Setting up a localhost for beginers(me)!

[DefecTalisman]

Apache 2.0.5x(not 2.4 as it has trouble with the php module *.dll);
php5;
activestate perl5.8.x;
MySQL.

Setup and running in 15mins with the help of the following tutorials.
Apache, php, MySQL:
http://www.expertsrt.com/tutorials/Matt/install-apache.html#intro
perl/cgi:
http://www.ricocheting.com/server/cgi.html

Using these you should now have a localhost that supports cgi. So no more testing online. Just stick your scripts in the root folder and cgi-bin(can be in root if you have changed this in Apache settings) and off you go.

This works on XP sp2 and Vista.
If you want to make your host remote there is a link in the Apache tutorial that should set you on your way.

Note:
A script editor is good idea, I find myself using SciTE version 1.74 (having trouble getting it to check php syntax, though it can) although every tutorial says notepad should do. Notepad has no line number colum, no highlighting, no syntax checking, no command line, no tabs, no split view, no incremental search, no case change, etc...
SciTE is free.
(if anyone has a better solution please let me know)

 

[Jake]

ONLY if you don't WANT to read the tutorials (Some people DO like to learn though):

Not that your way is bad, or doesn't work, but what I use and what I find the easiest way to do this is:

Download and install XAMPP. No need to read all the tutorials to do it by hand, althought they are interesting, you most likely won't need or want to read them. It isntalls all the components (PHP + Apache + MySQL and more) for a local server.

XAMPP: http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html

You don't need to install anything for CGI it comes with the base package, Perl can be added on too if you need it. You can just download it from XAMPP's site and install it through their control panel.

Also, as for an editor I like PHP Designer. It has a lot of neat things notepad, textpad, and alot of the 'pads' out there have. Best of all, I like the colors it makes your PHP code. If you are doing something for personal use, like a site or forum for you to create a community you can use it and its free.

PHP Designer Personal: http://www.mpsoftware.dk/phpdesigner_personal.php

The Professional version costs money, you can download a trial but unless you plan on buying it all you really need is the personal one. There are alot of different apps like it if you feel like searching google.

Anyway that is what I do.

On a side note, if you want something interesting to do... installing it by hand might help you learn some things about servers. Although the tutorials normally just try to get it running and don't go too in-depth with tweaking.

 

[deadimp]

Programmer's Notepad is my editor of choice, for its compact and simple nature.

As for XAMPP, I second that. It makes web development much more easier.

 

[MaTe1968]

Another good choice is http://www.appservnetwork.com/

AppServ 2.5.9

Apache 2.2.4
PHP 5.2.3
MySQL 5.0.45
phpMyAdmin-2.10.2


AppServ 2.4.9
Apache 2.0.59
PHP 4.4.7
MySQL 5.0.45
phpMyAdmin-2.10.2

 

[alquimistabiologico]

Another good choice is http://www.appservnetwork.com/

AppServ 2.5.9

Apache 2.2.4
PHP 5.2.3
MySQL 5.0.45
phpMyAdmin-2.10.2


AppServ 2.4.9
Apache 2.0.59
PHP 4.4.7
MySQL 5.0.45
phpMyAdmin-2.10.2

Me too recommend appserv.

I use it, and is very easy to install and manage

 

[alfren]

i've also tried XAMPP... its the greatest.. with apache, phpmyadmin, mysql, and a filezilla FTP server which is very COOL!

 

[jkotni6]

Personally I trued out WAMP and XAMPP and I must say that WAMP is really good, XAMPP... personally I hate it... sometimes it returns errors that have totally no meaning...