Running WordPress on ServBay (Goodbye Docker/XAMPP/MAMP)

For developers, having a reliable local development environment is crucial for testing and development. ServBay provides a simple yet powerful solution that allows you to quickly set up and run a WordPress site. This article will guide you through the process of using ServBay to create a WordPress development environment and explain why it may be superior to Docker, XAMPP, or MAMP.

Why Choose ServBay?

Comparison Table

From the comparison, it's clear that ServBay excels in installation simplicity, integrated development tools, user interface, and resource management, making it particularly suitable for developers who need to quickly deploy and manage WordPress. In contrast, while Docker offers greater flexibility, it requires more configuration and resource management. XAMPP and MAMP are more suited for users looking for straightforward installation and graphical interfaces.

Setting Up a WordPress Development Environment with ServBay

1. Download and Install ServBay

First, we need to install ServBay as our local development environment.

• Visit the official website and click the Download button at the top to download the installer.

• Once the download is complete, double-click the downloaded .dmg file.
• In the pop-up window, drag the ServBay.app icon into the Applications folder.

Then, find the ServBay icon in the Applications folder and double-click to open it. ServBay provides a simple and intuitive setup wizard to help you through the installation process.

Follow the prompts to select the installation package you need.

Once the installation is complete, launch ServBay and confirm that the services are running properly. You should see a successful setup screen.

2. Download WordPress

Download the latest version of WordPress from the official site:

cd /Applications/ServBay/www
curl https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz -o wordpress.tar.gz
mkdir servbay-wordpress-app
tar zxf wordpress.tar.gz --strip-components 1 -C servbay-wordpress-app

3. Create a Database

Use the phpMyAdmin tool provided by ServBay to create a WordPress database:

1. Access phpMyAdmin from the ServBay control panel.
2. Create a new database named servbay_wordpress_db.
3. Create a database user named wordpress_user.
4. Set appropriate database permissions.

4. Configure Your WordPress Site

Add a new site in the ServBay control panel:

1. Click on the "Hosts" tab.
2. Add a new website configuration:
   • Site Name: My WordPress Site
   • Domain: servbay-wordpress.local
   • Website Type: PHP
   • Root Directory: /Applications/ServBay/www/servbay-wordpress-app

5. Complete the WordPress Installation

Visit https://servbay-wordpress.local to start the WordPress installation process:

1. Select your language.
2. Enter your database connection details:
   • Database Name: servbay_wordpress_db
   • Username: wordpress_user
   • Password: the password you set
   • Database Host: localhost
3. Complete the basic site information setup.

Installing Plugins and Themes

Now you can start installing plugins and themes. All files will be stored in your local ServBay directory:

1. Log in to the WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to the "Plugins" or "Themes" section.
3. Install and activate the desired plugins/themes.

For example, if you install the Contact Form 7 plugin, you will find its files added to:

/Applications/ServBay/www/servbay-wordpress-app/wp-content/plugins/

Conclusion

Running WordPress on ServBay offers several advantages:

• Quick and simple installation process
• Integrated development tools
• Reliable local testing environment
• Convenient database management

Compared to traditional XAMPP/MAMP installation methods, ServBay provides a more integrated and seamless experience, especially for WordPress developers. Each time you need to develop a WordPress project locally, simply start ServBay, and your development environment will be ready to go. This greatly simplifies the development process, allowing you to focus on the actual coding work.