ZAMP
Application that installs and manages a local development environment with Apache, MySQL, and PHP in one click. Automated service manipulation to simplify user experience.
The Story Behind ZAMP
When I started web development and doing PHP, I always used UwAmp. It's lightweight, practical, and does the job.
But let's be honest: the interface is starting to show its age, and you can feel the project hasn't really evolved in a while. After juggling between my projects, I wanted something more modern, more fluid, and especially, simpler to manage daily.
This is what UwAmp looks like!
This is how ZAMP was born! A nod to both WAMP and this desire to start from scratch with a more intuitive approach. The idea was, without knowing anything about Apache configuration, to be able to create an application I could use for web development.
Why ZAMP?
The goal was simple: recreate the UwAmp experience, but in a modern and automated version.
ZAMP installs and manages a complete local environment (Apache, MySQL, PHP) in one click, without having to dive into configuration files or open a console.
Built with Electron, the program is based on a clear and streamlined interface, designed for developers who just want to code, not spend their time configuring their environment.
What ZAMP Changes
One of the points that always frustrated me with classic tools is project management.
Often, everything is locked in a single www folder, and you constantly have to move or copy your files.
With ZAMP, I wanted to break this constraint: The application automatically modifies Apache's configuration to point to any project folder.
Result: you can switch from one project to another with one click, without moving anything.
It's fluid, fast, and especially much more natural.
An Integrated PHP Extension Manager
Another idea I had in mind from the start: make PHP configuration visual.
No more lines to comment in php.ini, ZAMP offers an interface with checkboxes to enable or disable PHP extensions.
An All-in-One Stack, Hassle-Free
ZAMP groups Apache, MySQL (via MariaDB), and PHP, with a fully automated management system.
Everything can be started, stopped, or reconfigured from the interface.
Among the main features:
- No manual configuration: install, launch, develop.
- Project management: switch from one project to another without touching files.
- PHP version control: download and change versions easily.
- SQL launcher: start or stop MariaDB with one click.
Why a Fish? 🐟
When I first shared ZAMP on Reddit, a user commented that my project looked a bit "fishy" (suspicious).
It made me laugh, and rather than take it badly, I decided to make it the project's symbol.
Since then, ZAMP's logo is a fish.
It's become a sort of self-deprecating statement: a little nod to that remark, but also to the open source spirit. I think it's important to not take yourself too seriously, even when developing technical tools.
Installation
ZAMP is currently only available on Windows.
Windows
- Download the latest version from GitHub.
- Simply install the program.
- Launch ZAMP and start developing!
In Summary
ZAMP is my way of reconciling simplicity and modernity in local development.
A tool designed for developers who like to understand what they're doing, but who don't want to spend 30 minutes launching Apache and MariaDB without it crashing (because yes, it often happens with uWamp 👀).
The project is open source and still in development, any contribution is welcome!
👉 See the project on GitHub