Filed under: Software, How-tos, Open Source
Getting started with WordPress and MAMP on your Mac
WordPress is among the more popular blog publishing and content management systems available. Some web hosting providers, such as GoDaddy and DreamHost, provide a relatively seamless and integrated WordPress installation process built into their dashboards. However, if you'd like to dip your toes into the WordPress waters and learn what lurks beneath it, but aren't yet ready to make a web hosting commitment (or switch, if your host currently doesn't support it) you can get you feet wet using MAMP.
Like LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP), MAMP contains the principle components of an all-purpose web server -- except, as implied in its namesake, it is built on Mac OS X instead of Linux.
To get started, download and install MAMP (link). At 163 MB, it's rather hefty, so pop in one of those 30 cent Tina's Burritos in the microwave or boil some water for Top Ramen while you're waiting.
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After MAMP finishes downloading and mounts, drag the MAMP folder into your "Applications" directory.
a) Now, launch MAMP. Launching MAMP will result in the "Welcome to MAMP" start page opening in your browser.
b) The only thing we'll need to do is to create a database. But before we do this, we'll need to make sure that MAMP is properly up and running. And we can do this by looking at the status indicator lights for "Apache Server" and "MySQL Server" on the main MAMP window -- if they're green, we're good to go.
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Now, let's create our database.
a) To create the database, click on the "phpMyAdmin" tab on the MAMP start page menu.
b) Let's see. I want to create a site dedicated to my favorite TV show of all time, Arrested Development. So, let's name my database "arresteddevelopment."
c) You can leave all the other fields and options alone.
d) Now, click on "Create," and our database is now ready.
We're now done with configuring things on the MAMP side. On to the WordPress installation.
- Download the latest version of WordPress -- in our case, version 2.8.4.
a) Because the WordPress package will likely come in a zip file, and because OS X will likely unzip said file, the resulting package will be unzipped in a folder named "wordpress" (how appropriate).
- Now, let's move the the "wordpress" folder into the "htdocs" folder within the MAMP folder -- /Applications/MAMP/htdocs
- Now, enter the following address into your browser: http://localhost:8888/wordpress
a) Oops, it's telling us that we need a "wp-config.php" file. No need to worry. Just click on "Create a Configuration File."
b) After clicking on the "Let's go" button on the next page, we're presented with a set of options. As Steve Urkel used to say, "don't fret my pet." Just enter the following values for the database, user name, and password:
Database Name: arresteddevelopment (or whichever name you chose for your database)
User Name: root
Password: root
Now we're all set. We just need to fill out our blog title and email address, and we're done.
Though there are certainly are other ways of installing and configuring a WordPress-enabled web server on the Mac, I find the MAMP process the easiest to get up and running. And learning them is half the battle. Go Joe!
The other half is getting good and compelling content out there.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ben said 3:20PM on 10-09-2009
I would recommend not using MAMP. It is extreemly outdated. Instead I would suggest using the default apache install with OS X and manually install MySQL or use XAMPP http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-macosx.html as it is much more up to date
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CaptSaltyJack said 4:03PM on 10-09-2009
I noticed your post is highly ranked, so there must be some truth to what you're saying. How is MAMP out of date, though? Even the latest version?
Dave said 4:58PM on 10-09-2009
That's a good question. I'm assuming the bundled versions of components such as PHP are simply not the most recent. Plus look at the time between builds: MAMP 1.8.2 was released recently but before that it had been around a year since it was latest updated.
I manage a lot of WordPress sites and use MAMP for offline development. I haven't had any problems or difficulties with it. XAMPP basically runs the same way (everything is bundled into a single folder one drops into /Applications). Maybe I'll try installing XAMPP during a future round of software updates.
Tom said 3:40PM on 10-09-2009
MAMP perhaps is quite easy to install. But when you need to change a little configuration thing on it, you will sadly notice that this is impossible until you buy the Pro version.
Starting with XAMPP instead, you have the full flexibility of an Apache server with configuration possibilities and much more - for free. If you want to try XAMPP and run into problems installing it you might find help on Google or read this short how-to:
http://sili.ch/en/article/5/install_update_xampp_mac_virtualhosts/
When XAMPP is up and running, installing WordPress is exactly the same.
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Wazzä said 7:18PM on 10-09-2009
MAMP (Mac OS X, Apache, MySQL, PHP) bundles in Apache2 into it's bundle - You'll find that you can edit all the configuration files for PHP4, PHP5 and Apache within the free version of MAMP by looking in the MAMP folder, in the conf directory.
This includes the ability to add in Virtual hosts for when performing development tasks.
The Pro edition of MAMP gives you a graphical environment to perform all this in (including editing the hosts file for you, perfect for local development)
Of course, the only thing the Pro version does for you that the free version doesn't is providing more control through the graphical environment.
In terms of comparing the Free MAMP version with XAMPP, I cannot see any major differences - excepting of course the versions of the software bundled.
Andrew Gormley said 4:41PM on 10-09-2009
I developed two screencasts on this exact topic and posted them each on Vimeo. Check them out for a more step-by-step process:
http://vimeo.com/3250038
and
http://vimeo.com/3262144
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SireB said 4:56PM on 10-09-2009
Weak. Be a man and install the MySQL tarball.
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Twist said 5:42PM on 10-09-2009
I had some issues with MAMP and found it was easier to just install MySQL and use the included Apache and PHP installs in Mac OS X.
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udougit said 8:02PM on 10-09-2009
I use MAMP with no problems for working on my own blog.
(only problems are how slow the server is on my budget host!)
which is another reason I use MAMP…no uploading of files to the host server to proof a dynamically-driven php site…like a WordPress blog.
http://dougitdesign.com/blog/
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Pete said 8:13PM on 10-09-2009
Not a fan of MAMP at all, but Arrested Development is awesome!
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darren said 10:52PM on 10-09-2009
Why would you use a third party PHP/MySQL build its built into OS X by default.
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Wazzä said 12:04AM on 10-10-2009
Is MySQL actually built into OS X? I haven't seen it in my install by default?
Essentially you would use a third party tool like MAMP or XAMPP because you can drag and drop an application into the Applications folder, double click and Icon and you have a webserver with PHP support, a database (MySQL) - essentially configured and ready to go without having to compile anything.
frogbat said 1:58AM on 10-10-2009
mysql isn't built into the client version of osx it is however on the erver. If you are running on a network and doing local development, I find the best product is actually os x server. But it might be over kill for a one man dev. Also, php is not enabled by default in osx. So for less experienced users, setting up a dev environment on a standard mac can be a bit of a challenge.
I've tried mamp after having problems with the mysql install in leopard. I even went so far as to upgrade to mamp pro. The difference between the pro and the standard is that the pro lets you add multiple virtual hosts through the gui. However I've since solved my mysql issues and favour using the standard os system. Also, apple tends to bundle older versions of apache and php as they obviously prefer more stable releases.
A useful tool if you develop multiple sites without mamp is virtualhostx. Allows you to edit the virtual hosts via an easy to use gui. I use headdress on tiger but it seems to have ceased development or availability. However with snow leopard (and prolly leopard too) the web server used is apache 2 so the vhosts are located in a separate file making it easier to set up manually. I still prefer an easy to use gui as on my dev box i have about 75 sites set up...
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JT said 5:07AM on 10-10-2009
Noob question sorry, but when did godaddy started supporting wordpress and where can I find the option? Thanks
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Milan said 6:46AM on 10-10-2009
I don't use MAMP (too old) or XAMPP (too bloated), but if you're a developer interested in a clean installation of a LAMP stack on your Mac then you should checkout MacPorts. I've actually written a blog on how to do it yourself (harmless self promotion):
http://blog.magudia.com/2009/08/22/installing-php53-apache2-mysql5-using-macports/
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DentalMac said 11:49AM on 10-10-2009
Try http://bitnami.org/. Is available with WordPress preinstalled. Installation is very simple.
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usingpond said 4:30PM on 10-10-2009
Funny, I did this exact thing the other week! It's worked out great. For simple sites that don't really need specific things from a robust server admin client, MAMP rules.
One gripe though for me is that you only get one site, so you can only really be working with one at a time.
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Nick Soper said 6:28PM on 10-14-2009
Cool trick for you....
Open up MAMP, go to preferences, click on PORTS, and change your APACHE port to 80. Now everyone on your local network (eg. Connect to the same wifi network) can access your dev environment (your local wordpress site) by putting your IP address (the one with MAMP running) in their browser.
IP address's are hard to remember, to why not go to System Preferences, click on Sharing, then just under and next to your computer name there is an Edit Button. Click that and you can change the local access name of your mac.
Change this to whatever you like, eg "nick" and anyone on your local network can then access your dev environment (your local wordpress site) through a much friendlier URL like http://nick.local/
Pretty cool huh? Bring on the security risks! Go on, live life dangerously!
I spose there might be something better than MAMP. I read about another bit of software that allows to you run a localhost environment in any folder, but MAMP is very easy to set up and very quick and useful for this local wordpress install.
Perhaps add a note about turning errors on in the php.ini, so if you upload you don't get any surprises :-)
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