XAMPP is a web server package that stands for:
X - Any Operating System
A - Apache
M - MySQL
P - PHP
P - PERL

It is useful in that you don't need to make a design, upload, test, make a design, etc.
Instead, you can make a design and test it straight away!
Keep in mind that this is NOT recommended for a real web server, it is just for local development.

This guide relates to the WINDOWS edition.

Requirements
XAMPP - duh
Disk Space - For web files, and XAMPP

Install
Simply run the XAMPP installer, and its all set up!
The default installation folder is C:\xampp\

Configuration
Now run the XAMPP Control Panel, it should look like this:

[img]http://images.apachefriends.org/images/1161.jpg[/img]

I'm not going to cover using MySQL, FileZilla and Mercury, chances are you won't need FileZilla or Mercury, and mySQL you can learn on your own anyways. At least for now.

Ok, so click "Start" for the Apache Module.
Apache SHOULD NOW BE RUNNING!
In your web browser, go to http://127.0.0.1 or http://localhost

If it is working, you will see the default XAMPP page.
If you do not see it, you did something wrong, go back to the beginning.

Congratulations, you now have a webserver!
But how can you make pages?

Web Pages
Open Notepad or a similar pure text editor.
Make a new file, and in it, put:

<html> <body> <?php echo "Hello World"; ?> </html> </body>


Save this as

test.php

in the C:\xampp\htdocs\ directory (by default).

Now, go to http://127.0.0.1/test.php.

You should see the text "Hello World".

If not, once again, go back.

NOW, you have a webserver that you know how to use! Yay!

Helpful Stuff
Default Passwords
MySQL
user: root
password: empty (leave it blank)
Security Issues
Xampp does come with security issues, but it has methods to help you fix them!
Go to http://localhost/security/ in your browser to do so.

End
Thats all for now