Yii and XAMPP server on Windows

Tutorials

windows, xampp, server

This article explains issues about installing XAMPP server package (Lite version) on Windows OS and configuring it for serving webapps written in Yii. Please note, that XAMPP is available for many more platforms and systems. I write about Windows edition as it was the only one tested by me. >Info: It is also worth underlining that I'm using XAMPP for years as **development environment only**. I host my apps in production versions on paid hosting and cannot guarantee that XAMPP has enough security level for running as production server. Especially if you want to use Windows version for this purpose, which is **highly NOT advisable**! Please, consult its documentation or community about that. For development purposes the Lite version [available here](http://www.yiiframework.com/wiki/98/ "XAMPP Lite") is far enough. Consult documentation to see differences between Lite and Full versions. Please note: Lite version does not contains any mail server and mail() PHP function fails because of that. You need full version of XAMPP, if you plan to test applications with mailing capabilities (for example: e-mailing new password in user management modules or RBAC extensions).
### Introduction
At the beginning it is important to answer why to choose XAMPP among so many server packages available? Well, there are two strong advantages of it. First - it's configuration is so easy, that even a child can do it. It particularly is minimized to unzip archive and run setup batch. Second - XAMPP is extremely portable! Moving it from one directory or drive to another requires only one run of setup_xampp.bat. You can even install it on USB stick and have your private webserver along with your apps go anywhere with you and to be available on any computer, you plug your USB stick to!

As I read other Wiki articles on how many problems people have with installing and configuring other servers or server pack I think it can be more simplier than with XAMPP.