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There are a number of free bundled applications available. I've used only two and found them both to be great. These server installations are pretty much install and forget and thats all one wants so you can install them and get on with the real reason you need them - developing software or earning a living off them!
EasyPHP and WAMP are the two. I use both. My favourite, simply because I've used it longest has got to be EasyPHP. It comes in a handy installer what installs everything you need. It enabled me to turn my (pretty useless) Windows XP Home laptop into a fully fledged development maching without braking any laws (XP Home comes without IIS). Off course WAMP would have done the same but EasyPHP open the door and needs some credit!
EasyPHP is a complete software package allowing you to use all the power and the flexibility that offers the dynamic language PHP and the effecient use of databases under Windows. Package includes an Apache server, a MySQL database, a fully PHP execution, as well as easy development tools for your web site or your applications. The combination of common free web server software put together into an easy to install package works great. Normally to download and install each separate component can take a long time, plus be a headache to configure them to work together properly.
The latest EasyPHP v1.8 package for Windows includes the following:
- MySQL Database System - v4.1.9
- Apache Web Server - v1.3.33
- PHP Programming Language - v4.3.10
- PHP MyAdmin Database Interface - v2.6.1
In just one point release, EasyPHP v1.8 has made many great changes to make using the package easier. Improved installation, localization, and user interface. The PHP extension manager works much better. Server configuration files are now kept in a single easy to find location.
EasyPHP is available for download from http://www.easyphp.org/ It will help if you can read French (I think) but I got along pretty well and I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed.
I use LAMP (linux,apache,mySQL,php - get it?) on my Linux machines, so was eager to try WAMP (windows,apache,mySQL,php - get it?).
WAMP is a stable and secure high-performance PHP platform for Windows with some unique features:
- Work quicker, more secure and more productive with the latest versions of PHP 5 and MySQL 4.1.
- Get started right away. No configuration and no manual installation required.
- Perform browser-based system administration in the easy-to-use Control Center. Any place, any time.
- Manage datenbases with phpMyAdmin in your web browser, without SQL knowledge.
- Backup your work by click. Even on a system crash no data is lost.
- Install and manage numerous free reusable PHP components at the command line.
Wamp is dead easy to install and will give you a working Apache and mySQL installation on a Windows machine with minimal configuration. Installation was seamless on my XP Pro Workstation. The most common problem is when you already have IIS running on the same port but this is easy to fix - just change the port number and use http://localhost:8080 or whatever port you have configured for the server you want. Default port is 80. Wamp is available from http://www.e-novative.info/
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