Having recently switched to from a Windows web development environment to OSX I had to get around to setting up my usual Apache, MySQL and PHP configuration. Now normally I just download the latest versions of each and install them all separately, and it’s a quick and painless process. I know there are one stop shops that fire up the whole lot in one install but to be honest, I like to know how things work. I like to know that I can do this stuff myself without having to get someone to do it for me.

Anyway, a colleague recommended I should try MAMP when I was looking at getting my web development environment up and running. And as much as I like to know how things work, I didn’t really have the time to fart about with separate installs of Apache, MySQL and PHP so I gave it a go and I have to say it just works. It saved me plenty time and it does what it says on the tin.

You can easily start up / shut down / restart your servers. Apache comes pre configured with all the commonly used modules enabled, PHP the same.

So, until another day when I can spare the time to set up the individual servers and tackle any minor obstacles that lie therein, I’ll be using MAMP.

I recommend this one. For a quick and easy Apache, MySQL and PHP setup on Apple OSX, try MAMP.