what are you using for a php server?

[techound1]

I was raised on HTML and have just started mucking about with PHP. I want to set up a local testing server, rather than doing the upload-and-look routine (which is wearing thin ). What does everyone recommend for a thick-as-a-post (no pun intended) php-wannabe? Thanks!

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Mac OS X has built-in support for PHP, but you must edit the httpd.conf file to turn on the php modules. There are probably some tools that will do this for you, but I always just open up /etc/httpd/httpd.conf in my favourite text editor and remove the # in front of these two lines a couple of hundred lines down in the file:

LoadModule php4_module        libexec/httpd/libphp4.so
...
AddModule mod_php4.c

You then need to (re)start Apache (System preferences -> Sharing -> Services -> Personal Web Sharing), and you should be able to access php content locally on your machine.

Taco HTML Edit is a nice, free html/php editor that supports php previewing.

php.net is an essential site when learning/developing php pages...

 

[techound1]

That was a huge help - many thanks!

 

[desenso]

Also consider...

Also consider using MAMP from http://www.mamp.info/

It's nice as a little testing area. Plus it just involves installing an app, no more. Certainly I wouldn't use this to host the final version, but like you say - for local testing, it's nice. And you can use mysql with it.

 

[xelterran]

I just used the graphical installer on: http://www.entropy.ch/software/macosx/php/

Theres also one for MySQL: http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/5.0.html

Then you just turn on Personal Web Sharing place your php files in the /sites/ directory and point your browser at localhost/~user/

 

[wrldwzrd89]

I just used the graphical installer on: http://www.entropy.ch/software/macosx/php/

Theres also one for MySQL: http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/5.0.html

Then you just turn on Personal Web Sharing place your php files in the /sites/ directory and point your browser at localhost/~user/

I used this approach too, it works great. The bulk of the work is done for you, you just have to configure MySQL and off you go!

 

[jeremy.king]

I currently use XAMPP - although the versions look a little old

 

[Moria]

I just used the graphical installer on: http://www.entropy.ch/software/macosx/php/

Theres also one for MySQL: http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/5.0.html

Then you just turn on Personal Web Sharing place your php files in the /sites/ directory and point your browser at localhost/~user/

Yep, me too. Install phpmyadmin afterwards to help you use mySQL databases.

 

[techound1]

Many, many thanks everybody!!