XAMPP

Overview

XAMPP is a free, open source, cross-platform web server software package, named Cross-Platform (X), Apache (A), MariaDB (M), PHP (P), Perl (P), developed by Apache Friends. It integrates Apache (web server), MariaDB (database management system), PHP (backend scripting language) and Perl (programming language), providing developers with a lightweight local testing environment for developing and testing web applications. XAMPP supports Windows, Linux and macOS, suitable for rapid deployment and debugging of projects.

History and Development

• Origin:
  • XAMPP was created by Apache Friends (non-profit organization) around 2002 to simplify the construction of local web servers.
  • Originally designed as a testing tool for developers, it integrates Apache, MySQL, PHP and Perl to solve the complexity of manually configuring servers.
• Development History:
  • 2002-2010: Early versions focused on Windows and Linux, providing basic web server functions.
  • 2015: Starting from XAMPP 5.5.30 and 5.6.14, MySQL was replaced by MariaDB to improve performance and compatibility.
  • 2020-2023: Added components such as phpMyAdmin, OpenSSL, etc. to support more complete web server functions.
  • 2025: The latest version (such as 8.2.12) supports PHP 8.2, MariaDB 10.4 and Apache 2.4, providing a modern development environment.
• Community and Support:
  • Maintained by Apache Friends, the source code is open and follows the GNU General Public License (GPL).
  • Active Apache Friends Forum and X Community
  • Provide detailed documentation and tutorials (such as apachefriends.org).
• Compared with competitors:
  • WAMP (Windows exclusive), MAMP (macOS optimization), LAMP (Linux native stack), XAMPP's cross-platform and ease of use are more suitable for multi-environment development.

Main Features

1. Cross-platform support

   • Supported systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.
   • Installation method:
     • Installer (.exe): one-click installation, suitable for novices.
     • ZIP/7zip package: unzip and use, suitable for USB drive or VirtualBox.
     • XAMPP Portable Lite: only contains Apache, MariaDB, PHP and phpMyAdmin, suitable for lightweight deployment.
   • Easy configuration: Run setup_xampp.bat (Windows) or setup_xampp.sh (Linux) to adjust the configuration to suit your system.

2. Core components

   • Apache:
     • Open source web server that handles HTTP requests and is the most widely used in the world.
     • Supports PHP and Perl scripts.
   • MariaDB:
     • A relational database that replaces MySQL and supports Django's database backend.
     • Manage databases through phpMyAdmin to simplify table creation and queries.
   • PHP:
     • Supports the latest version (such as PHP 8.2), suitable for developing dynamic websites.
   • Perl:
     • For script development.
   • Add-ons:
     • phpMyAdmin: Manage MariaDB databases.
     • OpenSSL: Supports HTTPS development.

3. XAMPP control panel

   • Features:
     • Graphical interface, start/stop Apache, MariaDB, FileZilla, Mercury and other modules.
     • Display module status
     • Provide configuration (Config), network status (Netstat), Shell, Explorer and other tools.
   • Cross-platform: Control panel is provided on Windows, Linux, and macOS to simplify management.

4. Ease of use and development support

   • Local testing:
     • Provide localhost environment.
     • Support CMS installation such as WordPress and Joomla.
   • Mail function:
     • Configure sendmail.ini to send mail using Gmail SMTP.
   • Shell support:
     • Provide XAMPP Shell to run MySQL commands (such as mysqladmin.exe -u root password secret to set password).

5. Community and documentation

   • Forum: Apache Friends community provides installation and debugging help.
   • Multi-language support: The interface and documentation support Chinese.

Advantages and limitations

Advantages

• Ease of use:
  • One-click installation, control panel simplifies operation, suitable for novices.
  • X post says XAMPP is easy to operate and PHP files are easy to start.
• Cross-platform:
  • Supports Windows, Linux, and macOS.
• Free open source:
  • GPL license, no cost, suitable for developers with limited budgets.
• Complete technology stack:
  • Integrate Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and Perl.
• Local testing:
  • Provide localhost environment.
• Community support:
  • The Apache Friends forum and the X community provide rich resources.

Limitations

• Non-production environment:
  • XAMPP is designed as a test environment and lacks security features (such as firewall optimization), which is not suitable for public network deployment.
  • Solution: Only used for local development, and cloud servers are used for production environments.
• Resource usage:
  • Compared with the lightweight antiX, XAMPP's Apache and MariaDB occupy more resources (about 500MB RAM).
  • Solution: Run on 4GB+ RAM devices (such as your 16GB laptop).
• Port conflict:
  • The default ports (80, 443) may be occupied by other programs.
  • Solution: Change the Apache port (such as 8080) in the control panel.
• Installation issues:
  • Antivirus software or UAC may interfere with the installation.
  • Solution: Disable antivirus software and UAC before installation.

Summary

XAMPP is a free, open source, cross-platform web server software package that integrates Apache, MariaDB, PHP and Perl, suitable for local development and testing of web applications. Its simple installation, graphical control panel and complete technology stack make it an ideal tool for developing PHP projects. Compared with WAMP (Windows exclusive) or MAMP (macOS optimized), XAMPP's cross-platform and ease of use are more suitable for your Linux environment. Despite the port conflict and the limitations of non-production environments, it can meet development needs through simple configuration.