11 Great Tutorials on how to Configure and Use XAMPP

XAMPP is a ready-to-deploy set of the vital programs for setting up a web server (e.g. Apache, MySQL, PHP, Perl). What’s so special about it? It comes pre-configured so that once you download, you have to do little to nothing on the configuration and the package just works. Ok, well nothing is perfect, and there are always pitfalls when learning something new. That’s why I compiled this list of my favorite XAMPP tutorials that helped get me on track to using this great tool.

If you have any questions not answered by these tutorials, feel free to drop me a comment and I will be glad to help you out. Without further ado, here are the tutorials:

• PHP (WordPress) development using Eclipse and XAMPP – GreatWebGuy
  GreatWebGuy talks about WordPress development using PHPEclipse in Eclipse with XAMPPLite. He also goes over virtual host configuration in Apache.
• Using XAMPP for Local WordPress Theme Development
  Six Revisions is one of the best-known web design and development blogs, and their post on Using XAMPP for Local WordPress Theme Development is no exception. This tutorial will show you the ins and outs of installing XAMPP on Windows Vista, some simple configuration pointers, and dealing with Windows Firewall. It even goes as far as showing how to set up a MySQL user and test database, and then, as the title suggests, setting up a full-fledged WordPress installation locally for theme development.
• Installing Ruby on Rails (ROR) with XAMPP | Peri.me
  For those on the cutting edge, Peri.me gives a simple tutorial for setting up Ruby on Rails in an existing XAMPP installation.
• Set up a Windows test server using XAMPP | drupal.org
  This tutorial, hosted at drupal.org, gives the basics of setting up XAMPP on a local development computer, while giving insight into other topics such as Apache Virtual Servers and mod_rewrite for “pretty urls”.
• Installing and configuring PHP, Apache, and MySQL for PHP development in Windows
  This tutorial, hosted on Netbeans.org, has a ton of great info on setting up XAMPP for local development. It also has more in-depth info on using XDebug for debugging using XAMPP.
• A Complete LAMP Development Environment – Xampp, Eclipse PDT and XDebug – Tech Memorandum
  This thorough post by “Rob” walks through the download, extensive configuration, and integration with Eclipse PDT and XDebug.
• XAMPP + xdebug – SWiK
  SWiK.net‘s directory of articles tagged XAMPP and XDebug provides a great resource for those having trouble getting XDebug working with XAMPP.
• Malibu Garage: Local workstation xampp/Eclipse PDT/xdebug on WinXP from start to end
  Malibu Garage has a great tutorial on setting up XAMPP, setting up XDebug (for PHP), and getting it all working in Eclipse using Eclipse PHP Developer Tools (PDT).
• Getting Xdebug to work with Apache/XAMPP to debug PHP » unitstep.net
  Unitstep.net provides a great tutorial on getting XAMPP and XDebug to play nice together.
• Install xDebug in XAMPP | Mad Babble & Lucid Thought
  The Mad Babble & Lucid Thought blog has some quick pointers on getting XDebug working with XAMPP.
• Installing Xdebug on xampp for linux « The Indexer
  Installation tips on installing XAMPP on Linux.