Comments on: Server on an iBook

Question: Server on an iBook

RobotHero — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:37:06 -0800

Help me put an interactive web site on an iBook.

I have a web site that I created, which uses PHP and SQL, running on an Apache server. I'm applying for jobs, and it could be nice to bring along my iBook on an interview and demonstrate the site.

Now, of course the site is available on the web, but I can't count on hooking up anywhere I'm interviewed. What do I need to know to set up the whole functionality of the site within the confines of one Mac lap top?

I've done next to no configuring on a Mac before, so beginners level stuff is good.

By: neustile

neustile — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:47:05 -0800

Try the MAMP MySQL, Apache, PHP installer for the Mac.

By: pmbuko

pmbuko — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:54:11 -0800

Sounds like a perfect reason to give this product a spin:

XAMPP

The Mac version is in early beta, and I haven't tried it myself, but I'd give it a shot in your situation. (I am not affiliated with them in any way).

By: pmbuko

pmbuko — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:54:59 -0800

on "postview" neustile's suggestion looks better, though.

By: shaun

shaun — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:59:50 -0800

Both Apache and PHP (version 4 only, download version 5 here) are installed by default on OS X. Apache can be turned on in the "Sharing" panel in System Preferences. The PHP files can then be placed in the "Sites" folder under your home directory.

Apple provides a guide on installing MySQL here.

By: AmbroseChapel

AmbroseChapel — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 21:37:51 -0800

>Apple provides a guide on installing MySQL here.

...And it's clearly marked "Updated: 2005-05-13"! It's way out of date and involves all kinds of command-line pain that RobotHero doesn't need.

Just go to MySQL's website and download their Mac installer.

Don't some recent Macs have MySQL installed anyway?

By: malevolent

malevolent — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 05:53:02 -0800

I'd recommend MAMP, as getting the preinstalled stuff working nicely is a bit of a pain.

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 05:58:37 -0800

neustile said 'Try the MAMP MySQL, Apache, PHP installer for the Mac.'

It's certainly the easiest way to get everything up and running quickly, but I found MAMP ran very slowly indeed on my iBook (a G3, so YMMV).

By: RobotHero

RobotHero — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 15:41:39 -0800

I've installed MAMP, but I'm having a problem with it:

How do I get it to be more talkative with php errors?

I uploaded my site as is, and I'm getting no output. If I put in an html file, or a simple "Hello world" php script, I get output. If I put a bug in my Hello World file, it outputs nothing.

So I don't know how to get the error message out of MAMP that will tell me why my site isn't working.

By: tjenks

tjenks — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 16:05:17 -0800

You need to enable error reporting in the php.ini.

google will show you the way!

By: AmbroseChapel

AmbroseChapel — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 05:05:20 -0800

I put this in the top of the page:

<?php 

	error_reporting ( E_ALL );

	ini_set ( display_errors, 1 );

 ?>

which is, you know, cargo cult because I don't really know what it means but works. Easier than setting it in the ini file.