Apache, MySQL and PHP (AMP) for MAC = MAMP

Got an Adobe newsletter this week featuring MAMP which is an acronym that stands for Mac, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. Article here: http://www.adobe.com/newsletters/edge/december2009/articles/article2/index.html?trackingid=FBTRR#item3

Just spreading the word...

To note:

"Be aware that the current WAMP installer includes PHP 5.3.0. (to date)... Joomla and Drupal are not yet compatible with PHP 5.3.0. WordPress is compatible with PHP 5.3.0, but you need to make a small edit to the php.ini file to manually set the time zone for your location.

In Drupal, the following error occurs when you run the installation wizard:

Deprecated: Function ereg() is deprecated in C:\wamp\www\drupal\includes\file.inc on line 895

If you are using WAMP, you can address this error by downloading the latest 5.2.x version of PHP. Click the WAMP icon in the system tray and choose PHP > Version > Get More. The current MAMP installer ships with PHP 5.2.10, so this issue does not affect MAMP and Mac users."

AMP on!

Joomla 1.5 installation error: Cookies do not appear to be enabled on your browser client

If during a Joomla 1.5 installation, the following error is encountered:

"An error has occurred:

Cookies do not appear to be enabled on your browser client. You will not be able to install the application with this feature disabled. Alternatively, there could also be a problem with the server's session.save_path. If this is the case, please consult your hosting provider if you don't know how to check or fix this yourself"

don't be alarmed!

And before rushing in and trying complicated steps and changing settings for Apache, PHP, and MySQL (like a few forum threads actually suggest), try simply the following:

• clear the browser's cache (you may not even need to go to advanced internet tools options for this),
• restart your Apache, MySQL and PHP services (you may need to request your webhost for this in live server settings, or in local machine your XAMPP, WAMPServer, etc. restart commands),
• then go back to Joomla installation.
  

Then again, just documenting my experiences... disclaimer applies :D

WAMP (WampServer) or XAMPP ?

I've been using XAMPP ever since and have followed it's development from one release to the next. Have experienced first-hand the bugs, errors, and fixes of 'em all. And presently, the latest version seems to work fine for me.

Am trying out WAMPServer and hopefully will find anything more useful or more convenient than XAMPP or other one-packaged installers.

Browsing through forums, can't find anything concrete on the pros and cons of one over the other. User preferences seem to be thing here :D

Background check (WAMP vs XAMPP) forum links:

• http://www.webdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119408
• http://www.dynamicdrive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35923

Anyway, will post if anything comes up!

Keep AMP'ing everyone!