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Geek Culture / Anybody know a good lightweight local web dev server?

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BearCDP
15
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Joined: 7th Sep 2009
Location: NYC
Posted: 21st Jun 2010 06:48 Edited at: 21st Jun 2010 06:55
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Hey guy, I've started to learn some more web development skills, it's been interesting and fun. It all started when I saw on the list of approved software from my internship was Ruby 1.9.1. So, I spent lunch breaks learning that, and could now probably stumble my way through writing some basic administration scripts.

Next thing I took a look at was Ruby on Rails, but after a Getting Started tut, realized I should brush up on JavaScript and AJAX. Unfortunately, it seems like you need to actually have a webserver running since you are actually sending GET/POST requests with XmlHttpRequest. I've found Aptana Studio, which nicely runs a server on localhost in the background for you, but I'd really like to move out of these Eclipse-based IDEs in favor of power- text editors.

So we've had a thread about good html/css editors, now does anybody know any small but reliable http daemons they've had experience with that can be used for the purpose of developing AJAX sites? I could go and set up XAMPP/MAMPP (apologies in advance to those offended by Mac OS X) or manually set up Apache or lighttpd, but that (maybe it's just me) seems like overkill. I could always run it from my webhost in a password-protected directory, but I'd also like to work on it when I haven't got a connection available (laptop here).

Check out this WIP flash game from the Global Game Jam!
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bitJericho
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Joined: 9th Oct 2002
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Posted: 21st Jun 2010 08:25 Edited at: 21st Jun 2010 08:48
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If you need a full featured webserver on your laptop, you might as well do it right.

TBH, I wouldn't use LAMP, XAMPP, etc any longer. I've been working with PHP on various projects over the last year or two, and you never know when you're going to need to install this or that php module.

I recommend just running a full featured web server in a virtual machine. This way, you can test pretty much anything there is to do in a script.

Get something like VMware, setup a new virtual machine with about 5 or more gigs of space and at least 256mb of ram.

Then, continue using the following guide I wrote up some time back for a friend:

http://www.itmustbetrue.com/20minute guide to running your own server.txt]www.itmustbetrue.com/20minute guide to running your own server.txt

In the guide, I make reference to using dyndns, you can skip that if you're running a VM on your local computer. Just give it any name you like. To access it, point your browser to the ip address assigned to the virtual machine.

In the guide, I make mention of installing virtualmin, this will be your control panel for configuring any web server related things.

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spooky
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Joined: 30th Aug 2002
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 22nd Jun 2010 00:09
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If you have Vista or Win 7, just install IIS, it's built into windows, just not installed as default. Yes, it can be a pain to configure but it will do anything you want.

Boo!
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Phaelax
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Joined: 16th Apr 2003
Location: Metropia
Posted: 22nd Jun 2010 02:22
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Quote: "
TBH, I wouldn't use LAMP, XAMPP, etc any longer. I've been working with PHP on various projects over the last year or two, and you never know when you're going to need to install this or that php module.

I recommend just running a full featured web server in a virtual machine. This way, you can test pretty much anything there is to do in a script."


How is Xampp less of a web server than running what you described? It's apache with the php/sql modules already installed. And installing new modules hardly takes any effort at all.

IIS is a major pain to configure and takes way too much effort to get working with jsp.

Personally, I'd just install Xampp if all you want to do is practice ajax. Its simple control panel lets you easily turn the server off and on.


"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" ~ Arthur C. Clarke
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bitJericho
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Posted: 22nd Jun 2010 06:03 Edited at: 22nd Jun 2010 06:04
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Quote: "How is Xampp less of a web server than running what you described? It's apache with the php/sql modules already installed. And installing new modules hardly takes any effort at all."


Because it's literally a couple clicks to install any module needed. Additionally, you get a full email server so you can test emails. You also can install non-web related services that your website may also control. Lastly, it's on a linux machine, so if you ever plan on hosting this anywhere on the internet, you know it'll work out of the box if you configure your server the same way as your vm (or the other way around).

Also, since it's on a VM, it's all self contained. You can make backups of it, monkey with it, and restore your backup if you mess it up. And since most people nowadays use multi-core systems, it'll be almost no drag on your system during dev.

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BearCDP
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Location: NYC
Posted: 22nd Jun 2010 06:06 Edited at: 22nd Jun 2010 06:06
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Thanks for that guide, Jerico! I hadn't known about Virtualmin before, now I'm gonna have to go play with it

I hadn't thought of running VMWare, that is an appealing option so I don't muck up my nice desktop install. But, XAMPP does look really easy to get rolling with. I suppose I'll start with that and as the need arises make some room for VMware or VirtualBox.

What about IIS makes it a pain? My friend and I are building a Windows Server 2008 box to run out of his new house (it's gonna have different VMs for monitoring the door locks and lights/streaming movies to the HTPC, development, and game servers), so I'm curious what to watch out for. I've set up Apache on my own linux box before, but Windows will be a new and interesting experience.

Check out this WIP flash game from the Global Game Jam!
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spooky
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Posted: 23rd Jun 2010 00:14
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Have fun with Win 2008. We have one for hosting websites at work. Be aware that Microsoft went stupidly crazy with Win 2008 and almost everything is locked down to start with, so be prepared for lots of tinkering to get things opened up and working.

In truth IIS isn't that bad, except that version 7+ as found in Vista, W7, 2008, etc use a completely new interface than old V6 and personally I think it's far more confusing. IIS6's interface was far better and easier to configure.

Boo!
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BearCDP
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Posted: 23rd Jun 2010 09:30
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Oh, that sounds rough for Win 2008. You'd think Windows would stick with the philosophy of making the interface nice & easy, but still exposing all the advanced capability--especially in a server product. I guess I'll be making sure at least one of our VMs runs Debian or something.

Check out this WIP flash game from the Global Game Jam!
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