True, but a static-file server should be trivially scalable. That is, scalable by placing it behind a load balancer(or using any number of alternative methods t

True, but a static-file server should be trivially scalable. That is, scalable by placing it behind a load balancer(or using any number of alternative methods that don't acutally touch the server itself). Even if the server implements Access Control, it should still be trivially scalable. Also, nginx doesn't have such...interesting ideas as the custom server: http://talks.golang.org/2013/oscon-dl.slide#19 http://talks.golang.org/2013/oscon-dl.slide#19 I mean, if by "rather uncommon challenges" you're referring to the "what are threads?" design philosophy of the original... then yeah, it does require "custom software".