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Xampp vs Wamp: Which Local Development Server Is Best?

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Wazobia Technologies

July 28, 2022

Xampp vs Wamp: Which Local Development Server Is Best?

INTRODUCTION

XAMPP and WAMP are different types of local development servers which are crucial in web development technology. They reproduce the environment of a genuine web server so that you can run your website code, test it extensively, and then go on to the deployment step.

A server hosted locally on your laptop or computer is referred to as a local server. Before a website goes online, they aid developers with testing it for faults and flaws.

WAMP and XAMPP are free and open-source web server packages meant to make web servers function on your PCs.

Both stacks have PHP, Apache, and a variety of other applications required for an application and website to run.

WAMP Server includes MySQL for database purposes; however, XAMPP currently includes MariaDB instead of MySQL.

Both stacks are quite useful for operating and evaluating webpages and web applications locally on the desktop or laptop of an end user.

However, there are some functional differences between the two, despite the fact that both are comprised of the same type of software required to run a web server. As both are used for running PHP-based websites and applications, XAMPP supports Perl-based applications.

The conflict between these two local servers has been ongoing for quite some time. Similarities between the two include free downloading, MySQL, PHP, Apache Server, etc.

In addition, they enable you to design and run web apps locally on a desktop or laptop computer. These commonalities make it tough to select the one that best meets your needs.

In this article, we will help you detail the differences between XAMPP and WAMP, their key features and

Want to delve in?

XAMPP
Features Of XAMPP
Advantages Of XAMPP
Disadvantages of XAMPP
WAMP
Features of WAMP
Advantages of WAMP
Disadvantages of WAMP

XAMPP

XAMPP is a local server composed of Cross-Platform, Apache, MariaDB (MySQL), PHP, and Perl. This free, open-source platform is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac systems.

Additionally, XAMPP features a simple installation process and a straightforward interface. It permits the installation and usage of Content Management Systems (CMS) such as WordPress and Joomla, in addition to the Filezilla benefits. In addition to the platforms it supports, it offers a variety of features such as OpenSSL, Webalizer, OpenLDAP, Mercury Mail, etc.

However, it has minimal installation requirements and no components for configuration. In addition, its seamless transition from local to live web hosting makes it so popular among developers.

It's claimed to be a multi-platform web-server suite, and the best part is that it's adaptable and compatible with three popular operating systems: Linux, Windows, and Mac OS.

Utilising a graphical user interface, it provides program tools such as PhpMyAdmin for working with MariaDB databases (graphical user interface)

As we already know, the complete form of XAMPP is Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and Pearl. We are aware that it is open-source software that is freely available on the Internet. As stated previously, it is a cross-platform server compatible with Linux, Mac, and Windows. Apache, a web server, is needed to run PHP.

And those who are migrating towards MariaDB know that it is a database in which the user keeps site material. Avoid confusion. MariaDB is the current version of MySQL. The Apache server supports both Perl and PHP as programming languages.

These coding languages are utilised for developing new websites. It is also lauded for being a close server with a small footprint. This stack's infrastructure and functionalities do not look complex if that is the case.

Its features include Perl's support, mercury mail, Filezilla, etc. This server makes testing more straightforward and problem-free. Given that XAMPP is free, open-source software, it is available for download and usage by anybody.

This server allows you to test your website as many times as necessary. Clients of WordPress provide good ratings and comments, indicating that the platform is incredibly useful.

In the struggle between WAMP and XAMPP, we can observe that it has a slight advantage.

FEATURES OF XAMPP

These features are the characteristics of XAMPP, and they include:

XAMPP supports Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Open-source local server.
Installation and configuration are easier.
Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and Perl.
It has beginner-friendly modules and extensions.
Its interface is user-friendly.

ADVANTAGES OF XAMPP

The following are the benefits of Xampp:

XAMPP is straightforward to configure and use.
It's multi-platform; thus, it works on Linux and Windows.
phpMyAdmin, OpenSSL, MediaWiki, WordPress, Joomla, etc., are included.
It's complete and standard.
One command starts and stops the whole web server and database stack.

DISADVANTAGES OF XAMPP

There’s just one flaw to XAMPP, and that is that end users find XAMPP configuration difficult.

Read this well-detailed article on a step-by-step guide on how to install XAMPP on Windows, macOS, and Linux with screenshots

WAMP

Like XAMPP, WAMP is a local development server bundle that allows web developers to test their websites locally before going live.

Windows, Apache, MySQL, and PHP make up WAMP. In contrast to XAMPP, this server is exclusively available for Windows operating systems. This implies it can be used on Windows computers to execute PHP-coded websites and applications.

In addition, there is nothing complicated about the set design. It requires an operating system, programming language, database, and web server components. Since it is compatible with Apache web servers, it is usually compatible with Windows. Users can save your website's data using MySQL. The whole package is implied for the stack server.

WAMP is an acronym that stands for;

W – Windows

A - Apache Web Server

M – MySQL

P – PHP

WAMP was designed to run exclusively on Windows, hence the W in the acronym, WAMP.

It doesn’t function on a computer that runs an operating system that is not Windows.

Also, WAMP does not offer Perl support to utilise this feature by default, and you would have to configure it manually.

The functionality of WAMP and XAMPP is comparable. WAMP provides the same functionality as XAMPP. When you install WAMP, the Apache server, MySQL database, and PHP programming language are immediately installed on your local PC.

Then, you can continue configuring your local server and testing your website on it.

FEATURES OF WAMP

The following are characteristics of WAMP:

Microsoft Windows supports it.
Apache, MySQL, and PHP are included.
Its straightforward UI makes it easy to use and navigate
This platform is not open-source.
The method of installation and configuration is relatively straightforward.
It has Windows-compatible components.

ADVANTAGES OF WAMP

The benefits of WAMP include the following;

The installation and configuration of the WAMP server are relatively simple.
Similar to XAMPP, it is cross-platform, meaning it is available for both Windows and Linux.
WAMP makes it simple to code PHP and creates databases on the Windows Platform.
It has a number of modules involving OpenSSL, phpMyAdmin, MediaWiki, etc.
It is compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.
Similar to XAMPP, you may start and stop the web server and database with a single command.

DISADVANTAGES OF WAMP

Likewise, the XAMPP, WAMP has one major disadvantage, and that is

WAMP installation is more complicated than XAMPP.

COMPARISON BETWEEN XAMPP AND WAMP: XAMPP VS WAMP

Having covered the different definitions, features, advantages and disadvantages of XAMPP and WAMP.

In this section, we will compare XAMPP vs WAMP's technical elements.

A look at the origins of both tools and their installation, configuration, and usability will be covered.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN XAMPP AND WAMP

WAMP and XAMPP share far more similarities than differences. A handful of them have been discussed previously.

XAMPP and WAMP are open-source and free, allowing anyone to download and use them without cost or limitation.

Both solutions are designed to act as packages that facilitate the starting environment for installing a local server. If manually configured, you would need to download and install each component separately. Managing dependencies would also be problematic. With WAMP and XAMPP, you may automatically install Apache, MySQL, PHP, and other specialised components and services.

Using either of these solutions simplifies the phases of website design, development, and testing. On the local server, you can experiment with the website to your heart's content, and any code changes are instantly reflected on the screen in front of you.

The control panels of these software solutions are equally straightforward and user-friendly, allowing for simple component configuration as required. As a result, most crucial activities, such as turning on or off a specific service, may be completed with a single click.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN XAMPP AND WAMP SERVERS

While it's difficult to distinguish between WAMP and XAMPP due to a large amount of functionality that overlaps, there are a few subtle distinctions between the two.

Creators

There is a non-profit organisation called Apache Friends, which developed XAMPP in 2002.

Romain Bourdon, a French software programmer, developed WAMP and released it as an open-source project in 2003.

Operating System

When it comes to operating systems, the XAMPP platform (Operating System) has a significant edge. You may get Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X software.

Users can only utilise WAMP on PCs running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows, which is a limitation for WAMP.

Package Size

WAMP is about four times the size of XAMPP, although both packages have very small file sizes. Regarding the installation size, you can get XAMPP for Windows and Linux for 149MB and macOS for 158MB. WAMP for Windows 64-bit, on the other hand, is about 518MB in size.

Installation And Setup Simplicity

XAMPP is much simpler to install and configure for the majority of users. After running the setup, the installer prompts you to choose which package components to install.

This is the sole decision that must be made during the installation of XAMPP. In addition, the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) area of the XAMPP website provides users with further assistance and solutions to frequently asked questions and difficulties.

On the other hand, WAMP causes confusion among many individuals, particularly those attempting to run WAMP on an operating system other than Windows.

In addition, some customers have complained about having problems resolving missing dependencies, despite the setup's relative simplicity. WAMP's homepage also contains brief instructions on downloading and installing the software. However, they are not particularly informative for beginners.

When describing the package's characteristics, the instructions are alarming, assuming that the visitor is already aware of what the website discusses.

The websites for both WAMP and XAMPP provide a forum where you may ask questions and receive answers from helpful developer community members.

Our comparison of WAMP and XAMPP shows, however, that in terms of community, XAMPP has a significantly more active one, which makes it easier for XAMPP users to discover solutions to their difficulties.

Folder Structure

Whether you select XAMPP or WAMP, the structure of your project's folders will vary.

In the installation directory, the htdocs folder contains the XAMPP project files.

You can save your project files for WAMP in the "www" folder found in the "wamp" installation directory.

Additional Attributes

To make the transition from the local server to the live server even smoother and more straightforward, XAMPP provides extra capabilities, such as:

Filezilla FTP Server Mercury Email Server

In addition, the authors of XAMPP, Bitrock Inc., provide incredibly valuable add-ons that facilitate CMS integration.

This means you may utilise XAMPP with your WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal website and test your site offline before making significant changes to your website's content or structure.

If you wish to use more functionality outside the three basic ones (Apache, MySQL, and PHP), you must actively search for and install these add-ons or extensions.

The XAMPP community attempts to make the program and related documentation more accessible by translating it into additional languages. There are currently 15 language options available on the website, including Japanese, Portuguese, and Urdu.

On the other hand, WAMP is actively translating its product and documentation into various languages, including Polish, Turkish, and Urdu. Currently, three language options are available on the website: English, French, and Russian.

Check out our recent post: "What is Bespoke Software?"

KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN XAMPP AND WAMP ARE:

The differences between XAMPP and WAMP can be summarised as follows:

XAMPP supports macOS, Linux, and Windows. WAMP is a Windows-only local server.
XAMPP uses more resources than WAMP due to Tomcat, FileZilla FTP server, Webalizer, Mercury Mail, etc.
WAMP is better if you don't need advanced features.
XAMPP is simpler than WAMP. Powerful XAMPP. You can start and stop MySQL, Apache, etc., from XAMPP's control panel.
Installing and configuring XAMPP is easy. Different platforms may vary.
WAMP is lightweight and easy to install.
XAMPP uses MariaDB for data storage and retrieval. WAMP stores and retrieves data using MySQL, an RDBMS.
XAMPP uses Perl and PHP to develop. WAMP web development requires PHP.
Local servers both use Apache.
XAMPP requires more resources than WAMP.
XAMPP has SSL, while WAMP doesn't.
XAMPP is 32-bit. WAMP supports 64-bit and 32-bit systems.

CONCLUSION

Based on the similarities, distinctions, benefits, and drawbacks discussed above, there is little doubt that both servers are well-organized and trustworthy. From the standpoint of web developers, they are significantly more advantageous because they enable them to review websites before they go online.

However, some developers prefer WAMP due to its usage of the PHP programming language and the Windows operating system and its suitability for beginners.

However, this is the best option for you if you are a skilled coder because it gives you additional functionality. Similarly, it allows programmers to work in many languages. Using the XAMPP server, you can also create an original and exclusive website.

It also provides advanced programmers with additional functionality. But on the other hand, programmers can utilise XAMPP to create an exclusive and distinctive website. Therefore, we encourage you to choose a server based on your website development needs and your level of competence.