how do i download and run a site on my local computer

I need to work on dating site already running on the net.
how do download and run the site on my local computer
to enable me add the necessary codes/changes.
email: celes_uche@yahoo.com

 

get al files - via ftp or rsync - from your online original
store in a folderstructure on your localhost below root of localhost - assuming of course you have Linux hosting.

then point your browser to the
http :// locahost/ your_folder/

adapt all paths if necessary to run on your localhost for any scripts
then run your site - test new features - then upload new features after successcul offline testing

attention

it only really works perfectly if you have offline the same OS and the same or most similar possible versions as you have online
this is particularly important for:

charset configuration of filesystem and all text files
language settings
PHP versions
apache version
mysql configuration

I do above successfully since about 6+ years - in fact it was the key idea 8 years ago to switch from MS to Linux to have offline exactly the same working environment as i have online.

if you have OTHER OS online than offline - there still is a possibility to do so, hwoever you NEVER have a real and 100% reliable comparison and test-environment since you always may have differences in server behavior and config no matter how much you adapt and config your offline.

if necessary a dualboot offline system with an exact match of your ONLINE OS as second OS may be an alternate option

additional questions - pls HERE in forum - NO PM pls
others might want to know the very same as well

 

I can't recommend this enough:

XAMPP

Simply incredible. Saves a ton of time when developing apps.

 

If your running Win32 - install xampp

 

Well if you want to do something like this you should know some about
1) Apache server
2) php scripting
3) sql scriptin
(dont comment html)
I guess you dont know the above if you are asking how to download a site, so take a big breath and learn first some thing about the above

ps with SmartFTP client

 

i use XAMPP

it's easy and reliable

it includes almost everything you may need including php/mysql/phpmyadmin and more

 

go get XAMPP!!!

 

I've never heard of xampp, but I have used HTtrack and it works great. With it, you can copy just about any website and run it locally.

 

I use XAMPP and I am a novice when it comes to server stuff. Took me just some hours to learn it.

 

i got something now, maybe the man means offline site viewer which downloads the site pages from the interenet for you to read them offline

i think he didn't mean localhost like easyphp and XAMPP