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How to Create and Run a Local Web Development Server

As a web developer with over 10 years of experience building websites and web applications, I often need to create local development servers to test my code before deploying it. A local web server allows you to mimic a live production environment right on your own computer. This lets you preview your site, test functionality, tweak CSS, and ensure everything works properly before pushing your code live.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through everything you need to know to create and run a local web development server on your Windows, Mac, or Linux machine.

Why Use a Local Web Server

Here are some of the key benefits of using a local web development server:

  • Test full site functionality – Test forms, links, databases, server-side code, and more.
  • Preview interface changes – See CSS, layouts, etc. right in the browser.
  • Speed up development – No need to constantly re-upload files to a live server. Develop locally.
  • Catch issues early – Identify bugs, troubleshoot code, check browser compatibility.
  • Mimic production environment – Develop locally the same way the site will run live.
  • Work offline – No Internet connection required to view or test sites.

Web Server Software Options

There are a few different software tools available for running a local web server:

1. XAMPP

XAMPP is a popular open-source web server package that bundles Apache, MySQL, PHP, Perl, and more all into one simple installer. It contains everything you need to launch local WordPress sites or build PHP apps.

Pros

  • Easy one-click installation
  • Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS)
  • Lightweight and fast
  • Manage multiple sites/apps

Cons

  • Limited configurability
  • Not as feature-rich as full web server solutions

2. MAMP

MAMP is another packaged local server environment mainly focused on macOS and Windows. The Mac version couples Apache, MySQL, and PHP. MAMP is optimized specifically for local WordPress and Drupal development.

Pros

  • Simple installation
  • GUIs for configuring servers
  • Integrates with macOS Finder
  • WordPress-centric tools

Cons

  • Not available for Linux
  • Less control over configuration

3. WAMP

WAMP is the Windows-specific counterpart to MAMP, bundling together the Apache web server, MySQL, and PHP for local Windows web development. Like MAMP, it’s mainly targeted at WordPress sites.

Pros

  • Tailored for Windows environments
  • Includes phpMyAdmin for MySQL management
  • Large plugin ecosystem

Cons

  • Windows only
  • Limited feature set compared to full-fledged servers

4. Local by Flywheel

Local by Flywheel is a relatively new entrant that gives you a local WordPress development environment that mimics their Flywheel managed WordPress hosting. It comes with a lot of developer-friendly features.

Pros

  • Very quick to install & launch sites
  • Modern, clean UI
  • Integrates with Flywheel hosting platform
  • Lots of WordPress-specific tools

Cons

  • Only supports WordPress
  • Resource-heavy

5. Docker Containers

For full customization and flexibility, you can build your own local development servers using Docker containers. This does require more technical expertise but allows you to fine-tune your setup.

Pros

  • Complete control to build any environment needed
  • Mimic the same containers used in production
  • Switch between Linux distributions easily

Cons

  • Steeper learning curve
  • More involved setup process
  • Requires knowledge of Docker

How to Install & Set Up a Local Web Server

The exact steps to set up a local web server may vary slightly depending on which software option you choose. But the general process follows this basic workflow:

  1. Download & install your chosen local server software package. For simplicity, I’ll use XAMPP as an example here.
  2. Launch the control panel or manager interface for your local server. For XAMPP and others, this is usually at a URL like http://localhost/ or http://127.0.0.1/.
  3. Start up the Apache web server as well as any other services you want to use (MySQL, etc). Again for XAMPP, buttons to control each module are right in the dashboard.
  4. Configure the web root directory on your file system. This is the folder the server will load files from when you access sites. The default is usually something like c:\xampp\htdocs or /Applications/XAMPP/htdocs.
  5. Add your site files into the web root folder and navigate to that path in your browser, like http://localhost/mysite. The local server will now load your site files directly from disk rather than over a network.
  6. Test and develop your website or application the same as you would on a live server!

Key Tools for Local Site Development

To make development easier once your local server is running, be sure to leverage these tools:

  • Text Editor: Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, and others to edit your raw code files.
  • Browser with DevTools: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc to preview sites and debug front-end code.
  • Version Control: Git and hosts like GitHub or Bitbucket to manage code changes.
  • Database GUI: phpMyAdmin, Sequel Pro, or others to manage local databases.
  • Command Line Interface: PowerShell, Terminal, Bash, etc for server admin tasks.
  • Build Tools: Task runners like Gulp and Webpack to automate workflows.

Top Local Development Tips

Here are some key best practices to follow when working with a local web server:

  • Set up a reliable way to sync your local files up to a staging/live server when ready. Automate deployments whenever possible.
  • Mimic the server environment of your production site as close as possible (PHP version, extensions, config values) to limit surprises.
  • Use a site-specific configuration rather than developing directly in the default web root directory.
  • Isolate projects in their own containers or VitrualHosts to avoid conflicts.
  • Take advantage of debugging and developer tools to speed up builds.
  • Use version control systems like Git locally as you develop to protect against data loss.

Conclusion

Whether you are a seasoned web developer or just starting out, taking the time to configure a local programming environment will make your development workflows much smoother. The ability to instantly preview work right in the browser and rapidly iterate through changes will boost both productivity and quality.

Now that you know the major server options available as well as steps for getting set up, the flexibility to code sites locally tailored to your needs is at your fingertips! Let me know in the comments if you have any other local server tips I may have missed.

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