Hi, is it possible to set up a PHP development environment on a home PC. I assume you still need web server software, however, i only want it to practice my PHP coding and not open up my system to the Internet. I hope that makes sense.

Anyway if someone could point me in the right direction, thanks.

Don't think this is possible, since php is a server-sided scripting language. You will need the Apache server and php parser which can be downloaded here:
Apache HTTP server and PHP parser.
for apache, download the msi installer (for windows), unless you want to compile the whole thing :p .

also have a look at the apache documentation for info on how to set it up, or visit the Apache Lounge.

In order to prevent your server from being accesible from the internet, you can secure the whole thing in the http.conf file so that only you will be working with it.

Hope it helps

Thanks. So you mean you set the system up as normal: e.g. Apache, PHP, MySQL etc and then just configure the system so that it doesn't serve incomming requests?

I'll take a look at those links. Thanks.

or you could just block the specific port your server uses

Thankyou.

Unfortunately i use XP Home and i don't think that even comes with PWS.

I use Zend PHP Studio. If you buy the full version, it's a PHP-based IDE with built-in server: there are Windows and Mac versions. Of course I use it because I develop in PHP nearly fulltime, but you might not want the expense if you're just playing around.

If you want to install everything including PHP, Mysql and Apache I highly suggest using Xampp. It'll automatically setup and configure everything for you. Install it and work on your PHP webpages right away.

Get it here: Oh yeah...it's totally free.
http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html

I use win 2K advanced server, so can't really tell you much about Apache. To each his own, right? I too use PHP for every site I design. Check some out:

http://stagefaces.com
http://stagepros.com

Hence the username "StagePro"

Zend sounds good but i don't really want to spend any money at the moment.

Am i right in thinking that when installing Apache manually if you set the network domain and server name to 'local host' then it will only serve the machine it's running on?

Yes i was about to recommend WAMP for yourself.

WAMP easily configures the above services together. You can set it to "offline" or "online" so that you can work from "localhost" or have it accessable from the interweb.

I use it daily when i don't have internet access, i can do development at my local PC with apache/php/mysql setup on an XP machine.

Goodluck!

I've been looking into xampand wamp and they sound quite good but i've also found Uniform Server which is a smaller which is appealling if i wanted to use it on different machines. Does anyone have any experience with Uniform Server?

None.

I've tried Uniform Server and it works very well. No set up at all to use on local machine for development. You can also copy and past the US folder onto any device and run the package on any compatible computer.

I use Zend PHP Studio. If you buy the full version, it's a PHP-based IDE with built-in server: there are Windows and Mac versions. Of course I use it because I develop in PHP nearly fulltime, but you might not want the expense if you're just playing around.

Can you also have a MySQL database to work on your PC with PHP???

Can you also have a MySQL database to work on your PC with PHP???

As i mentioned before. You can run Apache. mySQL, PHP servers all configured to work with each other.

Using WAMP (www.wampserver.com)

Google it.

Enjoy.

Wampserver is another all-in-one install for Apache, PHP, MySQL on Windows:
http://www.wampserver.com/en/

I agree, use Wampserver, it saves a lot of messing around. I have been using it for a while and it's brilliant, especially with Zend.

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