Web developers frequently install a local server on their PC to speed up development. To do so, a LAMP stack must be installed – this includes Apache, PHP, and MySQL combined into one user-friendly package with an intuitive menu system.
Virtual hosts allow your WAMP server to serve multiple websites by editing the hosts file – an essential Windows file which matches hostnames with IP addresses.
Easy to set up
Many web developers rely on local servers for website development, typically installing software stacks that integrate Apache, PHP and MySQL into one application with an interface menu system for easy use – examples being WAMP, XAMPP or LAMP.
These applications allow you to set up virtual hosts, a method of hosting multiple websites on one server. When the web server receives a request, it examines its HTTP headers to match hostname with IP address before serving up a page from that website.
To create a virtual host in WAMP, left-click its green desktop icon and click “Localhost”. This will launch a browser tab titled “Localhost”, displaying all available configuration options such as document root settings and server name. Adding virtual hosts can be accomplished either through Localhost webpage or configuration files; though latter method is the recommended choice due to being simpler.
Suitable for WordPress development
WordPress is a widely-used web content management system (CMS) that enables users to quickly build and edit websites without uploading files. A local development environment enables developers to test their work quickly and fix any errors more efficiently; additionally, local websites load faster since they do not depend on an internet connection for optimal functioning.
One drawback of LAMP is its requirement for proficiency with Linux and command line use; however, its high degree of control over software stack configuration could make it appealing to developers who prefer more flexible solutions over wrappers such as WAMP or XAMPP.
Laragon is another alternative to WAMP and XAMPP that provides a user-friendly experience, including an efficient management dashboard for development stack. Furthermore, Git support and various tools such as WP-CLI are included for debugging purposes – plus personal use of Laragon is free, while premium versions begin at $5 monthly subscription fees.
Easy to manage
Many web developers prefer working from their local computer over remote servers, and for this reason install software stacks such as WAMP on their computers – these packages combine Apache, MySQL, and PHP into an easily navigated menu system for one simple package application.
Virtual hosts allow website designers to easily test and develop multiple websites simultaneously on one machine, making multiple projects much less time consuming and daunting to work on simultaneously.
WAMP makes creating virtual hosts easy. All it requires is making some adjustments to your hosts file in C:wampwww, which can be reached by left-clicking its green icon and opening up a browser tab that displays all available configuration settings – including server name and document root; these are similar settings you would find under VirtualHost> configurations.
Easy to learn
Many web developers rely on WAMP to test and develop websites locally, without risking using live sites which may cause issues when configured improperly. It also helps them hone their skills in an unfussy environment.
To configure a virtual host in WAMP, add an entry to the hosts file located in C:windowssystem32driversetchosts using any text editor. Below is an example of a standard host entry – simply remove the # symbol and insert your site’s name instead!
An extra precaution in case something goes wrong is to create a backup of your files, preferably before any major disaster strikes. To do this, navigate to WAMP via browser or green desktop icon and left-click “Localhost” tab; from here a window similar to one shown below should appear where you can enter both your site name and path to its directory containing it.