I have been reading this forum and have seen people discussing using PHPTriad, WAMP, XXAMP, etc, to install Apache/PHP/MySQL on the computer. I want to install these three on my laptop and am using a book "Beginning PHP5, Apache, And MySQL Web Development (2005)" to learn. It has directions how to install the three separately and configure them, but also suggests using PHP Triad or WAMP. I am wondering if it's whether trying to install them step by step instead of using a package so that I can learn better how to configure and how to troubleshoot my installation. I know it will take considerably longer to do it from scratch than to use a package like WAMP but I think I'll learn more if I do it from scratch. Any thoughts on this? Are there any dangers to my laptop and all the stuff installed in it if I go either route? Will appreciate your advice .
Speaking from experience, I'd go with one of the WAMP packages available. It will pretty much give you a 1-2-3 install that has the latest verions of all of the apps. Depending on which package you choose, they may even throw in some sample applications. But installing each component by itself isn't very difficult and you'll be sure to be able to install the latest components. If you want to learn all the ins and outs, then go the route of installing everything separately. A nice thing about the WAMP packages is they'e got everything configured, including having the Apache and MySQL services start at boot or with one click of the mouse. They'll often include phpmyadmin and some other administrative tools. It all depends on how much you want to get your hands dirty. You'd certainly learn the most if you compile everything from source though.
I think it's good to know how to install them manually if for any reason you ever had to (setting up a server for example). I like AppServer though and I use MySQL's GUI tools to manipulate databases. AppServer will setup Apache 2.0.59, PHP 4.4.5, MySQL 5.0.27, and phpMyAdmin-2.9.2. AppServer - http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=37459&package_id=29748 MySQL GUI Tools - http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/gui-tools/5.0.html
If you want to learn, I'd def suggest installing them all separately. If you don't want a headache, though, WAMP, etc would be your best bet.
Surely for Wamp. Or else keeping on adding various components by hand. pretty a "waste time" operation. But, depends on what you want: programming(Wamp) or site administration(manual install for all of them, eventually compiling php and apache according your desire).
Cool, thanks for the opinions. I think I'll do them one by one, Apache, then PHP, then mySQL, this way I'll learn more. I was afraid of messing up my laptop somehow, but I think it'll be okay. Then on my desktop PC I'll use WAMP.
i would suggest installing them individually so that you get an idea of how everything works. it's really simple once you do it once or twice. don't get discouraged. i assume this is on windows and if i am correct, devside has a great walk through on it. http://www.devside.net/guides/windows hope this helps. ansi
Thanks for the link. Yes it is on Windows. Once that is done I might also do it on a Linux box I am working on. I think installing them individually is definitely the way to go for me, that way I'll see how everything works and be able to troubleshoot in the future.
WAMP is not a web server. wamp is a software bundle for windows consisting of apache, php, mysql, phpmyadmin, and sqllite.
I install them all seperately because they are not all on the same release cycle and I like to keep everything up to date. Recently PHP had an update to 5.2.3 which fixes a potential problem with PNG files. Since my latest project uses user submitted PNG files primarily it was very important to be able to update. It's really not that hard to install them manually. The installers have improved a lot in the last few years.
You can find a very nice tutorial on how to install apache+mysql+php at apachemysqlphp.com And I think you should install yourself. Using autoinstallers might not get you the desired result. Also errors might occur. I never liked to auto install these. NOTE: I'm not allowed to post link right now, but I just wanted to help.
Thanks for the link malex. @KalvinB, it makes sense in terms of the updating to the latest versions. I hadn't thought of that aspect. Thanks for the opinions, I'm learning a lot. This is my weekend project, installing Apache, then PHP, then MySQL, and anything else I may need, such as phpmyadmin.
for simple using any installer package like XAMPP,WAMP,LAMP is perfect.but for gathering experience you may try to compile the source codes.
Well, after about 3 hours of installing, error codes, google, reading the manuals, pounding on the table, frothing at the mouth, etc, I FINALLY succeeded. It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I installed Apache HTTP Server 2.2.4, configured and tested it. I had some port troubles with getting the server to start but it finally worked. I then installed PHP 5.2.3, configured it, tested it and made sure it worked well with Apache, and then finally I installed mySQL Server 5.0 (Community Server), and tested it, and that works too. The hardest part was getting mySQL 5 to work, with configuring and root access and passwords, but now everything is working smoothly on my laptop and I am a happy human!! I guess I could have gone the easy way but this was so much more rewarding and I've learned a lot about configuring the different components and troubleshooting. Thanks to everyone for all your suggestions and help! Now to get to work learning php/mysql .