ELI5 Localhost installation

Hello, first time trying something like this, made my path to here from tutorials but after long hours of research there is no way that I can solve this by myself.

I am installing WordPress locally through MAMP, I've downloaded the WP zip file and inserted into the root directory (htdocs), but when I am trying to go to localhost:8889 (which is my port) this start downloading some kind of file instead of redirect me to wp-admin/setup.

Here is where all the research have blown my mind with too many .php and programming knowledge that I don't have. I don't even know if I have to install PHP on my computer or this come by default.

The thing is if there is someone willing to explain like Im 5 to help me to sort this out would be great.

artu123 said:

I am installing WordPress locally through MAMP, I've downloaded the WP zip file and inserted into the root directory (htdocs), but when I am trying to go to localhost:8889 (which is my port) this start downloading some kind of file instead of redirect me to wp-admin/setup.

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Hi artu123, I'm more than happy to help you, but perhaps a little more info would be helpful. What sort of file starts downloading?

Did you unzip the WP package before you stuck it in /htdocs?

PHP comes default on MAMP

so if you can't open the setup .php file, enable logging and see if there are any errors


1. Navigate to /Applications/MAMP/bin/php/php{your-version}/conf and open php.ini. If you are unsure which PHP version you are using, then open the preferences within MAMP and check the PHP tab.
2. Search for display_errors and change the value from Off to On. Just above this, you can also configure which errors you want to be displayed by configuring error_reporting, but it is recommended leaving this to E_ALL for development environments.
3. Restart your Apache web server by stopping and starting your servers in MAMP.

artu123 said:

MAMP

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Found your problem.

You're using a Mac.

AneaKr said:

Hi artu123, I'm more than happy to help you, but perhaps a little more info would be helpful. What sort of file starts downloading?

Did you unzip the WP package before you stuck it in /htdocs?

Click to expand...

Captain America said:

PHP comes default on MAMP

so if you can't open the setup .php file, enable logging and see if there are any errors


1. Navigate to /Applications/MAMP/bin/php/php{your-version}/conf and open php.ini. If you are unsure which PHP version you are using, then open the preferences within MAMP and check the PHP tab.
2. Search for display_errors and change the value from Off to On. Just above this, you can also configure which errors you want to be displayed by configuring error_reporting, but it is recommended leaving this to E_ALL for development environments.
3. Restart your Apache web server by stopping and starting your servers in MAMP.

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Thank you guys for trying to help but I sorted it out several days ago.

Conor said:

Found your problem.

You're using a Mac.

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No, they released the win version some time ago.

artu123 said:

No, they released the win version some time ago.

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MAMP is for Mac though. WAMP is for Windows.

I am not an expert but I am using MAMP on my Windows.

Conor said:

MAMP is for Mac though. WAMP is for Windows.

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MAMP is available for both Mac OS X and Windows.

AneaKr said:

MAMP is available for both Mac OS X and Windows.

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You're right. This is new info to me. Originally, the M, W and L stood for the operating system it was supported on. So, you had MAMP (Mac), WAMP (Windows) and LAMP (Linux). And then there was Xampp, which was cross platform. The fact that they made MAMP available on Windows is just confusing to me.

When I used windows for Dev, I used XAMPP. It never seemed to work quite right due to file permissions and directory naming and MIME issues

I recommend you go for a vagrant install. It's all self contained in a VM and is basically a Linux web server in Windows.