Static File Server
Lab can serve local directories over HTTP for tests. Use the static file server for fixture files, generated pages, built frontend assets, or other files that a Ferret script should read through a URL.
During lab run, static service URLs are passed to FQL under @lab.static.
Serve static files during a test run
Use run --serve to serve a directory while tests run.
lab run --serve ./dist@app tests/The service URL is available as @lab.static.app.
Multiple directories can be served in the same run:
lab run \ --serve ./dist@app \ --serve ./fixtures@fixtures \ tests/Start standalone services
Use lab serve --static when you want a static fixture service without running tests.
lab serve --static ./dist@appStandalone serve entries must be explicit. Positional service entries are rejected; use --static for static directories.
You can serve more than one directory:
lab serve \ --static ./dist@app \ --static ./fixtures@fixturesLab prints the URL for each started service and runs until the process is cancelled.
Entry syntax
Static entries use this binding syntax:
| Syntax | Meaning |
|---|---|
<path> |
Serve the directory on a dynamic port with the directory name as the alias. |
<path>:<port> |
Serve the directory on a fixed port with the directory name as the alias. |
<path>@<alias> |
Serve the directory with an explicit alias. |
<path>@<alias>:<port> |
Serve the directory with an explicit alias and fixed port. |
Static entries must point to existing directories. The default alias is the directory name.
Aliases must start with a letter or underscore and may contain letters, numbers, underscores, and hyphens. Use bracket access for aliases that are not valid FQL dotted-property names:
Duplicate aliases are rejected.
Fixed ports
Use a fixed port when another process needs a stable URL.
lab serve --static ./dist@app:8080The fixed port is part of the service binding. The alias is still app, so test scripts use @lab.static.app.
Bind and advertised hosts
By default, local services bind to 127.0.0.1 and advertise URLs with 127.0.0.1.
Use --serve-bind to choose the listener host. Use --serve-host to choose the host placed in generated URLs.
lab run \ --serve ./dist@app \ --serve-bind 0.0.0.0 \ --serve-host host.docker.internal \ tests/Both values are hosts only. Do not include a port.
When --serve-host is set and --serve-bind is omitted, Lab binds to a wildcard host so remote runtimes can reach the service: 0.0.0.0 for IPv4 and hostnames, or :: for IPv6 literals.