gistfile1.py

# http.py
# usage: python -m http port
# e.g.: python -m http 8080

import sys
from random import randint

from SimpleHTTPServer import SimpleHTTPRequestHandler
from SocketServer import TCPServer

gvar = None
port = int(sys.argv[1])

class Handler(SimpleHTTPRequestHandler):
    def send_head(self):
        # if the_global_var is not defined, define it, 
        # otherwise use the existing def
        g = globals()
        if g['gvar'] is None:
            g['gvar'] = "random number> {0}".format(randint(0, 999))

        self.send_response(200)
        self.send_header("Content-type", "text/plain")
        self.send_header("Content-Length", len(g.get('gvar')))
        self.send_header("Last-Modified", self.date_time_string())
        self.end_headers()

    def do_GET(self):
        self.send_head()
        print globals().get('gvar')
        self.wfile.write(globals().get('gvar'))
        self.wfile.close()

print "serving on http://localhost:{0}".format(port)
server = TCPServer(("", port), Handler)
server.serve_forever()