Desktop Server the Mamp/Xampp alternative.
I downloaded and tested Desktop Server to create a local WordPress development site.
I create my sites locally with Desktop Server or MAMP before uploading them to a live domain using Duplicator.
Desktop Server is a worthly replacement for Mamp/Xampp. It works for both PC and the Mac system.
Here is a video tutorial showing how it works:
Here is also a walk through at serverpress.com – how to use Desktop Server. (I added my affiliate link number.)
Here is a free version and a Premium version that offers additional features.
I used MAMP earlier but I have switched over to Desktop Server and am very happy with that.
I have been looking for an article on this topic. I understand the process you have outlined but what if you make additional changes to the local site after you have deployed it to the live server? To get the updated version live do you have to start from scratch and re-install WP on the live server?
Thanks
Hey Michael
This is what I do when adding changes to my offline/local development sites and then implementing the changes to my live online sites:
For minor changes (you will need to define what this is). I will just recreate them in my online site, or upload the child theme if I had changed it etc.
For major changes. I will use Duplicator (link at the top to my post) to pack up my site and upload it so that it overwrites my existing online site. Doing so at a time of day I usually do not have many visitors. I did so for this site when I made major changes, and it works fine.
Hello,
I found you on Youtube and just wanted to visit your website and say Thank you for such a great Desktop Server and Duplicator tutorials. These combo of software & plugin really really really made my life easier, but without your easy to follow tutorials it would make no sense to me. I’m a subscriber forever!!!!
I need your advice…. so i have a wp website i just completed and while its live i back it up using duplicator. Then i take .zip package which i just downloaded and place it into my blueprint folder in desktop server. Then i fire up desktop server, choose that .zip folder and start making changes or better yet i use this backup to create a brand new website, so i swap images, change colors, logos, etc. …… so my question is……After i finish making changes while working locally i want to upload this whole new website to a brand new server. Do i need to use duplicator again to create install.php file and .zip package in order to take it and install it in new server or is there another way to do this? Thanks in advance
Hey Pete!
You got it right.
Duplicator is used to backup and then move the full backup (zip and installer file) to another location. Be it online or offline.
One installs the first site off/online. Backs it up with Duplicator. Uses the zip and installer Duplicator files to install it in another location. Modifies it and backs it up again. Moves the zip and installer file to another location and installs a new site with it. Etc. I have a template site that I have backed up with Duplicator that I can use as a good start base for any new project.
Desktop server is like MAMP/XAMPP one fires it up to start up Apache and MySQL to create a local server that then uses Apache to read php files and MySQL that reads a database (if I got it figured out right:) I can then use my duplicator backed up zip file to install a new site. It works nicely. But with the free version it is restricted to 3 local sites.
You can also check out my MAMP video tutorial as a comparison with Desktop Server:
https://easywebdesigntutorials.com/wordpress/install-of-mamp-3-and-wordpress/
The link yields 404 page not found
ref: You can also check out my MAMP video tutorial as a comparison with Desktop Server:
Hey Lance
Thank you very much for alerting me about the broken links.
The links have been adjusted. Let me know if any other broken links show up.
Happy New Year!