What is XAMPP


XAMPP is a free distribution package that makes it easy to install Apache Web Server, PHP, PERL, and MySQL on an OSX machine, in this case macOS Catalina version 10.15.7.
Assuming no web servers and instances of MySQL are running on the machine to be used.. Before installing XAMPP, turn off any web server and instances of MySQL running on the Mac computer.

Installing XAMPP on a Mac

  1. Download XAMPP for Mac OSX - At this writing the PHP 8.0 is fairly new. PHP 7.4 is an established stable version. This article shows the installation with PHP7.4.16.
    Download the version indicated with the arrow in the image below
    xampp download
  2. Open the downloaded file (the DMG-Image). An XAMPP icon appears on the desktop and a window with an XAMPP ican in the center.
  3. open the XAMPP icon. A warning may apprear that the file was downloaded from the internet. 
  4. Enter the MAC Administrator password in the authentication popup.
    5. Open downloaded file
  5. The Setup-XAMPP is shown and the installation can start
  6. Click/tap Next to continue
    7. XAMPP setup wizard
  7. Next steps are Component selection and Installation Location.
    Leave the default as is and click Next to continue.
    8. select components
    installation location
  8. Information on installers. Uncheck the Learn more about Bitnami for XAMPP
    Click/tap Next to continue

  9. The XAMPP package is ready to be installed
    Click next to start installation
    10. Info on installers
    ready to install
  10. While Unpacking files the installer shows some info. 
    When done click/tap Next to continue

  11. The installation is complete. 
    Click/tap Finish to close the installer.
    If the Launch XAMPP is checked, the application will start after closing the installer
    12. installation progress
    Completing installation




Starting XAMPP on OSX

To start XAMPP go to Finder -> Applications/ -> AMPP ->  open manager-OSX. 
Authentication may be necessary. Enter the administrator password. Click/tap OK to continue
start XAMPP
Next the Welcome screen is displayed. Select the Manage Servers tab. Apache and MySQL on the Manage Servers tab.
XAMPP welcome
Start all servers if not started already. Apache may already run, depending on the OSX configuration
manage servers
manage servers running

Problem starting MySQL?

If MySQL serverfails to start, change file permissions using Terminal (Launchpad -> other -> Terminal ) with this command:

$ sudo chmod -R 777 /Applications/XAMPP/xamppfiles/var

Testing your OSX XAMPP Installation

In web browser, enter address: http://localhost. The start page of XAMPP should be displayed
test XAMPP

Class File Permissions

  1. Cmd+click on Finder -> Applications -> XAMPP -> xamppfiles -> htdocs folder and select Get Info.
  2. If the lock symbol at the bottom indicates that this information is locked, click/tap the lock icon to unlock, and enter user credentials.
  3. Once the settings are unlocked, choose "everyone" under "Sharing & Permissions" and change the option to "Read & Write".

htdocs permissions



Setting the MySQL Password on Macs

 

  1. The PHP files use "pwdpwd" for the MySQL root password, while the default password is NO password.
  2. Change the password to pwdpwd by opening Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal) and enter:


$ sudo /Applications/XAMPP/xamppfiles/xampp security
 

Enter your Mac password if requested and click/tap OK.

Next will ask if you want to turn off XAMPP access from the network: answer: Yes
Next for MySQL: answer No
Next for MySQL/phpMyAdmin user: Answer No
.
The next statement displayed: MySQL has no root password set

  1. Do you want to set a password? Enter Yes
  2. Enter the password pwdpwd. 
  3. Enter the password pwdpwd again
     
    In the Terminal Window, it looks like the following:
    root@Lukes-MacBook-Pro htdocs #  sudo /Applications/XAMPP/xamppfiles/xampp security 
    XAMPP:  Quick security check...
    XAMPP:  MySQL is accessable via network. XAMPP: Normaly that's not recommended. Do you want me to turn it off? [yes] Y
    XAMPP:  Turned off.XAMPP: Stopping MySQL...ok.
    XAMPP: Starting MySQL...ok.
    XAMPP:  MySQL has to run before I can check the security.
    XAMPP:  The MySQL/phpMyAdmin user pma has no password set!!! 
    XAMPP: Do you want to set a password? [yes] 
    XAMPP:  MySQL has to run before I can check the security.
    XAMPP:  MySQL has no root passwort set!!! 
    XAMPP: Do you want to set a password? [yes] 
    XAMPP:  Write the password somewhere down to make sure you won't forget it!!! 
    XAMPP: Password: XAMPP: Password (again): 
    XAMPP:  Setting new MySQL root password.
    XAMPP:  Change phpMyAdmin's authentication method.
    XAMPP:  The FTP password for user 'daemon' is still set to 'xampp'. 
    XAMPP: Do you want to change the password? [yes] 
    XAMPP: Reload ProFTPD...ok.
    XAMPP:  Done.
    root@Lukes-MacBook-Pro htdocs #

  4. Quit Terminal (Cmd+Q) and restart Apache and MySQL using the XAMPP Control Panel.

Testing phpMyAdmin

  1. Go to  http://localhost
  2. Click on phpMyAdmin under Tools
  3. Enter 'root' for username
  4. Enter 'pwdpwd' for password
phpmyadmin login
phpmyadmin page

The next step is to create a webpage and post it on the webserver at $ /Application/XAMPP/htdocs/


How to create a website is beyond this How To.
A number of Content Managing Systems (CMS) are free, most known are WordPress, Drupal, Joomla.
For more on free CMC look here

If errors are found in this How To or have a comment, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Thank you for visiting this site!


Happy Mac XAMPPing!