Polipo is a caching HTTP proxy which has modest resource needs.
It listens to requests for web pages from your browser and forwards them to web servers, and forwards the servers’ replies to your browser. In the process, it optimises and cleans up the network traffic. It is similar in spirit to WWWOFFLE, but the implementation techniques are more like the ones ones used by Squid.
Polipo aims at being a compliant HTTP/1.1 proxy. It should work with any web site that complies with either HTTP/1.1 or the older HTTP/1.0.
Features include:
- HTTP 1.1, IPv4 & IPv6, traffic filtering and privacy-enhancement.
- Uses HTTP/1.1 pipelining if it believes that the remote server supports it, whether the incoming requests are pipelined or come in simultaneously on multiple connections.
- Cache the initial segment of an instance if the download has been interrupted, and, if necessary, complete it later using Range requests.
- Upgrade client requests to HTTP/1.1 even if they come in as HTTP/1.0, and up- or downgrade server replies to the client’s capabilities.
- Complete support for IPv6 (except for scoped (link-local) addresses).
- Use as a bridge between the IPv4 and IPv6 Internets.
- Content-filtering.
- Can use a technique known as Poor Man’s Multiplexing to reduce latency.
- SOCKS 4 and SOCKS 5 protocol support.
- HTTPS proxying.
- Behaves as a transparent proxy.
- Run Polipo together with Privoxy or tor.
Website: www.irif.fr/~jch//software/polipo
Support: Manual
Developer: Juliusz Chroboczek, Christopher Davis
License: MIT License
Polipo is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Return to Optimize Web Delivery
| Popular series | |
|---|---|
 | The largest compilation of the best free and open source software in the universe. Each article is supplied with a legendary ratings chart helping you to make informed decisions. |
 | Hundreds of in-depth reviews offering our unbiased and expert opinion on software. We offer helpful and impartial information. |
 | The Big List of Active Linux Distros is a large compilation of actively developed Linux distributions. |
 | Replace proprietary software with open source alternatives: Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Autodesk, Oracle, Atlassian, Corel, Cisco, Intuit, and SAS. |
 | Awesome Free Linux Games Tools showcases a series of tools that making gaming on Linux a more pleasurable experience. This is a new series. |
 | Machine Learning explores practical applications of machine learning and deep learning from a Linux perspective. We've written reviews of more than 40 self-hosted apps. All are free and open source. |
 | New to Linux? Read our Linux for Starters series. We start right at the basics and teach you everything you need to know to get started with Linux. |
 | Alternatives to popular CLI tools showcases essential tools that are modern replacements for core Linux utilities. |
 | Essential Linux system tools focuses on small, indispensable utilities, useful for system administrators as well as regular users. |
 | Linux utilities to maximise your productivity. Small, indispensable tools, useful for anyone running a Linux machine. |
 | Surveys popular streaming services from a Linux perspective: Amazon Music Unlimited, Myuzi, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal. |
 | Saving Money with Linux looks at how you can reduce your energy bills running Linux. |
 | Home computers became commonplace in the 1980s. Emulate home computers including the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, ZX81, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum. |
 | Now and Then examines how promising open source software fared over the years. It can be a bumpy ride. |
 | Linux at Home looks at a range of home activities where Linux can play its part, making the most of our time at home, keeping active and engaged. |
 | Linux Candy reveals the lighter side of Linux. Have some fun and escape from the daily drudgery. |
 | Getting Started with Docker helps you master Docker, a set of platform as a service products that delivers software in packages called containers. |
 | Best Free Android Apps. We showcase free Android apps that are definitely worth downloading. There's a strict eligibility criteria for inclusion in this series. |
 | These best free books accelerate your learning of every programming language. Learn a new language today! |
 | These free tutorials offer the perfect tonic to our free programming books series. |
 | Linux Around The World showcases usergroups that are relevant to Linux enthusiasts. Great ways to meet up with fellow enthusiasts. |
 | Stars and Stripes is an occasional series looking at the impact of Linux in the USA. |