Server

The server command starts a local web server that makes your recipe collection browsable from any device with a web browser. It's perfect for cooking from a tablet, sharing recipes with family, or browsing your collection comfortably.

Basic Usage

cook server

This starts a web server on http://localhost:9080 serving recipes from the current directory.

Starting the Server

Serve Current Directory

cook server
# Server running at http://localhost:9080

Serve Specific Directory

cook server ~/my-recipes
# Or
cd ~/my-recipes && cook server

Custom Port

cook server --port 8080
# Server running at http://localhost:8080

Allow External Access

By default, the server only accepts connections from localhost. To access from other devices:

cook server --host
# Server accessible at http://YOUR-IP:9080

# With custom port
cook server --host --port 3000

⚠️ Security Note: Only use --host on trusted networks. Your recipes will be accessible to anyone on the network.

Auto-Open Browser

cook server --open
# Automatically opens http://localhost:9080 in your default browser

Features

Recipe Browsing

• Tree view of all recipes organized by folders
• Search across all recipes
• Quick preview with cooking time and servings
• Full recipe view with ingredients and steps

Recipe Scaling

Scale any recipe directly in the web interface:

• Use the scaling controls to adjust servings
• All quantities update automatically
• Print or save the scaled version

Shopping Lists

Create shopping lists from the web interface:

• Select multiple recipes
• Set scaling for each recipe
• Generate combined shopping list
• Export or print the list

Mobile-Friendly

The web interface is responsive and works great on:

• Phones – Quick reference while shopping
• Tablets – Perfect for cooking
• Desktops – Comfortable browsing and planning

Network Access

Local Network

Share recipes with devices on your home network:

# Find your IP address
ip addr show  # Linux
ifconfig      # macOS

# Start server with external access
cook server --host --port 8080

# Access from other devices at:
# http://192.168.1.100:8080 (replace with your IP)

Kitchen Setup

Ideal setup for cooking:

# On your computer
cook server ~/recipes --host

# On your tablet/phone
# Open browser to http://computer-ip:9080

Family Sharing

Let family members browse recipes:

# Create a read-only recipe directory
cp -r ~/recipes ~/shared-recipes

# Serve the shared directory
cook server ~/shared-recipes --host --port 8080

# Family can access at http://your-ip:8080

Advanced Usage

Running as a Service

systemd (Linux)

Create /etc/systemd/system/cooklang.service:

[Unit]
Description=Cooklang Recipe Server
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=YOUR-USER
WorkingDirectory=/home/YOUR-USER/recipes
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/cook server --host --port 8080
Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable and start:

sudo systemctl enable cooklang
sudo systemctl start cooklang

launchd (macOS)

Create ~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.cooklang.server.plist:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" 
  "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>Label</key>
    <string>org.cooklang.server</string>
    <key>ProgramArguments</key>
    <array>
        <string>/usr/local/bin/cook</string>
        <string>server</string>
        <string>/Users/YOUR-USER/recipes</string>
        <string>--port</string>
        <string>8080</string>
    </array>
    <key>RunAtLoad</key>
    <true/>
    <key>KeepAlive</key>
    <true/>
</dict>
</plist>

Load the service:

launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/org.cooklang.server.plist

Docker Deployment

Create a Dockerfile:

FROM rust:latest
RUN cargo install cookcli
WORKDIR /recipes
COPY ./recipes /recipes
EXPOSE 9080
CMD ["cook", "server", "--host"]

Build and run:

docker build -t my-recipes .
docker run -p 9080:9080 my-recipes

Reverse Proxy

Use with nginx for production deployment:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name recipes.example.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:9080;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    }
}

Web Interface Guide

Home Page

• Recipe tree – Browse by folder structure
• Search bar – Find recipes quickly
• Recent recipes – Quick access to recently viewed

Recipe View

• Ingredients panel – Checklist with quantities
• Steps – Clear cooking instructions
• Scaling control – Adjust servings dynamically
• Timer highlights – Click to start timers
• Print view – Optimized for printing

Shopping List Builder

1. Click "Shopping List" in navigation
2. Select recipes to include
3. Set quantities for each
4. Click "Generate List"
5. Print or export the results

Tips and Tricks

Quick Access

Create shortcuts for common uses:

# Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
alias recipes='cook server ~/recipes --open'
alias cookbook='cook server ~/cookbook --host --port 8080'

Bookmarks

Save commonly used recipe URLs:

• http://localhost:9080/recipes/favorites/
• http://localhost:9080/recipe/Pizza.cook
• http://localhost:9080/shopping-list

Tablet Mode

For dedicated kitchen tablet:

1. Start server with --host
2. Create tablet bookmark to server URL
3. Use "Add to Home Screen" for app-like experience
4. Enable "Reader Mode" for cleaner display

Development Workflow

When developing recipes:

# Auto-reload on file changes (using external tools)
fswatch -o ~/recipes | xargs -n1 -I{} curl http://localhost:9080/api/reload

# Split terminal: edit and preview
# Terminal 1: Editor
vim ~/recipes/new-recipe.cook
# Terminal 2: Server
cook server ~/recipes --open

Troubleshooting

Port Already in Use

# Check what's using the port
lsof -i :9080  # macOS/Linux

# Use a different port
cook server --port 8081

Can't Access from Other Devices

1. Check firewall settings
2. Ensure using --host flag
3. Verify IP address is correct
4. Check network connectivity

Slow Loading

• Large recipe collections may take time to index
• Consider organizing recipes into folders
• Reduce image sizes in recipe directories

Security Considerations

Local Network Only

By default, the server only accepts local connections. This is the safest option.

Network Access

When using --host:

• Only use on trusted networks
• Consider using a firewall
• Don't expose to the internet directly
• Use reverse proxy with authentication for public access

Read-Only Access

The web interface provides read-only access to recipes. Files cannot be modified through the web interface.

See Also

• Recipe – Command-line recipe viewing
• Shopping List – Generate shopping lists via CLI
• Search – Search recipes from command line