Are you saying the raw sockets API doesn't allow you to use port 80? (I don't believe that to be the case). The filtered headers thing is a common issue in man

Are you saying the raw sockets API doesn't allow you to use port 80? (I don't believe that to be the case). The filtered headers thing is a common issue in many https load balancers, particularly ones like ours that have global anycast routing. I've shown a bunch of people that a modern App Engine standard environment app can run stock Django talking to MySQL (which we manage for you with Cloud SQL) just fine. If you need native C-code extensions, sure use our new Flexible Environment (neé Managed VMs) but you don't need to for many simple apps. Finally, as others have pointed out, App Engine is just one piece of our overall platform (though it was first, so it's common to have this misperception). Disclosure: I work at Google on Compute Engine (so of course I want you to use our products).