Easy PHP Installer , XAMPP or WAMP ?


In my recent study to help me study PHP5, I’m looking forward for “easy php installer” that can help me to code in PHP4 (production) and then easily change to PHP5 (learning OOP).

I used to use Appserv in my laptop or office PC but now it can’t help me any longer with PHP5 and PHP4 since I have to choose between appserv for PHP5 OR PHP4 .

Searching with uncle google help me find two solutions for my need :

1. XAMPP ( http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html)
2. WAMP (http://www.wampserver.com/en/)

XAMPP has two version :

Full and lite version

Full version has following feature :

  • Apache
  • MySQL
  • PHP + PEAR
  • MiniPerl
  • OpenSSL
  • phpMyAdmin
  • XAMPP Control Panel
  • Webalizer
  • Mercury Mail Transport System
  • FileZilla FTP Server
  • SQLite
  • ADODB
  • Zend Optimizer
  • XAMPP Security

Plus other “important feature” for installation

  1. Method A: Installation with the Installer
  2. Method B: “Installation” without the Installer

Full version is my choice since it come with PHP4 and PHP5

Lite version come with PHP5 and no PHP4

WAMP is great too , almost same as XAMPP BUT I have to install it to my computer

Since I must doing presentation to friends, my boss etc . I choose to use XAMPP because it’s portable , can reside in my Flash disk .

Draw back of these installer for me is MYSQL version .
I’m a fan of MYSQL 4.0x since my hosting company still use it in production .

But later I’ll switch to MYSQL4.1 or MYSQL 5 which is recomended by MYSQL AB company .

I’ll explore interesting facility in XAMPP like Mercury Mail Transport System for mail(), how to use it in local environtment etc.

See you