# NAME

Catalyst::Plugin::Static::File - Serve a specific static file

# SYNOPSIS

In your Catalyst class:

```perl
use Catalyst qw/
    Static::File
  /;
```

In a controller method:

```
$c->serve_static_file( $absolute_path, $type );
```

# DESCRIPTION

This plugin provides a simple method for your [Catalyst](https://metacpan.org/pod/Catalyst) app to send a specific static file.

Unlike [Catalyst::Plugin::Static::Simple](https://metacpan.org/pod/Catalyst%3A%3APlugin%3A%3AStatic%3A%3ASimple),

- It only supports serving a single file, not a directory of static files. Use [Plack::Middleware::Static](https://metacpan.org/pod/Plack%3A%3AMiddleware%3A%3AStatic) if you want to
serve multiple files.
- It assumes that you know what you're doing. If the file does not exist, it will throw an fatal error.
- It uses [Plack::MIME](https://metacpan.org/pod/Plack%3A%3AMIME) to identify the content type, but you can override that.
- It adds a file path to the file handle, and plays nicely with [Plack::Middleware::XSendfile](https://metacpan.org/pod/Plack%3A%3AMiddleware%3A%3AXSendfile) and [Plack::Middleware::ETag](https://metacpan.org/pod/Plack%3A%3AMiddleware%3A%3AETag).
- It does not log anything.

# RECENT CHANGES

Changes for version v0.2.5 (2026-07-17)

- Documentation
    - README is now generated by Dist::Zilla::Plugin::UsefulReadme.
    - Removed separate INSTALL file.
    - Adjusted wording for consistency.
    - Updated the copyright year.
    - Updated maintainer email.
    - Fixed the git repo URL in SOURCE.
    - Added doap.xml to the distribution.
- Tests
    - Skip Plack::Middleware::XSendfile test if it is no installed.
    - Moved author tests into the xt directory.
    - Added more author tests.
- Toolchain
    - Improved Dist::Zilla configuration.
    - Sign distribution with SigStore instead of Module::Signature.

See the `Changes` file for more details.

# REQUIREMENTS

This module lists the following modules as runtime dependencies:

- [Catalyst](https://metacpan.org/pod/Catalyst) version 5.90129 or later
- [File::Spec](https://metacpan.org/pod/File%3A%3ASpec)
- [File::stat](https://metacpan.org/pod/File%3A%3Astat)
- [IO::File](https://metacpan.org/pod/IO%3A%3AFile)
- [Moose::Role](https://metacpan.org/pod/Moose%3A%3ARole)
- [Plack::MIME](https://metacpan.org/pod/Plack%3A%3AMIME)
- [Plack::Util](https://metacpan.org/pod/Plack%3A%3AUtil)
- [Try::Tiny](https://metacpan.org/pod/Try%3A%3ATiny)
- [namespace::autoclean](https://metacpan.org/pod/namespace%3A%3Aautoclean)
- [perl](https://metacpan.org/pod/perl) version v5.14.0 or later

See the `cpanfile` file for the full list of prerequisites.

# INSTALLATION

The latest version of this module (along with any dependencies) can be installed from [CPAN](https://www.cpan.org) with the `cpan` tool that is included with Perl:

```
cpan Catalyst::Plugin::Static::File
```

You can also extract the distribution archive and install this module (along with any dependencies):

```
cpan .
```

You can also install this module manually using the following commands:

```
perl Makefile.PL
make
make test
make install
```

If you are working with the source repository, then it may not have a `Makefile.PL` file.  But you can use the [Dist::Zilla](https://dzil.org/) tool in anger to build and install this module:

```
dzil build
dzil test
dzil install --install-command="cpan ."
```

For more information, see [How to install CPAN modules](https://www.cpan.org/modules/INSTALL.html).

# SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS

The [serve\_static\_file](https://metacpan.org/pod/serve_static_file) method does not validate the file that is passed to it.

You should ensure that arbitrary filenames are not passed to it. You should strictly validate any external data that is
used for generating the filename.

# SUPPORT

Only the latest version of this module will be supported.

This module requires Perl v5.14 or later.  Future releases may only support Perl versions released in the last ten
years.

This module requires Catalyst v5.90129 or later.

## Reporting Bugs and Submitting Feature Requests

Please report any bugs or feature requests on the bugtracker website
[https://github.com/robrwo/Catalyst-Plugin-Static-File/issues](https://github.com/robrwo/Catalyst-Plugin-Static-File/issues)

When submitting a bug or request, please include a test-file or a
patch to an existing test-file that illustrates the bug or desired
feature.

## Reporting Security Vulnerabilities

Security issues should not be reported on the bugtracker website.  Please see `SECURITY.md` for instructions how to
report security vulnerabilities

# SOURCE

The development version is on github at [https://github.com/robrwo/Catalyst-Plugin-Static-File](https://github.com/robrwo/Catalyst-Plugin-Static-File)
and may be cloned from [https://github.com/robrwo/Catalyst-Plugin-Static-File.git](https://github.com/robrwo/Catalyst-Plugin-Static-File.git)

# AUTHOR

Robert Rothenberg <perl@rhizomnic.com>

# COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

This software is Copyright (c) 2023-2026 by Robert Rothenberg.

This is free software, licensed under:

```
The Artistic License 2.0 (GPL Compatible)
```

# SEE ALSO

[Catalyst](https://metacpan.org/pod/Catalyst)

[Catalyst::Plugin::Static::Simple](https://metacpan.org/pod/Catalyst%3A%3APlugin%3A%3AStatic%3A%3ASimple)