My friend sent me this link awhile ago on how to set up your local machine with apache and php, and if you use Macromedia Homesite (previously owned by Allaire) for developing, you can test/de-bug scripts on your local machine.
My friend has done this setup and said it worked pretty well. Might give it a try on a day I feel daring. 😉
1 | Lynda
When I first started messing with PHP about a year ago or so, I set Apache and it up on my computer. I just followed the directions on each site and it was terribly easy. The tutorial makes it look even easier though. 
2 | kristine
This seems like it would really make my life a lot easier, to be able to test locally instead of uploading every php page that I'm working on. I know E told me a while back that this was an option, but I didn't realize it was something that *I* could figure out how to set up :giggle: Thanks for the link!!
3 | Lynda
It also saves a load of bandwidth. If you're anything like me, I make one change, upload, look at it, then go back and make another change, etc. LOL
I had php/mysql installed on my computer a while ago but I got the "bright" idea to setup Microsoft IIS (is that what it's called?) and got the code red worm virus or whatever. So I just canned everything.
I want php/mysql back now though, especially since I'm donig more php stuff. 😀
4 | Tobias
Thanks for the link, interresting stuff. I just installed Apache+PHP+MySQL+Perl on my computer and am now messing around with it.
I have a question for all of you: Have any of you set up MovableType on your own PC and if so how did you do it? I'm thinking about it to work on new designs and such stuff but I have no idea what to put in for the local path in the config file for example.
5 | Jennifer
hehehe… that question I'm definitely going to defer – maybe someone else here knows. I *tried* to install it at work (to use for their website) and couldn't get ANYTHING to work. I am so clueless when it comes to server configuration stuff… Hoping to get a "play" server set up at home so I can learn.
6 | Lynda
If you have php installed as well you can setup a file with just phpinfo() in it and it will list your server path (among many other things) to be sure. But I believe the path in windows is like a windows machine and is the ACTUAL path –
C:\web_files\
You might want to check on the moveabletype forums as to how to install MT on Windows.
7 | Row
I have a similar program, called phpdev. The thing is, I have to change all the paths etc before uploading so I usually don't bother! Although I've never tried it starting from scratch, only with something I'm part way through working on.
8 | nf0
If you want to setup Apache, PHP, and mySQL locally on your Win32 based machine, and you don't want to worry about configuring it (although its a good learning experience) you can try PHP Triad. You'll be up and running in no time. Combine that with ActiveStates Perl and you can install your own local copy of Movable Type to play with. It really is that easy.
Also if your using UltraDev 4 you can use PHAkt to test your stuff locally as well. They are working on a version that work with UltraDevMX, which already suppports PHP, but not using ADODB like PHAkt.
9 | Trace
Another great one is Abriasoft Merlin. A lot of people have trouble getting PHPTriad to run on Win2000 and XP, but Merlin should solve that. Very easy to install – just point and click and it does it all for you.
scriptygoddess
