A few years ago, when I was heavy in to building web sites, I had PHP, MySQL, and Apache set up on my Windows machine to use as a development environment. It worked very well for me. Now that I'm getting back in to doing this, I'll be doing things similarly. Back then I installed and configured everything separately which was a pain; going through various configuration files and doing this and that. Now, I see that there are a spate of "all in one" packages; most notably WAMP and XAMPP.

I'm curious, does anyone here use any of these, and if so, what do you think?

Oh, yeah. One more thing ... Have an awesome day.

These are called IDE's and I find most of them difficult to use. If you are into asp.net stuff you can download Microsoft's IDE it comes with sql and database support.

Thanks, Eric. For now, I'm focusing on the PHP, MySQL route.

I suppose I was just hoping to be lazy

Hey Dan, I have only been a PHP-MySQL hacker modifying open source apps, making small changes here and there. So using the production server is no big deal. I want to get more in-depth into coding my own PHP apps and have looked into both WAMP and XAMPP to use as a local testing environment on my Windows machine without having to FTP as often.

Searching the various forums is pretty fruitless as most people agree both packages install the same applications or have them available as plug-ins, for the most part. Each has its fans. The XAMPP crowd say that XAMPP is more configurable and the WAMP crowd says it's easier to use.

I guess it is like the Linux distros with each having its own fan club, so it's hard to get a definitive answer. Hmmm...Which one to try first.

xampp seems ok - i've used it a bit - i prefer to just do the ftp thing and test live though... its too hard to set up multiple sites in xampp and i dont work on them one at a time usually... when i have used it its been for setting up a copy of something on an intranet that i cant ftp to easily...

I have tried both Wamp and Xampp and prefer the latter. My usage has been mainly to be able to preview php-sites locally

Maybe I'll just stick to the way I've been doing it and FTP to the production server for testing.

For what it's worth, I ended up just hand installing PHP, MySQL, Apache, and PhpMyAdmin. It was a ridiculously difficult and convoluted process because there are so few thorough and accurate sources on how to do it. I ended up spending the better part of two days reading manuals and various web sites and cobbling the information together to get it done. But I think it's worth it because I can work on my PHP scripting and MySQL database skills, and build complete web sites anywhere I can take my laptop with or with out access to the internet.

It is nice to be able to do your work and just open your browser to check it out rather than uploading everything via FTP. Also, the environment is pretty much exactly the same as it will be on a production server; something that, I believe, is not so with either WAMP or XAMPP.

Anyway, since I've already beat my head against the wall until it's a bloody, mushy pulp, I'd be willing to assist anyone installing PHP, MySQL, Apache, and PhpMyAdmin.

Peace and love.

Thanks for the offer, man. I will just take the easy way out because I don't think I can take many more head beatings against the wall until it's a bloody, mushy pulp.

It's ironic that the very things involving computer technology that suck me in, are also the things that drive me to drink. It’s sadistic.

Enjoy the setup and have a great day.

True.

Keep in mind that now that I've done it, to do it again is considerably easier. It would result, at best, in a slightly bruised head...