using XAMPP for WordPress development

[jhguynn]

I'm considering using XAMPP to develop my WP sites at localhost (Windows 7 environment) instead of online. I understand there are many advantages to doing this namely (1) speed (no long waiting for online host server to update), (2) privacy (no danger of site being visited or crawled while under development), (3) stability (ability to test plugins before they go live and/or cause conflicts online), and security (temporary invisibility to hackers), just to name a few. My main reasons are the first 2 above.

Here's where I'm getting the code: http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html

Curious if anyone is doing this, and if you could offer some gems of wisdom about any pitfalls I might want to avoid.

Thanks in advance to this wonderful community!

[David Chu]

Hi,
That's a super idea. I'm very glad I decided to develop locally, it's so great! I don't use XAMPP, I use AMMPS. It runs like an absolute champ. I also use its PHPAdmin, and I'm running Win7, too. Very easy to install, too.

But by all means, try XAMPP, many people like it, and maybe a XAMPP user will chime in.

Cheers, Dave

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Dave Chu · Custom WordPress Developer – likes collaborating with Designers

[brother7]

Personally, I use WampServer to test locally. I'm not sure what the differences/advantages are between WampServer and XAMPP and would be interested to hear opinions from others with more experience.

[AnitaC]

I am using ServerPress and the free version right now. It was easy to set up.

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[jhguynn]

LOCALHOST + ZEND OPTIMIZER / ZEND GUARD:

Thanks to everyone who has commented here so far. AAMPS, WampServer, and ServerPress sound like great options. Perhaps someone can comment on this: which of these localhost options either comes with, or is easily compatible with, Zend Optimizer or Zend Guard? I have some plugins that I regularly use that require ZEND, and I'm hitting a roadblock in this regard with XAMPP. Thanks for the additional help.

[AnitaC]

Here is a discussion on the ServerPress forum about Zend Optimizer and setting it up - http://serverpress.com/topic/have-a-plugin-calling-for-newer-version-of-zend-guard-loaderhow-to-update-ds/.

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[jhguynn]

Anitac: Very cool, thanks for pointing me in this direction. I note that you are using the "free" version of ServerPress right now. The list of features in the "paid" version is impressive. Do you think "free" will be sufficient for you in the long run? How easy is it to take your development sites live using the free version?

[Jenny]

I used XXAMP on my laptop a few years ago and my lappy crashed soon after. Dunno if it was due to that or not but I won't touch it now. I just make a test blog on my server and throw up the maint. plugin xD

[AnitaC]

@jhguynn, I figured I'd try "free" just to test things out for a little while... make sure the free works. I can upgrade to paid once I am truly comfortable with free. I've been using it for a week now and I really like it so far.

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[matt klein]

Also used ServerPress in my latest development and it was dead easy. This from a techy-wannabee. Previously used MAMP being a mac person, and it was okay.

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