If you need to become a PHP developer, chances are you are either using two common operating systems which are Windows and Linux. This short guide will help you decide better whether you need to install XAMPP Linux or consider having XAMPP in Windows.
The advantage and disadvantages will also be discussed.
XAMPP Linux System requirements:
1. First, it needs the latest Linux system installed. If you have older versions it may work but the stability may be a problem.
2. Second, its needs so much configuration so that you have permission to own your phpMyAdmin files, htdocs and Apache file not just “nobody-root” which is default after installation of XAMPP in Linux.
If you have configured above, chances are you will still need to change the owner to root every time you copy files, edit and work with your htdocs, etc. This can be very hard and time consuming to do.
XAMPP Windows System Requirements:
1. It is highly recommended to install XAMPP in the latest Windows system. If you are using Windows XP, you need to latest updates and patches. The reason is that Windows is commonly attacked by hackers and malware more than Linux, so the Windows installation needs to be fully updated.
2. There is no need to change ownership or permission in Windows as if you are login as administrator (which you are always in Windows unless you are not the owner of the computer), after XAMPP installation, you automatically all the files in it.
Now which is better? The following will help you decide:
1.) If you are already a hard core Linux user which already knows the complex commands of changing ownership. Then you can use XAMPP Linux.
2.) If you are still doubtful of your Linux administration abilities, then you might want consider having a dual boot installation and install XAMPP in Windows. Of course, the disadvantage is that you need to purchase a Windows license.
3.) If you are a hard core Windows user, then XAMPP in Windows works very fine (subject to limitations below).
4.) If you are having a dual boot of Windows and Linux, you can install either one of those with XAMPP.
One of the common questions asked? Does XAMPP in Linux way powerful than XAMPP in Windows? It might be yes, because XAMPP is already using Linux file system which most Apache web servers are configured. Plus, if you are using XAMPP in Linux, file migration to a real web host (which is mostly Linux based) results in no hassles unlike in Windows in which there are certain PHP functions which won’t work in Windows development environment.
“complex commands of changing ownership”
Complex is relative: chmod -R user:users /opt/lampp/htdocs
Or mount a directory inside your home with bind, that’s what i do:
mount -o bind /home/user/devel/app /opt/lampp/htdocs/app
And you only need to change Ownership ones. root can read all files, no matter who they belong too.
I would use the System which I’m more familiar with and where my Development Environment works better. (vim and Linux for me).
Hi Karotte,
I agree complex is relative. For those naive Linux users, they may not know these techniques. In case they are better with Windows, they should stick to XAMPP Windows version. Thanks for the tip, I also didn’t know this in the first place.
Cheers,
Codex