Apache HTTP Server vs. Cowboy vs. Java vs. Mako Server Comparison Chart

Cowboy is the ultimate server for the modern Web with support for Websocket, HTTP/2 and REST. Cowboy is a small, fast and modern HTTP server for Erlang/OTP. Cowboy aims to provide a complete modern Web stack. This includes HTTP/1.1, HTTP/2, WebSocket, server-sent events and Webmachine-based REST. Cowboy comes with functions for introspection and tracing, enabling developers to know precisely what is happening at any time. Its modular design also easily enables developers to add instrumentation. Cowboy is a high-quality project. It has a small code base, is very efficient (both in latency and memory use) and can easily be embedded in another application. Cowboy is clean Erlang code. It includes hundreds of tests and its code is fully compliant with the Dialyzer. It is also well documented and features a function reference, a user guide and numerous tutorials. Knowledge of the HTTP protocol is recommended but not required, as it will be detailed throughout the guide.

The Mako Server is a compact, event-driven web and application server designed for resource-constrained systems. Engineered for embedded environments, it combines a lightweight HTTP/HTTPS server with a Lua scripting engine, enabling high-level development with direct access to low-level C code. Its architecture delivers high performance, low memory use, and secure integration, making it ideal for systems that can’t support heavier frameworks but require dynamic web interfaces or APIs. The server supports live updates, built-in debugging, and Lua Server Pages (LSP), offering PHP-like scripting optimized for embedded use. Common use cases include device portals, diagnostic dashboards, REST APIs, and real-time WebSocket interfaces. Lua’s speed and small footprint align perfectly with the Mako Server’s goals. More than just a web server, Mako is a comprehensive framework that enables developers to integrate modern, secure, web-enabled features into compact devices.