Using Mini Server for web development - Can I run Apache/MySql/PHP natively?

[kwijbo]

I just got a Mini Server to use at my workstation. I do some web development and on my MBA I used to run XAMPP, which worked perfectly fine.

Since I'm now using OSX Lion Server, I'm curious if I can run Apache/MySql/PHP natively without XAMPP. And if so, are there advantages to doing so?

 

[LaWally]

I just got a Mini Server to use at my workstation. I do some web development and on my MBA I used to run XAMPP, which worked perfectly fine.

Since I'm now using OSX Lion Server, I'm curious if I can run Apache/MySql/PHP natively without XAMPP. And if so, are there advantages to doing so?

Sure, as long as you are willing to grab the source for all the software and its pre-requisites and compile them. The XAMPP binary contains about 25 packages.

The advantage is that compiling yourself would allow you to configure your installation more precisely to your needs and to stay more current. IIRC the latest XAMPP is nearly 2 years old. It contains Apache HTTP Server 2.2.x while the most current is 2.4.x.

The disadvantage is you would have to compile all the packages yourself. If you do not have a lot of experience compiling packages, I would recommend you stick with XAMPP.

 

[theluggage]

I just got a Mini Server to use at my workstation. I do some web development and on my MBA I used to run XAMPP, which worked perfectly fine.

Since I'm now using OSX Lion Server, I'm curious if I can run Apache/MySql/PHP natively without XAMPP. And if so, are there advantages to doing so?

OSX (Server and regular) already have Apache, PHP and PostgreSQL built in. A bit of googling will tell you how to get at them - On Server you can do some of this via the Server app. The upside is that you only have one server running and don't have to use alternative ports for your development. The downside is that you're stuck with the versions and modules that come with Lion (and PHP has a *lot* of options) - also, when I briefly played with Server, although you could put anything you like in the Apache config files, it broke the GUI website configuration app.

Personally, I use MacPorts to download and build the tools I need with the appropriate options. On regular OS X, you just run the MacPorts Apache instead of the built-in one. I don't use Lion Server, so I'm not sure how that plays out. You can also install MySQL via MacPorts.

OTOH, if XAMPP does the job for you I don't see any particular reason to switch. It looks like it keeps everything separate from the OS X config files so, if you're using the other features of Server it might be best to stick with XAMPP.

 

[kwijbo]

Thanks for the great responses guys! That is kind of what I figured...for my purposes the level of customization and setup is too much. Great information though, I'd like to understand this stuff more eventually.

 

[rwwest7]

Don't tinker with your Lion server, it's very frinicky. Pick up Fusion and just run some Linux VMs that you can destroy to your hearts content. If you mess it up just build another one. Ubuntu makes a great AMP stack.