Top Mako Server Alternatives: Finding the Best Application Server for Your Needs
The Mako Server is a robust application server, renowned for its speed, compact size, and ease of deployment, particularly for web applications built with Lua scripting. It excels at delivering dynamic content swiftly and deploying applications as convenient ZIP files. However, for various reasons—be it specific feature requirements, platform preferences, or integration needs—developers often seek alternatives. This article delves into the top Mako Server alternatives, helping you find the perfect fit for your next web application project.
Top Mako Server Alternatives
Whether you're looking for different language support, broader community backing, or a specific set of features, these alternatives offer compelling options to consider beyond Mako Server.
Apache Tomcat
Apache Tomcat is a widely adopted open-source implementation of Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies, making it an excellent Mako Server alternative for Java-centric environments. It's free, open-source, and available across Mac, Windows, and Linux, offering robust web development and server capabilities through Java.
Socket.io
Socket.IO is a powerful library for real-time web applications, blurring the lines between different transport mechanisms. While not a direct application server like Mako Server, its real-time capabilities for broadcasting messages and extensive platform support (Free, Open Source, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, JavaScript, C++, Java, Node.JS) make it a valuable Mako Server alternative for projects requiring persistent, low-latency connections.
Jetty
The Jetty Web Server provides a lightweight HTTP server and Servlet container, suitable for serving both static and dynamic content. It's a free, open-source alternative to Mako Server, available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and can be used standalone or embedded, offering a flexible web server solution.
Mongoose
Mongoose is an easy-to-use web server that can also function as an embedded web server library, providing a web interface to applications. As a free personal, self-hosted solution for Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iPhone, it's a portable Mako Server alternative with SSL support, ideal for compact deployments.
JBoss
JBoss, Red Hat's Java EE compliant application server, offers a robust, open-source platform for web development. Available for free on Mac, Windows, and Linux, JBoss provides a comprehensive solution for enterprise-grade applications, making it a strong Mako Server alternative for those committed to the Java ecosystem.
Glassfish
GlassFish v3 is a free and open-source implementation of the Java EE 6 platform specification. Available on Mac, Windows, and Linux, GlassFish offers a powerful and compliant platform for Java enterprise applications, presenting a solid Mako Server alternative, especially for developers leveraging the full Java EE specification.
appserver.io
appserver.io is a unique multithreaded application server for PHP, written entirely in PHP. As a free, open-source, and self-hosted solution compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux, it provides real multi-threading and useful services for PHP developers, making it an intriguing Mako Server alternative for those deep into PHP web development.
WebSphere Application Server
WebSphere Application Server by IBM offers a commercial solution focused on high availability, security, and cost optimization for building, deploying, and managing robust web applications. Available on Windows, Linux, and Java Mobile, it's a powerful Mako Server alternative for large-scale enterprise environments prioritizing comprehensive support and advanced web development features.
Apache Geronimo
Apache Geronimo is a Java EE 5-certified application server, an open-source project designed for web and enterprise applications based on Sun's Java EE platform specification. As a free and open-source option for Mac, Windows, and Linux, Geronimo serves as a comprehensive Mako Server alternative for developers seeking a full-fledged Java EE environment.
Choosing the right application server depends heavily on your project's specific requirements, programming language preferences, and deployment environment. Each of these Mako Server alternatives offers unique strengths, from open-source flexibility to enterprise-grade features. We encourage you to explore them further to find the best fit for your development needs.