XAMPP vs Wamp vs Laragon: Which is the Best Option for Local PHP Development?

Compare and discover the best option for local PHP development: XAMPP, Wamp, or Laragon. Learn how to install them easily and choose the one that best suits your needs. Enter now and improve your PHP development experience.

Comparison of XAMPP, Wamp, and Laragon: Which is the best option for developing PHP applications locally?

If you're a PHP developer, you've likely heard of XAMPP, Wamp, and Laragon - three popular solutions for developing web applications locally. In this article we'll compare these three options and help you decide which one is best for you.

XAMPP

XAMPP is a cross-platform web server solution that includes Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Perl. It's easy to install and configure, and is a popular choice for PHP developers looking for an all-in-one solution for local web application development. XAMPP also includes phpMyAdmin, a MySQL database management tool.

  • Cross-platform: If you need a local development environment that works on different operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux, or Solaris, XAMPP is a good choice.
  • General use: If you are developing web applications in general and don't have a specific preference for Laravel, XAMPP provides a comprehensive set of tools that includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP.

Wamp

Wamp is a web development platform for Windows that includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP. It also includes phpMyAdmin and is easy to install and configure. Wamp is a popular choice for PHP developers working on Windows and looking for an all-in-one solution for local web application development.

  • Windows platform: If you are exclusively working in a Windows environment, WAMP can be a suitable choice. It is optimized for Windows and provides an easy-to-use setup for web developers on this platform.
  • Focus on PHP and MySQL: If you are developing web applications using PHP and MySQL, WAMP offers a ready-to-use configuration of these components.

Laragon

Laragon is a web server solution for Windows that includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP. It also includes additional tools such as Git, Node.js, and Composer. Laragon is easy to install and configure, and is a good choice for PHP developers looking for an all-in-one and more advanced solution for local web application development.

  • Laravel development: If you are using the Laravel framework for web application development, Laragon is specifically designed to work with Laravel. It provides a quick and easy setup for Laravel application development in Windows environments.
  • Integration with Node.js: If you need to use Node.js alongside PHP for your web development, Laragon includes Node.js and allows you to work with both languages in the same environment.

Ultimately, the choice between XAMPP, WAMP, and Laragon will depend on your personal preferences, the operating system you are using, and the specific requirements of your web development project. Consider the factors mentioned above and choose the environment that best suits your needs.

Performance in Data Creation and AJAX Queries

To evaluate the performance of the three platforms in terms of data creation and AJAX queries, we conducted specific tests. We used a function in a PHP controller that creates a test database with 2000 records and measures the execution time. Subsequently, we performed 200 consecutive AJAX queries to assess the total execution time.

Platform Creation of 2000 records AJAX - 200 queries
XAMPP (Without restarting) 8.65s (average) 8.73s (average)
XAMPP (Restarting the computer before the test) 3.59s (average) 7.71s (average)
Laragon (Without restarting) 9.14s (average) 9.24s (average)
Laragon (Restarting the computer before the test) 3.77s (average) 8.53s (average)
  • In terms of data creation, XAMPP shows a significant improvement in execution times after restarting the computer. Laragon also improves, but to a lesser extent.
  • In the AJAX tests, XAMPP and Laragon have similar execution times, with XAMPP showing an improvement after restarting, but Laragon remaining relatively constant.
  • It is worth noting that execution times may vary depending on the specific configuration of each environment and the available resources.
  • We used the same program in both environments: an MVC application on CodeIgniter 3.
  • For the tests, we used an 'old' but sufficient computer for any programmer: an HP with Intel i5-6500, 8GB of RAM, and Windows 10. We downloaded the latest version of the programs available on March 10, 2024:
    • XAMPP: Apache/2.4.58 (Win64) OpenSSL/3.1.3 PHP/8.0.30
    • Laragon: Apache/2.4.54 (Win64) OpenSSL/1.1.1q PHP/8.1.10

Conclusion:

  • XAMPP: Stands out for better execution time, especially after restarting the computer, and stable values in each test. It is an option to consider for developers looking for a more efficient environment in terms of performance.

  • Laragon: Offers competent execution times but with a slight disadvantage compared to XAMPP. It shows a greater variation in minimum and maximum times in each test. For example, without restarting, it takes between 10.05 and 8.63s to create the 2000 records, with an average of 9.14s.

  • The observed time difference between Laragon and XAMPP may be related to the greater complexity and additional features that Laragon offers. Some specific features of Laragon, such as integration with Laravel, Git, Node.js, and Composer, could contribute to a slightly slower runtime compared to XAMPP.

Automation tools in Laragon for developing PHP applications locally

Laragon is a Windows-based web server solution that includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP, as well as additional tools such as Git, Node.js, and Composer. In addition to being easy to install and configure, Laragon also offers a number of automation tools that can save time and effort for PHP developers.

Here are some of the most useful automation tools in Laragon:

  1. Quick create: With Quick create, you can quickly and easily create a new project. Simply select the version of PHP you want to use, the type of project (e.g. Laravel or WordPress), and click "Create". Laragon will take care of installing everything you need and configuring the new project.

  2. Auto SSL: Auto SSL is a tool that allows you to automatically enable SSL for all your projects in Laragon. This means you can access your projects via HTTPS without having to manually configure SSL certificates.

  3. Auto virtual host: With Auto virtual host, you can automatically create a new virtual host for each of your projects in Laragon. This means you can access your projects via a custom domain (e.g. my-project.test) instead of through an IP address or localhost.

  4. Quick app: Quick app is a tool that allows you to easily install popular web applications (such as WordPress or Drupal) with just a few clicks. Laragon will download, install, and configure the application for you automatically.

  5. Terminal: Laragon also includes a built-in terminal that allows you to run command-line commands directly from the Laragon interface. This can be useful for maintenance tasks or for running Git and Composer commands.

Feature XAMPP Wamp Laragon
Compatible Platforms Windows, Linux, macOS Windows Windows
Supported Programming Languages PHP, Perl, Python, Apache, MySQL PHP, Perl, Apache, MySQL PHP, Apache, MySQL
User Interface XAMPP Control Panel Wamp Control Panel Laragon Graphical User Interface
Ease of Use Easy to use for novice users Easy to use for novice users Easy to use for novice and advanced users
Virtual Host Configuration Yes Yes Yes
SSL Configuration Yes Yes Yes
Local DNS Configuration No No Yes
Database Management phpMyAdmin phpMyAdmin HeidiSQL
Compatibility with WordPress Yes Yes Yes
Compatibility with Joomla Yes Yes Yes
Compatibility with Drupal Yes Yes Yes
Support for Multiple Projects Yes Yes Yes
Advanced User Options Wide range of configuration and customization options Wide range of configuration and customization options

Wide range of configuration and customization options, including support for multiple versions of PHP and Apache

FAQS

  1. What are the main differences between XAMPP, Wamp, and Laragon?
  • The main differences between these solutions include platform compatibility, compatible programming languages, included additional tools, user interface, and advanced configuration and customization options.
  1. Can I use XAMPP, Wamp, or Laragon on Linux or macOS?
  • XAMPP is compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS, while Wamp and Laragon are only compatible with Windows.
  1. Which of these solutions is the best option for a novice user?
  • All three are easy to use for novice users, but in general, XAMPP and Wamp are more popular for beginners due to their ease of use.
  1. Which of these solutions is the best option for an advanced user?
  • Laragon is the best option for advanced users due to its wide range of configuration and customization options.
  1. What additional tools are included in Laragon?
  • Laragon includes additional tools such as Git, Node.js, and Composer.
  1. What is Quick create in Laragon?
  • Quick create is a tool that allows you to create a new project quickly and easily in Laragon.
  1. What is Auto SSL in Laragon?
  • Auto SSL is a tool that allows you to automatically enable SSL for all of your projects in Laragon.
  1. What is Auto virtual host in Laragon?
  • Auto virtual host is a tool that allows you to automatically create a new virtual host for each of your projects in Laragon.
  1. What is Quick app in Laragon?
  • Quick app is a tool that allows you to install popular web applications with just a few clicks in Laragon.
  1. Can I use any of these solutions to develop PHP applications in production?
  • No, these solutions are designed for local PHP application development and are not designed for use in production. It is important to use an appropriate web hosting solution to host and deploy a PHP application in production.

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