testing Wordpress site before it is live

Hi guys,

I have to create an online magazine website and I want to use a Wordpress theme for it.
The thing is, I want to test the design and content before it is live.

I have read there is a software called MAMP (for Mac OS X cause I have a Mac) (also known as XAMPP for Linux or Windows). It seems MAMP helps test Wordpress locally. Any opinions on this?

Or what other way would you recommend to test a WP site prior to go live?

Thanks,
Lareveuse

 

I've set up a test/dev server on my macs in MAMP. It works great.

You could also just set up a test server on your regular server yoursite.com/dev/ or dev.yoursite.com for testing.

 

just build it out....in the setting/options area of the back end you can hide the website from search engines....or build it on a subdomain and text it there.

 

Use a maintenance plug in. That way the site is only accessible to you. All other visitors will get a maintenance screen. That way when you go live, you only need to deactivate the maintenance window and you are up.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/maintenance-mode/

 

You can simply build it on a subdomain with restriction, use password protected folders from cpanel.

 

Make a subdomain and block the same through htaccess so that no once else can access the subdomain. then you can test your website there.