Windows Apache MySQL PHP (WAMP) Bundles
Let’s assume that you want to begin learning PHP, or SQL, or how to run a web server. The problem is, you are running Windows XP Home Edition. Windows XP Home Edition will not run Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) or Personal Web Services (see this knowledge base article).
All is not lost. There are a number of kind-hearted hackers who have prepared WAMP distributions for those of us using Windows XP Home, or those who don’t care to learn IIS. Two distributions that are under current development are:
- WAMP5, and
- Apache2triad
Both provide Apache, MySQL, and PHP. WAMP5 provides PHP version 5, but has an add-on that provides PHP 4.3.10. This is important, because some well-known and useful PHP applications have issues with PHP 5.
