diff --git a/include/dsn/dist/replication/meta_service_app.h b/include/dsn/dist/replication/meta_service_app.h
index 676bcacb30..0777f31965 100644
--- a/include/dsn/dist/replication/meta_service_app.h
+++ b/include/dsn/dist/replication/meta_service_app.h
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ class meta_service_app : public service_app
 private:
     friend class ::dsn::replication::test::test_checker;
     std::unique_ptr<dsn::replication::meta_service> _service;
-    version_http_service *_version_http_service;
 };
 } // namespace service
 } // namespace dsn
diff --git a/include/dsn/dist/replication/replication_service_app.h b/include/dsn/dist/replication/replication_service_app.h
index b7e5fe3765..e6e98eac7f 100644
--- a/include/dsn/dist/replication/replication_service_app.h
+++ b/include/dsn/dist/replication/replication_service_app.h
@@ -70,10 +70,6 @@ class replication_service_app : public ::dsn::service_app
 private:
     friend class ::dsn::replication::test::test_checker;
     replica_stub_ptr _stub;
-    version_http_service *_version_http_service;
-
-    static const char *replica_service_app_info(int argc, char **argv);
-    static void replica_service_app_info_free(const char *response);
 };
 } // namespace replication
 } // namespace dsn
diff --git a/include/dsn/http/http_server.h b/include/dsn/http/http_server.h
index a369d6661e..2d9418937b 100644
--- a/include/dsn/http/http_server.h
+++ b/include/dsn/http/http_server.h
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include <dsn/c/api_common.h>
-#include <dsn/tool-api/rpc_message.h>
-#include <dsn/cpp/serverlet.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/errors.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/flags.h>
 
@@ -20,6 +17,7 @@ enum http_method
     HTTP_METHOD_POST = 2,
 };
 
+class message_ex;
 struct http_request
 {
     static error_with<http_request> parse(dsn::message_ex *m);
@@ -59,6 +57,17 @@ struct http_call
     std::string path;
     std::string help;
     http_callback callback;
+
+    http_call &with_callback(http_callback cb)
+    {
+        callback = std::move(cb);
+        return *this;
+    }
+    http_call &with_help(std::string hp)
+    {
+        help = std::move(hp);
+        return *this;
+    }
 };
 
 // A suite of HTTP handlers coupled using the same prefix of the service.
@@ -74,11 +83,24 @@ class http_service
     void register_handler(std::string path, http_callback cb, std::string help);
 };
 
+// Example:
+//
+// ```
+// register_http_call("/meta/app")
+//     .with_callback(std::bind(&meta_http_service::get_app_handler,
+//                              this,
+//                              std::placeholders::_1,
+//                              std::placeholders::_2))
+//     .with_help("Gets the app information")
+//     .add_argument("app_name", HTTP_ARG_STRING);
+// ```
+extern http_call &register_http_call(std::string full_path);
+
 // Starts serving HTTP requests.
 // The internal HTTP server will reuse the rDSN server port.
 extern void start_http_server();
 
-// NOTE: the memory of `svc` will be transfered to the underlying registry.
+// NOTE: the memory of `svc` will be transferred to the underlying registry.
 // TODO(wutao): pass `svc` as a std::unique_ptr.
 extern void register_http_service(http_service *svc);
 
diff --git a/src/http/builtin_http_calls.cpp b/src/http/builtin_http_calls.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d8dae85147
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/http/builtin_http_calls.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+// Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+// or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+// distributed with this work for additional information
+// regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+// to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+// "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+// with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+// software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+// "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+// KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+// specific language governing permissions and limitations
+// under the License.
+
+#include <dsn/utility/output_utils.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
+
+#include "builtin_http_calls.h"
+#include "http_call_registry.h"
+#include "pprof_http_service.h"
+
+namespace dsn {
+
+/*extern*/ void get_help_handler(const http_request &req, http_response &resp)
+{
+    utils::table_printer tp;
+    std::ostringstream oss;
+    auto calls = http_call_registry::instance().list_all_calls();
+    for (const auto &call : calls) {
+        tp.add_row_name_and_data(std::string("/") + call->path, call->help);
+    }
+    tp.output(oss, utils::table_printer::output_format::kJsonCompact);
+    resp.body = oss.str();
+    resp.status_code = http_status_code::ok;
+}
+
+/*extern*/ void get_recent_start_time_handler(const http_request &req, http_response &resp)
+{
+    char start_time[100];
+    dsn::utils::time_ms_to_date_time(dsn::utils::process_start_millis(), start_time, 100);
+    std::ostringstream out;
+    dsn::utils::table_printer tp;
+    tp.add_row_name_and_data("RecentStartTime", start_time);
+    tp.output(out, dsn::utils::table_printer::output_format::kJsonCompact);
+
+    resp.body = out.str();
+    resp.status_code = http_status_code::ok;
+}
+
+/*extern*/ void register_builtin_http_calls()
+{
+#ifdef DSN_ENABLE_GPERF
+    static pprof_http_service pprof_svc;
+#endif
+
+    register_http_call("")
+        .with_callback(
+            [](const http_request &req, http_response &resp) { get_help_handler(req, resp); })
+        .with_help("Lists all supported calls");
+
+    register_http_call("recentStartTime")
+        .with_callback([](const http_request &req, http_response &resp) {
+            get_recent_start_time_handler(req, resp);
+        })
+        .with_help("Gets the server start time.");
+
+    register_http_call("perfCounter")
+        .with_callback([](const http_request &req, http_response &resp) {
+            get_perf_counter_handler(req, resp);
+        })
+        .with_help("Gets the value of a perf counter");
+}
+
+} // namespace dsn
diff --git a/src/http/builtin_http_calls.h b/src/http/builtin_http_calls.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2cb190a35f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/http/builtin_http_calls.h
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+// Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+// or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+// distributed with this work for additional information
+// regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+// to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+// "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+// with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+// software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+// "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+// KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+// specific language governing permissions and limitations
+// under the License.
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <dsn/cpp/serverlet.h>
+#include <dsn/http/http_server.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/errors.h>
+
+namespace dsn {
+
+// Register basic services for the HTTP server.
+extern void register_builtin_http_calls();
+
+extern void get_perf_counter_handler(const http_request &req, http_response &resp);
+
+extern void get_help_handler(const http_request &req, http_response &resp);
+
+extern void get_recent_start_time_handler(const http_request &req, http_response &resp);
+
+} // namespace dsn
diff --git a/src/http/http_server.cpp b/src/http/http_server.cpp
index 4eb761b31e..97ee556d59 100644
--- a/src/http/http_server.cpp
+++ b/src/http/http_server.cpp
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
 
 #include <dsn/http/http_server.h>
 #include <dsn/tool_api.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 #include <fmt/ostream.h>
 
 #include "http_message_parser.h"
-#include "root_http_service.h"
 #include "pprof_http_service.h"
-#include "perf_counter_http_service.h"
+#include "builtin_http_calls.h"
 #include "uri_decoder.h"
 #include "http_call_registry.h"
 #include "http_server_impl.h"
@@ -38,6 +38,20 @@ DSN_DEFINE_bool("http", enable_http_server, true, "whether to enable the embedde
     }
 }
 
+/*extern*/ http_call &register_http_call(std::string full_path)
+{
+    auto call_ptr = dsn::make_unique<http_call>();
+    call_ptr->path = std::move(full_path);
+    http_call &call = *call_ptr;
+    http_call_registry::instance().add(std::move(call_ptr));
+    return call;
+}
+
+/*extern*/ void deregister_http_call(const std::string &full_path)
+{
+    http_call_registry::instance().remove(full_path);
+}
+
 void http_service::register_handler(std::string path, http_callback cb, std::string help)
 {
     if (!FLAGS_enable_http_server) {
@@ -64,13 +78,7 @@ http_server::http_server() : serverlet<http_server>("http_server")
     tools::register_message_header_parser<http_message_parser>(NET_HDR_HTTP, {"GET ", "POST"});
 
     // add builtin services
-    register_http_service(new root_http_service());
-
-#ifdef DSN_ENABLE_GPERF
-    register_http_service(new pprof_http_service());
-#endif // DSN_ENABLE_GPERF
-
-    register_http_service(new perf_counter_http_service());
+    register_builtin_http_calls();
 }
 
 void http_server::serve(message_ex *msg)
diff --git a/src/http/perf_counter_http_service.cpp b/src/http/perf_counter_http_service.cpp
index 0b8c5b4c5c..d9d1e81a84 100644
--- a/src/http/perf_counter_http_service.cpp
+++ b/src/http/perf_counter_http_service.cpp
@@ -3,12 +3,11 @@
 // can be found in the LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
 
 #include <dsn/utility/output_utils.h>
-#include "perf_counter_http_service.h"
+#include "builtin_http_calls.h"
 
 namespace dsn {
 
-void perf_counter_http_service::get_perf_counter_handler(const http_request &req,
-                                                         http_response &resp)
+void get_perf_counter_handler(const http_request &req, http_response &resp)
 {
     std::string perf_counter_name;
     for (const auto &p : req.query_args) {
diff --git a/src/http/perf_counter_http_service.h b/src/http/perf_counter_http_service.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 691925a898..0000000000
--- a/src/http/perf_counter_http_service.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2017-present, Xiaomi, Inc.  All rights reserved.
-// This source code is licensed under the Apache License Version 2.0, which
-// can be found in the LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
-
-#pragma once
-
-#include <dsn/http/http_server.h>
-
-namespace dsn {
-
-class perf_counter_http_service : public http_service
-{
-public:
-    perf_counter_http_service()
-    {
-        register_handler("",
-                         std::bind(&perf_counter_http_service::get_perf_counter_handler,
-                                   this,
-                                   std::placeholders::_1,
-                                   std::placeholders::_2),
-                         "ip:port/perfCounter?name={perf_counter_name}");
-    }
-
-    std::string path() const override { return "perfCounter"; }
-
-    void get_perf_counter_handler(const http_request &req, http_response &resp);
-};
-} // namespace dsn
diff --git a/src/http/pprof_http_service.cpp b/src/http/pprof_http_service.cpp
index 250158fce8..4cce6eef19 100644
--- a/src/http/pprof_http_service.cpp
+++ b/src/http/pprof_http_service.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@
 #include "pprof_http_service.h"
 
 #include <dsn/dist/fmt_logging.h>
+#include <dsn/c/api_layer1.h>
+#include <dsn/utility/process_utils.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/string_conv.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/defer.h>
 #include <dsn/utility/timer.h>
diff --git a/src/http/root_http_service.h b/src/http/root_http_service.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 73a2ea5044..0000000000
--- a/src/http/root_http_service.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2018, Xiaomi, Inc.  All rights reserved.
-// This source code is licensed under the Apache License Version 2.0, which
-// can be found in the LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
-
-#include <dsn/http/http_server.h>
-#include <dsn/utility/output_utils.h>
-#include <string>
-
-#include "http_call_registry.h"
-
-namespace dsn {
-
-class root_http_service : public http_service
-{
-public:
-    explicit root_http_service()
-    {
-        // url: ip:port/
-        register_handler("",
-                         std::bind(&root_http_service::default_handler,
-                                   this,
-                                   std::placeholders::_1,
-                                   std::placeholders::_2),
-                         "ip:port/");
-    }
-
-    std::string path() const override { return ""; }
-
-    void default_handler(const http_request &req, http_response &resp)
-    {
-        utils::table_printer tp;
-        std::ostringstream oss;
-        auto calls = http_call_registry::instance().list_all_calls();
-        for (const auto &call : calls) {
-            tp.add_row_name_and_data(std::string("/") + call->path, call->help);
-        }
-        tp.output(oss, utils::table_printer::output_format::kJsonCompact);
-        resp.body = oss.str();
-        resp.status_code = http_status_code::ok;
-    }
-};
-
-} // namespace dsn
diff --git a/src/http/server_info_http_services.cpp b/src/http/server_info_http_services.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index 1f2013254d..0000000000
--- a/src/http/server_info_http_services.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2017-present, Xiaomi, Inc.  All rights reserved.
-// This source code is licensed under the Apache License Version 2.0, which
-// can be found in the LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
-
-#include <dsn/utility/output_utils.h>
-#include <dsn/utility/time_utils.h>
-
-#include "server_info_http_services.h"
-
-namespace dsn {
-
-void version_http_service::get_version_handler(const http_request &req, http_response &resp)
-{
-    std::ostringstream out;
-    dsn::utils::table_printer tp;
-    tp.add_row_name_and_data("Version", _version);
-    tp.add_row_name_and_data("GitCommit", _git_commit);
-    tp.output(out, dsn::utils::table_printer::output_format::kJsonCompact);
-
-    resp.body = out.str();
-    resp.status_code = http_status_code::ok;
-}
-
-void recent_start_time_http_service::get_recent_start_time_handler(const http_request &req,
-                                                                   http_response &resp)
-{
-    char start_time[100];
-    dsn::utils::time_ms_to_date_time(dsn::utils::process_start_millis(), start_time, 100);
-    std::ostringstream out;
-    dsn::utils::table_printer tp;
-    tp.add_row_name_and_data("RecentStartTime", start_time);
-    tp.output(out, dsn::utils::table_printer::output_format::kJsonCompact);
-
-    resp.body = out.str();
-    resp.status_code = http_status_code::ok;
-}
-
-} // namespace dsn
diff --git a/src/http/server_info_http_services.h b/src/http/server_info_http_services.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 04e7eede92..0000000000
--- a/src/http/server_info_http_services.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,55 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2017-present, Xiaomi, Inc.  All rights reserved.
-// This source code is licensed under the Apache License Version 2.0, which
-// can be found in the LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
-
-#pragma once
-
-#include <dsn/http/http_server.h>
-
-namespace dsn {
-
-class version_http_service : public http_service
-{
-public:
-    version_http_service()
-    {
-        register_handler("",
-                         std::bind(&version_http_service::get_version_handler,
-                                   this,
-                                   std::placeholders::_1,
-                                   std::placeholders::_2),
-                         "ip:port/version");
-    }
-
-    std::string path() const override { return "version"; }
-
-    void get_version_handler(const http_request &req, http_response &resp);
-
-    void set_version(const std::string &ver) { _version = ver; }
-
-    void set_git_commit(const std::string &git) { _git_commit = git; }
-
-private:
-    std::string _version;
-    std::string _git_commit;
-};
-
-class recent_start_time_http_service : public http_service
-{
-public:
-    recent_start_time_http_service()
-    {
-        register_handler("",
-                         std::bind(&recent_start_time_http_service::get_recent_start_time_handler,
-                                   this,
-                                   std::placeholders::_1,
-                                   std::placeholders::_2),
-                         "ip:port/recentStartTime");
-    }
-
-    std::string path() const override { return "recentStartTime"; }
-
-    void get_recent_start_time_handler(const http_request &req, http_response &resp);
-};
-
-} // namespace dsn
diff --git a/src/http/test/http_server_test.cpp b/src/http/test/http_server_test.cpp
index 00b5bf93f4..768621eb2c 100644
--- a/src/http/test/http_server_test.cpp
+++ b/src/http/test/http_server_test.cpp
@@ -6,9 +6,8 @@
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
 
 #include "http/http_message_parser.h"
-#include "http/root_http_service.h"
-#include "http/server_info_http_services.h"
-#include "http/http_server_impl.h"
+#include "http/builtin_http_calls.h"
+#include "http/http_call_registry.h"
 
 namespace dsn {
 
@@ -46,22 +45,31 @@ TEST(http_server, parse_url)
     }
 }
 
-TEST(root_http_service_test, get_help)
+TEST(bultin_http_calls_test, get_help)
 {
     for (const auto &call : http_call_registry::instance().list_all_calls()) {
         http_call_registry::instance().remove(call->path);
     }
 
-    root_http_service root;
+    register_http_call("")
+        .with_callback(
+            [](const http_request &req, http_response &resp) { get_help_handler(req, resp); })
+        .with_help("ip:port/");
+
     http_request req;
     http_response resp;
-    root.default_handler(req, resp);
+    get_help_handler(req, resp);
     ASSERT_EQ(resp.status_code, http_status_code::ok);
     ASSERT_EQ(resp.body, "{\"/\":\"ip:port/\"}\n");
 
-    version_http_service ver;
-    root.default_handler(req, resp);
-    ASSERT_EQ(resp.body, "{\"/\":\"ip:port/\",\"/version\":\"ip:port/version\"}\n");
+    register_http_call("recentStartTime")
+        .with_callback([](const http_request &req, http_response &resp) {
+            get_recent_start_time_handler(req, resp);
+        })
+        .with_help("ip:port/recentStartTime");
+
+    get_help_handler(req, resp);
+    ASSERT_EQ(resp.body, "{\"/\":\"ip:port/\",\"/recentStartTime\":\"ip:port/recentStartTime\"}\n");
 
     for (const auto &call : http_call_registry::instance().list_all_calls()) {
         http_call_registry::instance().remove(call->path);
diff --git a/src/http/test/perf_counter_http_service_test.cpp b/src/http/test/perf_counter_http_service_test.cpp
index 6dbb788a5e..4c6b2ec86d 100644
--- a/src/http/test/perf_counter_http_service_test.cpp
+++ b/src/http/test/perf_counter_http_service_test.cpp
@@ -5,17 +5,12 @@
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
 #include <dsn/perf_counter/perf_counters.h>
 #include <dsn/http/http_server.h>
-#include <http/perf_counter_http_service.h>
 
-namespace dsn {
+#include "http/builtin_http_calls.h"
 
-class perf_counter_http_service_test : public testing::Test
-{
-public:
-    perf_counter_http_service _perf_counter_http_service;
-};
+namespace dsn {
 
-TEST_F(perf_counter_http_service_test, get_perf_counter)
+TEST(perf_counter_http_service_test, get_perf_counter)
 {
     struct test_case
     {
@@ -42,7 +37,7 @@ TEST_F(perf_counter_http_service_test, get_perf_counter)
         http_request fake_req;
         http_response fake_resp;
         fake_req.query_args.emplace("name", perf_counter_name);
-        _perf_counter_http_service.get_perf_counter_handler(fake_req, fake_resp);
+        get_perf_counter_handler(fake_req, fake_resp);
 
         // get fake json based on the perf counter info which is getting above
         std::string fake_json;
diff --git a/src/meta/meta_service_app.cpp b/src/meta/meta_service_app.cpp
index 1a20104cf4..aaec4e5faa 100644
--- a/src/meta/meta_service_app.cpp
+++ b/src/meta/meta_service_app.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 #include "distributed_lock_service_simple.h"
 #include "meta_state_service_simple.h"
 
-#include "http/server_info_http_services.h"
 #include "zookeeper/distributed_lock_service_zookeeper.h"
 #include "meta_state_service_zookeeper.h"
 
@@ -87,10 +86,7 @@ meta_service_app::meta_service_app(const service_app_info *info) : service_app(i
     _service.reset(new replication::meta_service());
 
     // add http service
-    _version_http_service = new version_http_service();
     register_http_service(new replication::meta_http_service(_service.get()));
-    register_http_service(new recent_start_time_http_service());
-    register_http_service(_version_http_service);
     start_http_server();
 }
 
@@ -98,14 +94,6 @@ meta_service_app::~meta_service_app() {}
 
 error_code meta_service_app::start(const std::vector<std::string> &args)
 {
-    // TODO: handle the load & restore
-    // set args of http service
-    if (args.size() >= 2) {
-        auto it_ver = args.end() - 2;
-        auto it_git = args.end() - 1;
-        _version_http_service->set_version(*it_ver);
-        _version_http_service->set_git_commit(*it_git);
-    }
     return _service->start();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/replica/replication_service_app.cpp b/src/replica/replication_service_app.cpp
index cddd96f640..3490882f4f 100644
--- a/src/replica/replication_service_app.cpp
+++ b/src/replica/replication_service_app.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 #include <dsn/http/http_server.h>
 
 #include "common/replication_common.h"
-#include "http/server_info_http_services.h"
 #include "replica_stub.h"
 #include "replica_http_service.h"
 
@@ -45,10 +44,8 @@ replication_service_app::replication_service_app(const service_app_info *info) :
     _stub = new replica_stub();
 
     // add http service
-    _version_http_service = new version_http_service();
-    register_http_service(_version_http_service);
-    register_http_service(new recent_start_time_http_service());
     register_http_service(new replica_http_service(_stub.get()));
+    start_http_server();
 }
 
 replication_service_app::~replication_service_app(void) {}
@@ -61,14 +58,6 @@ error_code replication_service_app::start(const std::vector<std::string> &args)
     _stub->initialize(opts);
     _stub->open_service();
 
-    // add http service
-    if (args.size() >= 2) {
-        auto it_ver = args.end() - 2;
-        auto it_git = args.end() - 1;
-        _version_http_service->set_version(*it_ver);
-        _version_http_service->set_git_commit(*it_git);
-    }
-
     return ERR_OK;
 }