XAMPP

XAMPP v1.8.3 (PHP 5.5.11) will install an Apache HTTP, MySQL, PHP, and Perl web stack. Relative to AMPPS Apache HTTP, MySQL, PHP, Perl, and Python web stack. (which is my current primary web), i have the following observations: XAMPP • After starting the Apache/FTP/MySQL services, quitting the XAMPP manager does not quit the services. • No Preferences on the XAMPP manager-osx.app • Control panel is simple start/stop/restart/configure..text file. • Webadmin GUI ... does not really have one. • ProFTPD • approx 20 add-on packages like Wordpress via Bitnami. AMPPS • Quitting AMPSS will stop the Apache/FTP/MySQL services. • Preference available for "Start on Session Startup" • Control panel include start/stop/restart/configure..text file + access log + error log + restore default config + PHP version control + PHP extension control • MongoDB • cPanel type interface for webadmin GUI • Pure-FTPd • approx 329 add-on packages like WordPress via Softaculous installer It's nice that quitting XAMPP manager-osx.app does not stop the services... However, I find that XAMPPS has room for catch-up and improveme in areas such as PHP control, application install selection, webadmin interface and preferences such as "Start on Session Startup"

While MAMP Pro on the surface seems easier to use, it hasn't been updated in almost a year, and support for it seems to have ceased for all intents and purposes. From what I can tell, to set up virtual hosts in XAMPP you have to edit httpd.conf to allow virtual hosts, and then edit the virtual hosts file in the extra folder. This is more difficult that simply adding a line to your hosts file, which MAMP Pro recognizes, but it is also the new standard for managing virtual hosts. It's also nice that XAMPP has the more recent versions of Apache, MySQL, PHP, etc. Last but not least, XAMPP is free, where you have to pay for MAMP Pro.

If you have OS X 10.4 on a PPC don't download Xampp 1.0 (it doesnit work), instead got to the developers website and download version 0.7.4.

1. The UI is unclear. There's no specific indication as to whether or not everything is enabled beyond the text. 2. No support for web files placed in another location besides the site folder. MAMP Pro allows for this.

forget XAMPP and get MAMP! XAMPP is good for windows or linux, but MAMP on the Mac is an even better solution