Installing and using XAMPP
XAMPP
XAMPP is a popular distribution including Apache and PHP. It will make it easy to install a development environment on your PC. XAMPP supports Windows, Mac and Linux.
Wamp and EasyPHP are alternative distributions with similar aims.
Should I use an Apache + PHP distribution?
If you are reading this slide, the answer is probably yes. You should never run an Apache + PHP distribution in a deployment environment but it may be a good starting point if you are having troubles installing Apache and PHP in the right way.
Before you move forward
- You need to ensure that you have administrator rights on your PC; if you don't have administrator rights you are not going to be able to move forward
- You may need to download and install VC11 from the Microsoft web site
Install XAMPP
Download a version of XAMPP that matches your architecture (Windows, Mac or Linux).
Install a minimal set, including Apache and PHP only. Remove all optional components.
You can find a step-by-step guide here: http://www.wikihow.com/Install-XAMPP-for-Windows. Do not install MySQL or phpMyAdmin - just Apache and PHP.
Add PHP to the PATH environment variable
This is a requirement for MongoDB on Windows. You will not be able to run MongoDB if you do not follow this step.
How to do it depends from the version of Windows you are using. Google is your friend.
Test it!
From your control pannel, start Apache. You will find your web server's home page at http://localhost/.
You will be able to run PHP files stored in the XAMP\htdocs folder.
Any problems?
Look at the XAMPP FAQs here.
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