When starting a PHP or Laravel project, choosing the right local development environment is crucial. Tools like XAMPP, Laravel Herd, and Laragon offer different features and workflows tailored for developers. Each of these tools has its strengths and use cases, but which one is better for your next project?

In this post, we'll explore:

• What XAMPP, Laragon, and Laravel Herd are
• Key features and comparisons
• Which one is better suited for Laravel, PHP, and other programming languages

1. What are XAMPP, Laragon, and Laravel Herd?

XAMPP

XAMPP is one of the oldest and most popular local server environments. It includes:

• Apache
• MySQL (MariaDB)
• PHP
• Perl It’s simple to install, widely supported, and works well for generic PHP development.

Pros:

• Easy setup and cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux).
• Good for beginners learning PHP.

Cons:

• Performance can be slow for large projects.
• Limited modern tooling (e.g., no native SSL, Docker-like portability, etc.).

Laragon

Laragon is a modern local development environment specifically designed for Windows users. It’s lightweight, fast, and works not just with PHP but also with Node.js, Python, Ruby, and more.

Key features:

• Portable and self-contained.
• Supports SSL, Composer, and database management out-of-the-box.
• Extremely fast startup times and customizable stacks.

Pros:

• Best for Laravel and modern PHP projects.
• Easy to switch PHP versions and create isolated environments.
• Great performance compared to XAMPP.

Cons:

• Windows-only (though WSL2 can be a workaround for Linux/macOS).

Laravel Herd

Laravel Herd is a Laravel-specific development environment created by the Laravel team for macOS users.

Key features:

• Designed specifically for Laravel.
• Includes Nginx, MySQL, and PHP.
• Comes pre-configured with the Laravel ecosystem (like Sail, Valet).

Pros:

• Best for Laravel projects.
• Minimal setup for macOS users.
• High performance with native macOS integration.

Cons:

• Mac-only.
• Limited flexibility for non-Laravel projects.

2. Comparison of Features

3. Which One Should You Use?

For Laravel Projects

• If you’re a macOS user, Laravel Herd is the easiest and most optimized choice for Laravel.
• For Windows users, Laragon is perfect as it offers a Laravel-friendly stack with additional tools like SSL and Composer.

For General PHP Development

• XAMPP is still a solid choice for beginners or those working on smaller PHP projects. However, for better performance and flexibility, consider Laragon.

For Other Programming Languages

If you work with Node.js, Python, Ruby, or other languages alongside PHP, Laragon is the most versatile option.

4. My Recommendation

For most developers:

• Choose Laragon if you’re on Windows, as it’s versatile and designed for modern workflows.
• Choose Laravel Herd if your primary focus is Laravel and you’re on macOS.
• Stick to XAMPP only if you’re just starting out or need something very simple.

Conclusion

Choosing the right local development tool can make or break your productivity. While XAMPP has been a trusted solution for years, Laragon and Laravel Herd provide modern alternatives tailored for Laravel and other PHP projects. Ultimately, the choice depends on your operating system, your workflow, and whether you need flexibility or Laravel-specific features.

Which tool do you prefer for your projects? Let me know in the comments!

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