diff --git a/qse/cmd/net/httpd.c b/qse/cmd/net/httpd.c
index 7acc1102..5ed04388 100644
--- a/qse/cmd/net/httpd.c
+++ b/qse/cmd/net/httpd.c
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ static int httpd_main (int argc, qse_char_t* argv[])
 	qse_httpd_t* httpd = QSE_NULL;
 	qse_ntime_t tmout;
 	int ret = -1, i;
+	int trait;
 	static qse_httpd_server_cbstd_t cbstd = { makersrc, freersrc };
 
 	if (argc <= 1)
@@ -218,7 +219,8 @@ static int httpd_main (int argc, qse_char_t* argv[])
 
 	qse_httpd_setname (httpd, QSE_MT("qsehttpd 1.0"));
 
-	qse_httpd_setoption (httpd, QSE_HTTPD_CGIERRTONUL);
+	trait = QSE_HTTPD_CGIERRTONUL;
+	qse_httpd_setopt (httpd, QSE_HTTPD_TRAIT, &trait);
 
 	tmout.sec = 10;
 	tmout.nsec = 0;
@@ -259,7 +261,6 @@ int qse_main (int argc, qse_achar_t* argv[])
 		qse_setdflcmgrbyid (QSE_CMGR_SLMB);
 	}
 
-
 	if (WSAStartup (MAKEWORD(2,0), &wsadata) != 0)
 	{
 		qse_fprintf (QSE_STDERR, QSE_T("Failed to start up winsock\n"));
diff --git a/qse/include/qse/net/httpd.h b/qse/include/qse/net/httpd.h
index e1827e31..927ee2a8 100644
--- a/qse/include/qse/net/httpd.h
+++ b/qse/include/qse/net/httpd.h
@@ -58,13 +58,20 @@ enum qse_httpd_errnum_t
 };
 typedef enum qse_httpd_errnum_t qse_httpd_errnum_t;
 
-enum qse_httpd_option_t
+enum qse_httpd_opt_t
+{
+	QSE_HTTPD_TRAIT
+};
+typedef enum qse_httpd_opt_t qse_httpd_opt_t;
+
+enum qse_httpd_trait_t
 {
 	QSE_HTTPD_MUTECLIENT   = (1 << 0),
 	QSE_HTTPD_CGIERRTONUL  = (1 << 1),
 	QSE_HTTPD_CGINOCLOEXEC = (1 << 2),
 	QSE_HTTPD_CGINOCHUNKED = (1 << 3)
 };
+typedef enum qse_httpd_trait_t qse_httpd_trait_t;
 
 typedef struct qse_httpd_stat_t qse_httpd_stat_t;
 struct qse_httpd_stat_t
@@ -383,8 +390,18 @@ enum qse_httpd_rsrc_type_t
 };
 typedef enum qse_httpd_rsrc_type_t qse_httpd_rsrc_type_t;
 
-typedef struct qse_httpd_rsrc_t qse_httpd_rsrc_t;
+typedef struct qse_httpd_rsrc_cgi_t qse_httpd_rsrc_cgi_t;
+struct qse_httpd_rsrc_cgi_t
+{
+	const qse_mchar_t* path;
+	const qse_mchar_t* script;
+	const qse_mchar_t* suffix;
+	const qse_mchar_t* docroot;
+	const qse_mchar_t* shebang; 
+	int nph;
+};
 
+typedef struct qse_httpd_rsrc_t qse_httpd_rsrc_t;
 struct qse_httpd_rsrc_t
 {
 	qse_httpd_rsrc_type_t type;
@@ -394,14 +411,9 @@ struct qse_httpd_rsrc_t
 		{
 			const qse_mchar_t* realm;
 		} auth;
-		struct 
-		{
-			const qse_mchar_t* path;
-			const qse_mchar_t* script;
-			const qse_mchar_t* suffix;
-			const qse_mchar_t* docroot;
-			int nph;
-		} cgi;	
+
+		qse_httpd_rsrc_cgi_t cgi;
+
 		struct
 		{
 			const qse_mchar_t* path;
@@ -478,9 +490,10 @@ struct qse_httpd_server_cbstd_t
 typedef struct qse_httpd_server_cgistd_t qse_httpd_server_cgistd_t;
 struct qse_httpd_server_cgistd_t
 {
-	const qse_mchar_t* ext;
-	qse_size_t         len;
-	int                nph;
+	const qse_mchar_t*  ext;
+	qse_size_t          len;
+	int                 nph;
+	const qse_mchar_t*  shebang; /* optional, can be #QSE_NULL */
 };
 
 typedef struct qse_httpd_server_mimestd_t qse_httpd_server_mimestd_t;
@@ -551,13 +564,16 @@ QSE_EXPORT void qse_httpd_seterrnum (
 	qse_httpd_errnum_t errnum
 );
 
-QSE_EXPORT int qse_httpd_getoption (
-	qse_httpd_t* httpd
+QSE_EXPORT int qse_httpd_getopt (
+	qse_httpd_t*    httpd,
+	qse_httpd_opt_t id,
+	void*           value
 );
 
-QSE_EXPORT void qse_httpd_setoption (
-	qse_httpd_t* httpd,
-	int          option
+QSE_EXPORT int qse_httpd_setopt (
+	qse_httpd_t*    httpd,
+	qse_httpd_opt_t id,
+	const void*     value
 );
 
 /**
@@ -758,11 +774,7 @@ QSE_EXPORT qse_httpd_task_t* qse_httpd_entaskcgi (
 	qse_httpd_t*              httpd,
 	qse_httpd_client_t*       client,
 	qse_httpd_task_t*         pred,
-	const qse_mchar_t*        path,
-	const qse_mchar_t*        script,
-	const qse_mchar_t*        suffix,
-	const qse_mchar_t*        docroot,
-	int                       nph,
+	qse_httpd_rsrc_cgi_t*     cgi,
 	qse_htre_t*               req
 );
 
diff --git a/qse/lib/awk/awk.c b/qse/lib/awk/awk.c
index 0e9e4c8c..5d5a9443 100644
--- a/qse/lib/awk/awk.c
+++ b/qse/lib/awk/awk.c
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ int qse_awk_setopt (qse_awk_t* awk, qse_awk_opt_t id, const void* value)
 	return -1;
 }
 
-int qse_awk_getopt (qse_awk_t* awk, qse_awk_opt_t  id, void* value)
+int qse_awk_getopt (qse_awk_t* awk, qse_awk_opt_t id, void* value)
 {
 	switch  (id)
 	{
diff --git a/qse/lib/net/httpd-cgi.c b/qse/lib/net/httpd-cgi.c
index 16630261..2872d04a 100644
--- a/qse/lib/net/httpd-cgi.c
+++ b/qse/lib/net/httpd-cgi.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ struct task_cgi_arg_t
 	qse_mcstr_t script;
 	qse_mcstr_t suffix;
 	qse_mcstr_t docroot;
+	qse_mcstr_t shebang;
 	int nph;
 	qse_htre_t* req;
 };
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ struct task_cgi_t
 	const qse_mchar_t* script;
 	const qse_mchar_t* suffix;
 	const qse_mchar_t* docroot;
+	const qse_mchar_t* shebang;
 	qse_http_version_t version;
 	int keepalive; /* taken from the request */
 	int nph;
@@ -706,10 +708,12 @@ static int task_init_cgi (
 	cgi->script = cgi->path + arg->path.len + 1;
 	cgi->suffix = cgi->script + arg->script.len + 1;
 	cgi->docroot = cgi->suffix + arg->suffix.len + 1;
+	cgi->shebang = cgi->docroot + arg->docroot.len + 1;
 	qse_mbscpy ((qse_mchar_t*)cgi->path, arg->path.ptr);
 	qse_mbscpy ((qse_mchar_t*)cgi->script, arg->script.ptr);
 	qse_mbscpy ((qse_mchar_t*)cgi->suffix, arg->suffix.ptr);
 	qse_mbscpy ((qse_mchar_t*)cgi->docroot, arg->docroot.ptr);
+	qse_mbscpy ((qse_mchar_t*)cgi->shebang, arg->shebang.ptr);
 
 	cgi->version = *qse_htre_getversion(arg->req);
 	cgi->keepalive = (arg->req->attr.flags & QSE_HTRE_ATTR_KEEPALIVE);
@@ -737,7 +741,7 @@ static int task_init_cgi (
 		 * such a request to entask a cgi script dropping the
 		 * content */
 
-		if (httpd->option & QSE_HTTPD_CGINOCHUNKED)
+		if (httpd->opt.trait & QSE_HTTPD_CGINOCHUNKED)
 		{
 			qse_htre_discardcontent (arg->req);
 			cgi->reqflags |= CGI_REQ_GOTALL;
@@ -844,8 +848,8 @@ done:
 	}
 
 	/* get the content type header value */
-     tmp = qse_htre_getheaderval(arg->req, QSE_MT("Content-Type"));
-     if (tmp) while (tmp->next) tmp = tmp->next; /* get the last value */
+	tmp = qse_htre_getheaderval(arg->req, QSE_MT("Content-Type"));
+	if (tmp) while (tmp->next) tmp = tmp->next; /* get the last value */
 
 	if (cgi_add_env (
 		httpd, client, cgi->env, arg->req, 
@@ -1332,8 +1336,9 @@ static int task_main_cgi (
 	qse_httpd_t* httpd, qse_httpd_client_t* client, qse_httpd_task_t* task)
 {
 	task_cgi_t* cgi = (task_cgi_t*)task->ctx;
-	int pio_options;
+	int pio_options, x;
 	int http_errnum = 500;
+	qse_mchar_t* xpath;
 
 	if (cgi->init_failed) goto oops;
 
@@ -1368,16 +1373,31 @@ static int task_main_cgi (
 	}
 
 	pio_options = QSE_PIO_READOUT | QSE_PIO_WRITEIN | QSE_PIO_MBSCMD;
-	if (httpd->option & QSE_HTTPD_CGIERRTONUL)
+	if (httpd->opt.trait & QSE_HTTPD_CGIERRTONUL)
 		pio_options |= QSE_PIO_ERRTONUL;
 	else
 		pio_options |= QSE_PIO_ERRTOOUT;
-	if (httpd->option & QSE_HTTPD_CGINOCLOEXEC) 
+	if (httpd->opt.trait & QSE_HTTPD_CGINOCLOEXEC) 
 		pio_options |= QSE_PIO_NOCLOEXEC;
 
-	if (qse_pio_init (
-		&cgi->pio, httpd->mmgr, (const qse_char_t*)cgi->path, 
-		cgi->env, pio_options) <= -1)
+	if (cgi->shebang[0] != QSE_MT('\0'))
+	{
+		const qse_mchar_t* tmp[4];
+		tmp[0] = cgi->shebang;
+		tmp[1] = QSE_MT(" ");
+		tmp[2] = cgi->path;
+		tmp[3] = QSE_NULL;
+		xpath = qse_mbsadup (tmp, QSE_NULL, httpd->mmgr);
+		if (xpath == QSE_NULL) goto oops;
+	}
+	else xpath = cgi->path;
+
+	x = qse_pio_init (
+		&cgi->pio, httpd->mmgr, (const qse_char_t*)xpath,
+		cgi->env, pio_options);
+	if (xpath != cgi->path) QSE_MMGR_FREE (httpd->mmgr, xpath);
+
+	if (x <= -1)
 	{
 		qse_pio_errnum_t errnum;
 
@@ -1468,30 +1488,31 @@ qse_httpd_task_t* qse_httpd_entaskcgi (
 	qse_httpd_t* httpd,
 	qse_httpd_client_t* client,
 	qse_httpd_task_t* pred,
-	const qse_mchar_t* path, 
-	const qse_mchar_t* script,
-	const qse_mchar_t* suffix,
-	const qse_mchar_t* docroot,
-	int                nph,
+	qse_httpd_rsrc_cgi_t* cgi,
 	qse_htre_t*        req)
 {
 	qse_httpd_task_t task;
 	task_cgi_arg_t arg;
+	qse_httpd_rsrc_cgi_t rsrc;
 
-	if (script == QSE_NULL) script = qse_htre_getqpath(req);
-	if (suffix == QSE_NULL) suffix = QSE_MT("");
-	if (docroot == QSE_NULL) docroot = QSE_MT("");
+	rsrc = *cgi;
+	if (rsrc.script == QSE_NULL) rsrc.script = qse_htre_getqpath(req);
+	if (rsrc.suffix == QSE_NULL) rsrc.suffix = QSE_MT("");
+	if (rsrc.docroot == QSE_NULL) rsrc.docroot = QSE_MT("");
+	if (rsrc.shebang == QSE_NULL) rsrc.shebang = QSE_MT("");
 
-	arg.path.ptr = path;
-	arg.path.len = qse_mbslen(path);
-	arg.script.ptr = script;
-	arg.script.len = qse_mbslen(script);
-	arg.suffix.ptr = suffix;
-	arg.suffix.len = qse_mbslen(suffix);
-	arg.docroot.ptr = docroot;
-	arg.docroot.len = qse_mbslen(docroot);
+	arg.path.ptr = rsrc.path;
+	arg.path.len = qse_mbslen(rsrc.path);
+	arg.script.ptr = rsrc.script;
+	arg.script.len = qse_mbslen(rsrc.script);
+	arg.suffix.ptr = rsrc.suffix;
+	arg.suffix.len = qse_mbslen(rsrc.suffix);
+	arg.docroot.ptr = rsrc.docroot;
+	arg.docroot.len = qse_mbslen(rsrc.docroot);
+	arg.nph = rsrc.nph;
+	arg.shebang.ptr = rsrc.shebang;
+	arg.shebang.len = qse_mbslen(rsrc.shebang);
 	arg.req = req;
-	arg.nph = nph;
 
 	QSE_MEMSET (&task, 0, QSE_SIZEOF(task));
 	task.init = task_init_cgi;
@@ -1502,10 +1523,11 @@ qse_httpd_task_t* qse_httpd_entaskcgi (
 	return qse_httpd_entask (
 		httpd, client, pred, &task, 
 		QSE_SIZEOF(task_cgi_t) + 
-		((arg.path.len + 1) * QSE_SIZEOF(*path)) + 
-		((arg.script.len + 1) * QSE_SIZEOF(*script)) + 
-		((arg.suffix.len + 1) * QSE_SIZEOF(*suffix)) +
-		((arg.docroot.len + 1) * QSE_SIZEOF(*docroot))
+		((arg.path.len + 1) * QSE_SIZEOF(*arg.path.ptr)) + 
+		((arg.script.len + 1) * QSE_SIZEOF(*arg.script.ptr)) + 
+		((arg.suffix.len + 1) * QSE_SIZEOF(*arg.suffix.ptr)) +
+		((arg.docroot.len + 1) * QSE_SIZEOF(*arg.docroot.ptr)) +
+		((arg.shebang.len + 1) * QSE_SIZEOF(*arg.shebang.ptr))
 	);
 }
 
diff --git a/qse/lib/net/httpd-proxy.c b/qse/lib/net/httpd-proxy.c
index 59a0258a..836df521 100644
--- a/qse/lib/net/httpd-proxy.c
+++ b/qse/lib/net/httpd-proxy.c
@@ -885,7 +885,6 @@ static int task_main_proxy_5 (
 	task_proxy_t* proxy = (task_proxy_t*)task->ctx;
 	qse_ssize_t n;
 
-	//QSE_ASSERT (proxy->pio_inited);
 qse_printf (QSE_T("task_main_proxy_5 trigger[0].mask=%d trigger[1].mask=%d trigger[2].mask=%d\n"), 
 	task->trigger[0].mask, task->trigger[1].mask, task->trigger[2].mask);
 
@@ -932,8 +931,6 @@ static int task_main_proxy_4 (
 {
 	task_proxy_t* proxy = (task_proxy_t*)task->ctx;
 	
-	//QSE_ASSERT (proxy->pio_inited);
-
 qse_printf (QSE_T("task_main_proxy_4 trigger[0].mask=%d trigger[1].mask=%d trigger[2].mask=%d\n"), 
 	task->trigger[0].mask, task->trigger[1].mask, task->trigger[2].mask);
 
diff --git a/qse/lib/net/httpd-std.c b/qse/lib/net/httpd-std.c
index 1c64e751..45c97e99 100644
--- a/qse/lib/net/httpd-std.c
+++ b/qse/lib/net/httpd-std.c
@@ -2049,6 +2049,7 @@ static int attempt_cgi (
 				target->u.cgi.script = script;
 				target->u.cgi.suffix = QSE_NULL;
 				target->u.cgi.docroot = docroot;
+				target->u.cgi.shebang = cgistd[i].shebang;
 				return 1;
 			}
 		}
@@ -2095,6 +2096,7 @@ static int attempt_cgi (
 				target->u.cgi.script = script;
 				target->u.cgi.suffix = suffix;
 				target->u.cgi.docroot = docroot;
+				target->u.cgi.shebang = cgistd[i].shebang;
 				return 1;
 			}
 		}
@@ -2154,7 +2156,7 @@ auth_ok:
 	if (stx <= -1)
 	{
 		/* this OS may fail in stat_file() if the path contains the trailing 
-		 * separator. it 's beause of the way FindFirstFile() or DosQueryPathInfo()
+		 * separator. it's beause of the way FindFirstFile() or DosQueryPathInfo()
 		 * is ussed in stat_file(). let me work around it here. */
 		qse_size_t pl = qse_mbslen(xpath);
 		if (pl > 1 && xpath[pl - 1] == QSE_MT('/')) 
@@ -2271,11 +2273,12 @@ qse_httpd_server_t* qse_httpd_attachserverstd (
 	qse_uint16_t default_port;
 	qse_uri_t xuri;
 
+
 	static qse_httpd_server_cgistd_t server_cgistd[] = 
 	{
-		{ QSE_MT(".cgi"), 4, 0 },
-		{ QSE_MT(".nph"), 4, 1 },
-		{ QSE_NULL,       0, 0 }
+		{ QSE_MT(".cgi"), 4, 0, QSE_NULL },
+		{ QSE_MT(".nph"), 4, 1, QSE_NULL },
+		{ QSE_NULL,       0, 0, QSE_NULL }
 	};
 
 	static qse_httpd_server_mimestd_t server_mimestd[] =
@@ -2458,7 +2461,7 @@ int qse_httpd_getserveroptstd (
 		case QSE_HTTPD_SERVER_CGISTD:
 		case QSE_HTTPD_SERVER_MIMESTD:
 		case QSE_HTTPD_SERVER_IDXSTD:
-			*(qse_mchar_t**)value = (void*)server_xtn->cfg2.a[id - QSE_HTTPD_SERVER_CBSTD];
+			*(void**)value = (void*)server_xtn->cfg2.a[id - QSE_HTTPD_SERVER_CBSTD];
 			return 0;
 	}	
 
diff --git a/qse/lib/net/httpd-task.c b/qse/lib/net/httpd-task.c
index 9b3c99fb..8397d157 100644
--- a/qse/lib/net/httpd-task.c
+++ b/qse/lib/net/httpd-task.c
@@ -405,45 +405,42 @@ qse_httpd_task_t* qse_httpd_entaskrsrc (
 	switch (rsrc->type)
 	{
 		case QSE_HTTPD_RSRC_AUTH:
-			task = qse_httpd_entaskauth (httpd, client, QSE_NULL, rsrc->u.auth.realm, req);
+			task = qse_httpd_entaskauth (httpd, client, pred, rsrc->u.auth.realm, req);
 			break;
 
 		case QSE_HTTPD_RSRC_CGI:
-			task = qse_httpd_entaskcgi (
-				httpd, client, QSE_NULL, rsrc->u.cgi.path,
-				rsrc->u.cgi.script, rsrc->u.cgi.suffix, 
-				rsrc->u.cgi.docroot, rsrc->u.cgi.nph, req);
+			task = qse_httpd_entaskcgi (httpd, client, pred, &rsrc->u.cgi, req);
 			break;
 
 		case QSE_HTTPD_RSRC_DIR:
 			qse_httpd_discardcontent (httpd, req);
-			task = qse_httpd_entaskdir (httpd, client, QSE_NULL, rsrc->u.dir.path, req);
+			task = qse_httpd_entaskdir (httpd, client, pred, rsrc->u.dir.path, req);
 			break;
 
 		case QSE_HTTPD_RSRC_ERR:
 			qse_httpd_discardcontent (httpd, req);
-			task = qse_httpd_entaskerr (httpd, client, QSE_NULL, rsrc->u.err.code, req);
+			task = qse_httpd_entaskerr (httpd, client, pred, rsrc->u.err.code, req);
 			break;
 
 		case QSE_HTTPD_RSRC_FILE:
 			qse_httpd_discardcontent (httpd, req);
-			task = qse_httpd_entaskfile (httpd, client, QSE_NULL, rsrc->u.file.path, rsrc->u.file.mime, req);
+			task = qse_httpd_entaskfile (httpd, client, pred, rsrc->u.file.path, rsrc->u.file.mime, req);
 			break;
 	
 		case QSE_HTTPD_RSRC_PROXY:
-			task = qse_httpd_entaskproxy (httpd, client, QSE_NULL, &rsrc->u.proxy.dst, &rsrc->u.proxy.src, req);
+			task = qse_httpd_entaskproxy (httpd, client, pred, &rsrc->u.proxy.dst, &rsrc->u.proxy.src, req);
 			break;
 
 		case QSE_HTTPD_RSRC_RELOC:
-			task = qse_httpd_entaskreloc (httpd, client, QSE_NULL, rsrc->u.reloc.dst, req);
+			task = qse_httpd_entaskreloc (httpd, client, pred, rsrc->u.reloc.dst, req);
 			break;
 
 		case QSE_HTTPD_RSRC_REDIR:
-			task = qse_httpd_entaskredir (httpd, client, QSE_NULL, rsrc->u.redir.dst, req);
+			task = qse_httpd_entaskredir (httpd, client, pred, rsrc->u.redir.dst, req);
 			break;
 
 		case QSE_HTTPD_RSRC_TEXT:
-			task = qse_httpd_entasktext (httpd, client, QSE_NULL, rsrc->u.text.ptr, rsrc->u.text.mime, req);
+			task = qse_httpd_entasktext (httpd, client, pred, rsrc->u.text.ptr, rsrc->u.text.mime, req);
 			break;
 
 		default:
diff --git a/qse/lib/net/httpd.c b/qse/lib/net/httpd.c
index deba6258..c8b29cbc 100644
--- a/qse/lib/net/httpd.c
+++ b/qse/lib/net/httpd.c
@@ -109,14 +109,30 @@ void* qse_httpd_getxtn (qse_httpd_t* httpd)
 	return QSE_XTN (httpd);
 }
 
-int qse_httpd_getoption (qse_httpd_t* httpd)
+int qse_httpd_getopt (qse_httpd_t* httpd, qse_httpd_opt_t id, void* value)
 {
-	return httpd->option;
+	switch (id)
+	{
+		case QSE_HTTPD_TRAIT:
+			*(int*)value = httpd->opt.trait;
+			return 0;
+	}
+
+	httpd->errnum = QSE_HTTPD_EINVAL;
+	return -1;
 }
 
-void qse_httpd_setoption (qse_httpd_t* httpd, int option)
+int qse_httpd_setopt (qse_httpd_t* httpd, qse_httpd_opt_t id, const void* value)
 {
-	httpd->option = option;
+	switch (id)
+	{
+		case QSE_HTTPD_TRAIT:
+			httpd->opt.trait = *(const int*)value;
+			return 0;
+	}
+
+	httpd->errnum = QSE_HTTPD_EINVAL;
+	return -1;
 }
 
 /* --------------------------------------------------- */
@@ -640,7 +656,7 @@ qse_printf (QSE_T("Debug: connection closed %d\n"), client->handle.i);
 		 * if QSE_HTTPD_MUTECLIENT is on, attempt to handle
 		 * it as a half-close under a certain condition. */
 
-		if (httpd->option & QSE_HTTPD_MUTECLIENT &&
+		if (httpd->opt.trait & QSE_HTTPD_MUTECLIENT &&
 		    client->task.head && client->htrd->clean)
 		{
 			/* there is still more tasks to finish and 
diff --git a/qse/lib/net/httpd.h b/qse/lib/net/httpd.h
index b7e1fbf2..972a3393 100644
--- a/qse/lib/net/httpd.h
+++ b/qse/lib/net/httpd.h
@@ -35,7 +35,10 @@ struct qse_httpd_t
 	qse_httpd_scb_t* scb; /* system callbacks */
 	qse_httpd_rcb_t* rcb; /* request callbacks */
 
-	int option;
+	struct
+	{
+		int trait;
+	} opt;
 	int stopreq;
 
 	qse_mchar_t sname[128]; /* server name for the server header */