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Sospeter Mong'are
Sospeter Mong'are

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Running WordPress locally on your computer

Running WordPress locally on your computer is a great way to develop and test your site before making it live. Here's a step-by-step guide:


Requirements

  1. Web Server Software: Apache or Nginx.
  2. Database: MySQL or MariaDB.
  3. PHP: A version compatible with WordPress (PHP 7.4 or newer is recommended).
  4. Local Server Tools:
    • Install one of the following to simplify setup:
      • XAMPP (Windows, macOS, Linux)
      • Local by Flywheel (Windows, macOS)
      • WAMP (Windows only)
      • MAMP (macOS and Windows)

Step 1: Download and Install a Local Server

Using XAMPP (example)

  1. Download XAMPP from https://www.apachefriends.org/.
  2. Install XAMPP and ensure Apache, MySQL, and PHP are included.
  3. Launch the XAMPP Control Panel and start:
    • Apache: The web server.
    • MySQL: The database server.

Step 2: Download WordPress

  1. Visit https://wordpress.org/download/.
  2. Download the latest WordPress .zip file and extract it.
  3. Place the extracted folder into the htdocs directory of XAMPP:
    • For Windows: C:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress.
    • For macOS: /Applications/XAMPP/htdocs/wordpress.

Step 3: Set Up the Database

  1. Open your web browser and go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin.
  2. Click Databases at the top.
  3. Enter a name for your database (e.g., wordpress) and click Create.
    • No need to add tables; WordPress will handle this during installation.

Step 4: Configure WordPress

  1. Open your browser and visit http://localhost/wordpress.
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions:
    • Select your language and click Continue.
    • Enter the database details:
      • Database Name: The name you created in phpMyAdmin (e.g., wordpress).
      • Username: root (default for XAMPP).
      • Password: Leave blank (default for XAMPP).
      • Database Host: localhost.
      • Table Prefix: wp_ (default; can be changed for security).
    • Click Submit, then Run the Installation.
  3. Fill in site details:
    • Site Title
    • Admin Username and Password
    • Admin Email
  4. Click Install WordPress.

Step 5: Access WordPress Locally

  1. Go to http://localhost/wordpress to view your site.
  2. To access the admin dashboard, go to http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin and log in with the credentials you created.

Tips for Development

  • Enable Debugging: In the wp-config.php file, set:
  define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );
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  • Custom Themes or Plugins: Place them in the wp-content/themes or wp-content/plugins folder, respectively.
  • Backup Regularly: Use tools like Duplicator or manually back up the database and wp-content folder.

You're now set up to run WordPress locally! Let me know if you need assistance with any of these steps.

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