.gz

  • Extract the archive:

    # gunzip mod_lisp.tar.gz
# tar -xvf mod_lisp.tar

  • Make the port:

    # cd mod_lisp
# make
# make install

  • The appropriate LoadModule directive is added to httpd.conf by the port using apxs. The following directives need to be added to httpd.conf by hand:

    LispServer 127.0.0.1 3000 "lispserver"
<Location /lisp>
SetHandler lisp-handler
</Location>

    The string "lispserver" and the Location /lisp above can be changed.

  • Restart Apache:

    # apachectl restart

  • There are three versions of the minimal Lisp application in /usr/local/mod_lisp/work/mod_lisp-2.2. Assuming that GNU CLISP is the Lisp system:

    # cd /usr/local/mod_lisp/work/mod_lisp-2.2
# clisp -q

[1]> (load 'modlisp-clisp)
;; Loading file /usr/local/mod_lisp/work/mod_lisp-2.2/modlisp-clisp.lisp ...
;; Loading of file /usr/local/mod_lisp/work/mod_lisp-2.2/modlisp-clisp.lisp is finished.
T
[2]> (modlisp:modlisp-server)

  • Assuming the location /lisp was specified in httpd.conf, a minimal banner (inadvertently advertising Linux!) can be found at:

    # lynx http://localhost/lisp/

A. Contacting the Author

The author of this document is Paul Hoadley. This document only describes what I did to get mod_lisp functioning on my FreeBSD machine. Your mileage may vary. If you notice any errors in this document, or your experience with mod_lisp was vastly different, please let me know.