PHP local development environment setup: The easiest way
Jun 26, 2025 am 01:12 AMTo set up a local PHP development environment quickly, use XAMPP for simplicity. 1. Download and install XAMPP for your OS. 2. Start Apache and MySQL via the XAMPP Control Panel. 3. Place PHP files in the htdocs folder to access them at http://localhost/your-folder-name. 4. For macOS, consider MAMP; for Linux, XAMPP or LAMP are options. 5. Create a basic PHP project by adding an index.php file with simple PHP code. 6. Check the PHP version and consider Laragon or Docker if specific versions are needed. 7. Optionally use Docker for flexibility by installing Docker Desktop, using pre-built images, and defining services in docker-compose.yml. 8. Enable error reporting in php.ini, use var_dump() for debugging, and monitor log files during testing.
Setting up a local PHP development environment doesn’t have to be complicated. If you're just trying to get a basic setup running quickly — maybe for WordPress, Laravel, or a simple PHP project — there's a straightforward way that avoids unnecessary headaches.

Here’s how to do it the easy way.

Use XAMPP (or similar all-in-one package)
XAMPP is one of the simplest tools for setting up a full PHP development stack locally. It includes Apache, MySQL, PHP, and phpMyAdmin — everything you need to run most PHP applications without having to install each component separately.
- Download and install: Go to the XAMPP website, download the version for your OS, and follow the installer steps.
- Start the services: Open the XAMPP Control Panel, start Apache and MySQL.
-
Your files go in
htdocs
: Place your PHP files inside thehtdocs
folder (found in the XAMPP installation directory), and they’ll be accessible viahttp://localhost/your-folder-name
.
If you're on macOS, MAMP works similarly and might feel more native. For Linux users, XAMPP still works well, or you can look into LAMP setups if you're comfortable with the terminal.

Set up a basic PHP project
Once you’ve got XAMPP (or another tool) running, creating a basic PHP site is simple:
- Create a new folder in
htdocs
, likemyproject
. - Inside it, create a file called
index.php
. - Add some basic PHP code:
<?php echo "Hello, PHP!"; ?>
- Visit
http://localhost/myproject
in your browser.
That’s all it takes to see PHP working locally. You can expand from here by adding databases, frameworks, or CMS platforms like WordPress.
Make sure to check the PHP version included with your package. If you need a specific version for your project, you may want to use something like Laragon or Docker instead.
Use Docker for more flexibility (optional but handy)
If you want to simulate production environments more closely or need multiple PHP versions/configurations, Docker is a great option — and easier than many think.
- Install Docker Desktop (for Windows or macOS).
- Use pre-built images like Official PHP image or stacks like Laravel Sail if you're using Laravel.
- Define your services in a
docker-compose.yml
file and rundocker-compose up
.
This method gives you isolation between projects and avoids conflicts, especially when working with different PHP extensions or versions.
Don't forget to test and debug
Once your server is running, make sure to:
- Enable error reporting in PHP by editing
php.ini
and settingdisplay_errors = On
. - Use
var_dump()
orprint_r()
during development to inspect variables. - Keep an eye on log files — Apache and PHP logs are usually found in the
logs
subdirectory of your XAMPP or Docker setup.
These little checks save time when things don’t work right away.
That’s basically it. Whether you go with XAMPP for simplicity or Docker for flexibility, getting a local PHP dev environment up and running doesn’t have to be hard. Just pick the tool that fits your needs and start building.
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