This document discusses setting up a local web server for WordPress development. It explains that a local web server allows testing plugins and themes without needing a public server. It describes the components needed - a web server like Apache or Nginx, PHP, and a database like MySQL. Options for getting these components on your computer include WAMP, LAMP, and MAMP stacks. Specific stack options mentioned are BitNami, XAMPP, WampServer, and MAMP. The document also covers checking port usage and using a database search and replace script when migrating a WordPress site.

1. “Setting Up a Local Web Server”
WordPress Ottawa Meetup
May 2rd, 2018
Slides are posted at:
http://www.slideshare.net/r3df

2. © 2016 Rick Radko, r3df.com
Setting up a local web server
Why do we need a local web server?
 To run WordPress on your laptop (or pc).
Why run WordPress on your laptop?
 Test new plugins and themes.
 Play with WordPress without the need for a public
server.
 Website development.
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3. © 2016 Rick Radko, r3df.com
What is a local web server?
Alocal web server:
 Is a web server installed on your own computer.
 Generally they are not public.
A web server
 Is a collection of software needed to respond to
browser requests.
 The software needed depends on what the web
application is.
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4. © 2016 Rick Radko, r3df.com
What is a local web server?
For a webserver that runs WordPress, we need:
 Web Server
 Apache or Nginx (or others like IIS)
 Programming language
 PHP (there are others, Perl, Python, Ruby, Java)
 Database
 MySQL or MariaDB (there are others)
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5. © 2016 Rick Radko, r3df.com
How do you get all that on your computer?
WAMPstack
 Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP
LAMP stack
 Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP
MAMP stack
 Mac, Apache, MySQL, PHP
* Apache is a web server
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6. © 2016 Rick Radko, r3df.com
Some stacks
All platforms:
 BitNami: bitnami.com/ stack/ wordpress
 XAMPP: apachefriends.org
Windows only:
 WampServer: wampserver.com
Mac & Windows:
 MAMP: mamp.info
Mac & Linux:
 Native installs
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7. © 2016 Rick Radko, r3df.com
Check ports in use
In a shell/ command prompt/ terminal run:
 netstat -an
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8. © 2016 Rick Radko, r3df.com
Database Search and Replace script for migrations
Migrating WordPress
 Moving from one domain to another ie:
dev.mydomain.com to mydomain.com
When migrating WordPress the database needs to be
updated to change all instances of the old domain to the
new one.
interconnectit.com/products/search-and-replace-for-
wordpress-databases/
OR backup solution that does migration (Backup Buddy)
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