Download WordPress today, and get started on creating your website with one of the most powerful, popular, and customizable platforms in the world. Wordpress free download - WordPress Widget, BitNami WordPress Stack, Poedit, and many more programs. Publish and manage multiple blogs from your Mac. Free to try User rating. Publisher: Blogo.
WordPress is considered one of the most flexible content management systems (CMS) out there. It can host anything from a simple blog to a busy company website. In fact, in recent years WordPress’ backend has become easier to use. It’s a paradise for freelancers waiting to be nurtured
And if you’re hooked on starting a project on WordPress, self-hosting is the answer for you. Here’s why. Setting up a local installation of WordPress from Mac OS X sounds unnecessary but it has more benefits than you can begin to imagine.
Here are three things that you know can affect your client base and productivity hours: remote outages, unexpected travel, and unsatisfactory network coverage.
So for purposes of speedy internet service, reading a connection directly from your local disk is always quicker.
Localhost
Taking the time to set up your Localhost on your Mac is easier than most people think. If you don’t want to surprise your clientele with an unexpected site crash due to serious website development, go forward with a local installation of the web host.
You’re not only going to manage a stable working environment but you won’t lose your productivity flow because of testing impact or setbacks. Let’s get you started.
Download the Latest Version of WordPress
Download the latest version of WordPress as a zip file by visiting WordPress.org. Click the Download WordPress button. Then go to your user directory and create a new folder called “Sites”. Keep the .zip file at bay since you’ll need it later.
A Few Things About Configuring Apache The Apache HTTP Server and PHP language are already on your computer so you can just confirm they are installed by checking the current version for each of them in the command line.
You’ll need to make a few adjustments before running the Apache server. For all, you coders out there, feel free to use any text editor such as vim, nano, or code. Consider the idea of working on small things within the Apache configuration file like:
1. Enable vhost
2. Enable rewrites
3. Enable PHP
4. Change default location for projects
5. Enable .htaccess
Installing WordPress from Mac OS X
Before you download the latest version of WordPress you will need a local WordPress server. Without this, you won’t be able to test your theme codes, plugins or whatever you develop. But don’t worry. Today is much easier to set up a development environment because of all the options out there that can do the job for you.
Choosing a setup can be complicated because there a lot of options available. But for this article, we want to focus on MAMP.
If you don’t have too much knowledge about server administration MAMP is a good option for you. Everything is controlled from a single panel and you get access to additional software. These include Python and Pearl.
The application is designed to give you all the components necessary for running WordPress locally. MAMP is short for Macintosh, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. The application gives you access to a local Apache server and open source server.
MAMP’s four components:
1. Macintosh: operating system
2. Apache: open source web server
3. MySQL: relational database (WordPress sites use MySQL databases)
4. PHP: server-side scripting language
These components help you create a local web server on your computer. This makes everything easier for you. And this is what you need to know about MAMP:
- MAMP allows you to tests anything on your existing site from your computer. You can make big changes or build an entire site from scratch, locally. You won’t have to worry about any crashes on your live site again.
- Since MAMP doesn’t rely on an internet connection or communication with a web server you’ll be able to work on a faster environment. This perk also includes working offline.
- Your site won’t be hacked or go through a security breach
You can get a quick start with the MAMP standard free package, or upgrade to the premium version available in MAMP PRO. This option starts at $59 for Mac OS and includes a built-in-editor and a mobile testing tool.
However, for basic needs, the standard version can work perfectly fine.
In addition, you will have to install your WordPress on the server directly following the MAMP installation instructions. But more about that soon.
When you download the package double-click on the MAMP disk image, drag the folder to your Applications folder and proceed from there. Before moving on to the WordPress installation make sure you link MAMP with your Mac.
Start by clicking on Preferences, select Ports and then select Set Apache & MySQL ports to 80 and 3306.
Now it’s time to set your Document Root. This is a folder where the website files for a domain name are stored. Let’s say your domain name is “coffee 101”. By default, this will be located in the MAMP Application directory, but you can move it to wherever is most convenient for you.
Creating a Database
In order for WordPress to work locally on your computer, you need to create a database for your install to live on. Secondly, you have to create a user for that database with the appropriate privileges.
MAMP comes with phpMyAdmin, a convenient tool for managing MYSQL databases. These databases are used to store data on most websites and web application. Every time you want to create a new WordPress site locally you have to create a new database.
So you can start it up by opening up the Tools menu on the MAMP home page and launching phpMyAdmin. Then you can click on the Databases tab, enter the name of your database in the Create Database field and click Create.
Then navigate to the Users tab, add a user and enter a name and secure a password. Switch the host to local, return to the Users tab, select Edit privileges and then click Check All and save.
Unzip the WordPress Install
Now you’re ready to locate the WordPress installation .zip file you downloaded earlier. After you double click the .zip file, you’ll get a WordPress folder. Rename it, grab the folder and store in your Sites folder.
Then go to your web browser and type in the URL pointing to your site folder. It can look something like this: localhost:8888/coffee101. This is because of the hypothetical folder name we used for your root folder which is “coffee101”.
After a few clicks, a screen will pop up and ask you for your database information. In this window, you will type in all the information found on the database you created earlier in phpMyAdmin. After you give WordPress the database’s name and enter “root” for the database username and password click Submit.
Things to Consider
Well, you’ve made it to the end. Now you can start developing a WordPress site on your computer! But remember that you have to log back if you turn off the machine. Logging in is pretty simple, just follow these steps:
1. Turn on your MAMP server by opening the application.
2. Visit the UR, with the folder name we created (which was “local:host:8888/coffee101”)
3. Add “/wp-admin” after the folder name. It should look something like this – http://localhost:8888/site-directory/wp-admin
If you’re ready to create another local WordPress site, follow the same steps explained above except the MAMP installation process. Plus, you will need to do a few other things:
- Unpack a WordPress zip file.
- Rename the folder so it correlates with your new site and store it in the “Sites” folder.
- Set up a new MySQL database for the site in phpMyAdmin.
- Go through WordPress’ five-minute install
Amp Your Optimization Flow
After you’ve covered basic local development in WordPress why not try taking it to the next level? After familiarizing yourself with your local environment, you’ll likely want your set up to reach a level of complexity and sophistication.
Here are a few topics you may want to consider exploring:
1. Desktop Server is a tool for automating and managing steps like the ones you just followed. Just think multiple local installs. It can also be used to sync local sites with live environments.
2. Varying Vagrant Vagrants (VVV) is an open source configuration focused on WordPress development. It’s ideal for developing themes and plugins. For a greater intro to the concept visit WebDevStudios.
3. Explore Development Workflow outside of the local environment. Learn more about it by reading this article about WordPress multi-environment configurations.
Ready to Edit Outside the Browser?
Once you’ve set up WordPress from Mac OS X consider installing more desktop tools that support WordPress’ platform. All these desktop blogging tools work without Internet and that is a recipe for increased productivity. So let’s talk about a few them.
1. MarsEdit:It’s considered a long time Mac software. It allows for rich texting editing and it’s perfect for professional blogger and writers who want to avoid clunky web-based interfaces.
Wordpress For Macbook
Other perks:
- The application includes autosaves
- Word count and reading time
- It lets you add imagines from your desktop through a simple drag and drop
- You can add tags, categories, and a featured image.
A MarsEdit download from the App store starts out free.
2. Snag It: The imagine editing tool was created as a Mac image editing application. It lets you edit and resize screenshot images before adding them to your blog post.
So if you’re regularly sharing visuals on your website or social media channels the app makes it simple for you. Another image tool you can take advantage of is ImageOptim.
It’s a free lightweight image compression tool for Mac. Simply drag and drop the image on the ImageOptim work window and it will do the compression automatically.
3. Integrity: Want to make sure your links are running smoothly? Integrity is like an SEO toolkit for your Mac. It scans all the links of your blog and identifies the broken ones.
Although WordPress already has a broken link checker, if your website is huge the broken link checker may end up freezing your hosting. It’s a free app and you can download it for free from the Mac App Store.
4. Flycut: If you want to improve your workflow why not try a digital clipboard manager? Flycut, for example, works as an open source clipboard manager. Use it to manage everything from snippets of code, basic text, or URLs.
When you open the app, you’ll see Flycut’s icon displayed in the Menu Bar. When you start to copy and paste snippets you can access them by clicking on the icon, then right-clicking the snippet you want to work with. For a shorter process press shift+cmd+v, and use the left/right arrows to navigate your clipboard library.
Here’s a quick list of other Mac apps for everyday blogging:
- Adobe Photoshop LightRoom
- Evernote
- Gramblr
- Versions
- MPEG Streamclip
Final Words
Managing WordPress from Mac OS X locally is very useful. Whether you’re a beginner or a longtime site owner, the optimization options for your WordPress project will elevate your brand or product to a whole new level.
Whether you choose MAMP or any other local WordPress development tool, remember they aren’t made equal. That’s why it pays to do some research into all the options out there, and benefits each one has for you. Read this article about Mac-based environments and web hosting to familiarize yourself more with approaches you can take on it.
Have you set up your testing environment? What are your thoughts on local WordPress development? Let us know in the comments below.
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×Coding in a “live” environment can be a perilous — if not ill-advised — endeavor, and working remotely on a WordPress installation is no different. Any misstep in a live environment could result in an alteration that damages your site and lands you in a terrible mess.
However, there’s no need to live on the edge. It’s possible to install WordPress locally on your Mac machine, thus providing you with a safe working environment. This method will shield you from the effects of coding mishaps and supply a host of benefits, such as the avoidance of downtime.
In this article, we’ll elaborate on the benefits of installing WordPress locally on your Mac and then lead you through the process of starting servers, creating a database, and installing the platform itself. Let’s get cracking!
What Are the Benefits of Installing WordPress Locally on Your Mac Computer?
Before we cover how to install WordPress locally on your Mac computer, it’s important that we go into detail concerning why it is a preferable solution to working on your live site. Using a local WordPress environment can provide you with a wide set of benefits, including:
- Fewer problems to deal with. If you already have an existing WordPress site, you probably understand how live development can lead to unintended errors, such as problems establishing database connections or syntax issues. Working in a local environment removes that risk from the equation. If you do break something, no one needs to know.
- A secure working environment. Since you’ll be working in an offline environment, you won’t be subject to any external attacks.
- Greater productivity. You’ll be working from a local drive, so connectivity issues won’t affect your performance. Furthermore, your site will load very quickly in comparison with a regular web host. Those two benefits combined will undoubtedly lead to higher productivity.
- The ability to work from anywhere. A local WordPress install can be accessed even when offline. That means you can work in environments you otherwise couldn’t, such as airplanes without Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Work is kept private. When you install WordPress locally, search engines can’t index your site. That means no one will see your work until you’re ready for its grand debut. No more prying eyes on your unfinished projects!
- You’ll have a bonus backup. A local installation can double as a partial backup of your live WordPress website, should you have one.
If any of the above sound like the type of features that could simplify your workflow, then you should definitely learn how to install WordPress locally on your Mac computer. With that in mind, let’s see how the process works.
What is MAMP?
Macintosh, Apache, MySQL, PHP (MAMP) is an application that enables you to install WordPress on your Mac. As its moniker indicates, the program creates a local MySQL database and a PHP server on your Mac – both of which are essential for installing WordPress locally. It’s perfect for our needs because it removes the need for manual MySQL and PHP installations, which can get complicated.
While MAMP arguably remains the most popular local WordPress installation tool for Mac, it’s not the only name in the field. Local by Flywheel, for example, is a tool expressly designed to manage multiple local WordPress installations on Macs. It offers one-click WordPress installations, SSL support, SSH/WP-CLI access, demo URLs, and more, as part of the hosting provider’s free tier. There’s also the Bitnami WordPress Stack, which enables one-click local, virtual and cloud-based WordPress installations. It’s an out-of-the-box solution offering ongoing support, and it’s available at no charge.
That said, MAMP is our tool of choice, and the one we will be using for the remainder of this tutorial. So without further ado, let’s get to it!
How Do I Use MAMP to Create a Local WordPress Installation?
In this section, we’ll guide you through the entire process of installing MAMP and setting up a local WordPress installation on Mac. Let’s start right at the beginning by downloading the tool.
Step #1: Download and Install MAMP
Before we get started, if you feel comfortable installing the tool on your own, feel free to skip right to step number two. Otherwise, let’s proceed:
- Download MAMP. Ensure you’re operating a 64-bit Intel processor Mac with Mac OS X 10.10 or above, and then download MAMP from the official site.
- Drag the MAMP disk image. If your download goes smoothly, a MAMP window will appear once it’s complete. Drag the MAMP folder from the window to your Applications folder. Note that the latest version of MAMP comes with a 14-day free trial of MAMP PRO. We’re going to stick with the free version for this tutorial, so feel free to ignore that option for now.
If you run into any issues while installing MAMP – and are sure that you meet the requirements – check out the tool’s official documentation, which should contain solutions for your specific issue.
Step #2: Launch (And Configure) MAMP
Now that you’ve installed the tool, you’ll find a new MAMP.app file located in your Applications folder. Go ahead and launch it. Click on Preferences > Ports and you’ll arrive at the following window:
MAMP default port settings
You’ll notice that MAMP’s Apache and MySQL ports are set at 8888 and 8889, respectively. Using these default settings will not require the input of your administrator password. If, however, you don’t wish for the port number to appear in your URL (i.e. localhost:8888), you can change the Apache Port setting to 80.
With that out of the way, go to the Web Server Settings and choose a root directory for your server – that is to say, the location where all of its files will be stored once it’s up and running. Finally, save your settings by clicking OK move on to step number three.
Wordpress For Macbook Pro
Step #3: Start a Server and Create a Database
With MAMP configured, it’s time to launch our local server. To do so click on the Start Servers button located in the tool’s main screen.
Once your server is up and running, the MAMP start page will open on your browser automatically. If not, you can open it manually by clicking on the Open Start Page option (also on the main screen).
Our PHP server is up now, so all that’s left is to create a MySQL database and add a user by following these four steps:
- Choose the phpMyAdmin option on the MAMP browser start page.
- Click on Create New Database, input the database name of your choosing, then select Create. Note that you may ignore the collation option on this screen.
- Jump over to the Users tab and select Add User, input the username and password of your preference, and click on Local to set the host correctly. Make sure you don’t forget those – you’re going to need them!
- You should now see the user you set up in the previous step. Click on Edit Privileges, choose Check All, and then hit Save.
At this point, you should have a working PHP server and a MySQL database with one user (you) that possesses full privileges. The only thing left on our list is to set up WordPress so that we can begin to tinker with it.
Step #4: Install WordPress Locally
First things first – let’s download WordPress. Once the download is complete, open the file and extract the WordPress folder in the same location you designated as the root directory for your MAMP install.
Now, let’s kick off WordPress’ famous 5-minute installation by navigating to your local site, which should be located at either localhost:port/wordpress or localhost:port. Here are the values you should input in the form that will come up once inside:
- Database Name: yourdatabasename
- User Name (database): root
- Password (database): root
- Database Host/server: localhost
- Table Prefix: wp_
Note that the database name above is simply a placeholder – you will need to input the database name you chose while configuring PHP during step number four. Also, make sure that your user name and password match those you established in step number three. Finally, type in the name of your blog and your email address, once the setup requests them.
There you have it — you’re ready to enjoy your local WordPress installation on your Mac computer!
Latest Wordpress Version
Conclusion
Choosing to work in a live WordPress environment always carries risk. However, those willing to perform the (relatively) quick work necessary to install WordPress locally on their Mac machine will reap great benefits. A local WordPress environment enables you to mitigate risk, reduce downtimes, and can even boost your overall productivity.
If that sounds like a good deal, here are the four steps you need to follow to install WordPress locally on a Mac computer:
- Download and install MAMP.
- Launch and configure MAMP.
- Start a server and create a database for your WordPress site.
- Install WordPress locally.
Do you have any questions about how to install WordPress locally on Mac? Ask away in the comments section below!
Image credits: MAMP