An essential for any aspiring theme developer is a local install of WordPress. There are plenty of benefits to doing so and there are also pitfalls if you don’t. I will tell you about the pitfalls in a second, but before that, I want to tell you 5 great reasons why you should use a local install as your sandbox as opposed to installing a live version on some subdomain of yours:
- Works exactly like the real deal; plugins and all
- No need to mess with FTP programs
- Develop anywhere (no connection needed)
- Make sure your theme is compatible with latest version of WordPress
- Code in secret, then release with a bang
I can personally attest that the last reason is a good one. While working on the current theme for this website, I accidentally pinged Technorati, which notified a bunch of people of my latest work. When this site finally got released, it was more of a fizzle instead of a bang. Anyhow, let’s get on to the tutorial.
Install WordPress Locally
-
Download and Extract XAMPP Lite
- Go to http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html#646
- Download XAMPP Lite.exe (the .exe is a smaller, faster download)
- Move the download to the root of your C drive C:\
- Run the .exe and the directory will be installed
-
Startup Apache and MySQL
- Open the xampplite folder
- Double click setup_xampp.bat
- After the program tells you to have fun, press any key on your keyboard
- Now double click on xampp-control.exe
- Now start the Apache and MySQL services
- If everything worked, you will see Running next to those 2 services
-
Create a New Database
- In your browser of choice, navigate to http://localhost/xampp/splash.php
- Click on your language
- On the left hand side, under Tools, click phpMyAdmin
- On that page, you will see the MySQL heading, like in the screenshot below
- Call the database wordpress and select utf8 unicode ci from the drop down menu
- Click Create
-
Install WordPress
- Download and extract WordPress to your desktop
- In the extracted folder, open the file wp-config-sample.php in a text editor
- Edit the file to look like this:
define('DB_NAME', 'wordpress'); // The name of the database
define('DB_USER', 'root'); // Your MySQL username
define('DB_PASSWORD', ''); // ...and password
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost'); // 99% chance you won't need to change this value - Save the file as wp-config.php
- Now open up the Xammplite folder on your C drive and then open the htdocs folder
- Copy the whole Wordpress folder here
- Finally, use your browser and navigate to http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin/install.php
HI, I would be interested in trying this, but mainly use mac, I don’t suppose there is an easy way to do this on a mac?
You know, I completely forgot about that! Here is a tutorial for macs. And I have clarified the title.
Thanks I will take a look
I use to do joomla sites before and i found http://www.uniformserver.com very useful to create local host, its quicker and faster than xamp
Good stuff! I was planning to write something like but I never got the chance to sit down and start it. Anyways, I’m sure your post would have been better. Hehe
Just wanted to let you know, If you just unzip the package to your root drive or to the root of a thumb drive you do not need to run the setup.
I am going to try this install this weekend! I would love to be able to tweak everything before I use up loads of bandwidth refreshing LOL
@Jaypee: Nah. I am sure you could have handled. You have probably known about it longer than I have anyways.
@Ellie: Yeah, that is a great reason to do it. I waste tons of bandwidth just re-uploading images and things that I have tweaked, over and over again. Let me know if you have any questions about the install.
Yeah, I did know about this before but I never did get to write about it. Hehe
Anyways, you seem to be very busy on other things coz you haven’t updated in a while.
Niceee….thks!
Will definitely take a look at this. I think installing WordPress on local system and tweaking the theme before uploading is a good idea. Thanks for the light.
[...] How to Install WordPress Locally on Windows J David Macor gives a step by step guide on how to get Wordpress running locally on a PC, ideal if you want to test your Wordpress website before releasing it publicly. [...]
[...] Resources: Windows: How to Install WordPress Locally on Windows Apple OSX: Installing MAMP and WordPress Technorati Tags: blogging tips, Blogging Tips and Tricks, [...]
[...] Resources: Windows: How to Install WordPress Locally on Windows Apple OSX: Installing MAMP and WordPress Technorati Tags: blogging tips, Blogging Tips and Tricks, [...]
This is my first post
just saying HI
Very cool, works like a charm; many thanks!
[...] How To Install WordPress Locally On Windows – You need to have a local install to build themes. [...]
Brilliant! Thank you for this. Worked like a dream…
I have looked into this before and always ran into problems. This was too easy.
Cheers!
I am going to try this install this weekend! I would love to be able to tweak everything before I use up loads of bandwidth refreshing LOL
Nice tutorial, here’s also a visual version if people want to see it (swf tutorial):
Flash Tutorial
Straight forward, Easy to follow – Best Tutorial Ever! Thank you
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Great Tutorial. I’ve being wanting to test some sites beore going live. This saves me a heap of time!
Great Work
Just a quick question, if I was happy with what was created locally, is it just a matter of installing WP on your server then copying the folders accross for it to go live?
[...] sure if would be of interest to you guys but I found this tutorial on how to install WP locally How to Install WordPress Locally on Windows | J David Macor.com I’ve just done it, very very easy to install. Thought it would save on bandwidth etc. during [...]
thanks for the GREAT post! Very useful…
Hey!
That worked a treat! I tried doing this install from a tutorial on another site and it just didn’t work time and time again – It took me about a minute with your instructions from booting xamp to the login page of wordpress local.
Fantastic! you just made life 10X easier!
[...] before publishing to the web. If you use WordPress, there are solutions on doing this for Windows here and on a Mac [...]
[...] How to Install WordPress Locally on Windows J David Macor gives a step by step guide on how to get Wordpress running locally on a PC, ideal if you want to test your Wordpress website before releasing it publicly. [...]
@Woody:
Yes Woody. If you were happy with the theme you created, you could install Wordpress on your server, then copy the theme files over.
Easy, isn’t it?
Nathan
thanks good article
of course if you start your own chain no body is going to stop you though.
thanks good article of course
thank you
thanx
hi..
great article.. always love wordpress.. now working on new CMS project using wordpress.. i will try this method..
thanks..
thanks
[...] How to Install WordPress Locally on Windows | J David Macor.com [...]
Thank you for this article. I can practice using wordpress without any internet connection. That is a really big help.
But, I have a question about what to do next. After I am done practicing and I want to upload my final wordpress design to the server, what should I do?
Thanks
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I am decently computer savvy, but networking and programming are definitely my achilles heel and I’m wanting to work out the bugs in the Wordpress design and process before uploading to a server, so I’m so glad I’m able to do the work locally rather than on the internet for everyone to see my bumbling!
tkans..
tkans
tkans you harika..
[...] here is the detail step by step guide for the installation [...]
I’m sorry, I’m noob in that stuff, but anyway, link http://localhost/xampp/splash.php for creating new database does not open to me. What should I do?
Great Tutorial
Very nice post
However, I’ve written an ebook on this subject that I’m going to give for free to interested people.
[...] WordPress Help – installing WordPress locally WordPressMax – Cheap install service [...]
[...] http://www.jdavidmacor.com/2007/07/24/how-to-install-wordpress-locally/ [...]
[...] David Macor [...]
this is a good try but you can try some pictorial views also!