It’s crazy that, sometimes, there are some powerful, improved, and robust apps that are available for free, and yet we haven’t heard them at all. This was the case for me when a month ago I found out that WP Engine has created a software called “Local”, which is not just an alternative to XAMPP, but the best way to install, set up, configure, and basically do whatever you want to as many WordPress local installations as your computer can handle.
Now, before an advanced and hardcore user goes straight into the comments section and starts typing, I know there are some key differences between XAMPP and Local, and that the latter is not for everyone. Local is focused on WordPress development and provides a simplified installation process and a modern and easy-to-use interface, while XAMPP requires manual installation and it’s more for general-purpose web server stack for PHP, MySQL, and Perl applications.
Unlike Local, which has worked fluently for the past month, I’ve had many issues with XAMPP over the last few years. The tool was constantly giving me different errors, it was unable to launch MySQL, and I had to restore everything way too many times. The tool became more frustrating rather than helpful, and not being able to quickly synchronize all of my files, I was unable to continue working on the go from my laptop.
It’s worth noting that although I had to find a solution for many different problems that I faced with XAMPP, the tool worked smoothly and without any errors in Linux. But when it comes to Windows, that’s where it failed to deliver a bug-free experience, which was a big drawback for me as I’m using both operating systems all the time – along with other features that are still missing and Local does actually provide with one click.
With that said, whether you want to learn how to manage and work with WordPress or you’re an advanced user who wants to install the CMS platform locally and create multiple new sites, manage them, and then move them to a server, Local is currently the best tool to do so.
Let’s start from the very beginning, shall we? With Local, you can automatically install as many WordPress installations as you want – or as many as your computer can handle – and it even lets you install an SSL certificate. The application offers root access through SSH, WP-CLI, and even the ability to hot-swap PHP environments for easier and faster testing and management. If you’re currently using hosting providers like Flywheel or WP Engine, you’ll also be able to push and pull sites from your hosting plans, which is great for offline editing and going live in a matter of minutes.
As a web developer, if there’s any feature that I’m constantly using because it’s saving lots of time, that will be Blueprints. It’s a very simple yet crucial feature that basically lets you create a pre-installed kit that when you install it will also install specific plugins, themes, database settings, and other adjustments that you usually make for each website that you create and design. Along with the “One-Click Admin” feature that lets you quickly log in to any WordPress site with one click, Local makes managing multiple websites a breeze.
Apart from installing and managing multiple WordPress local installations, Local also supports a few add-ons that many will find absolutely useful, including the following ones:
- Cloud Backups: This is by far my favorite one, as it lets you quickly back up your local installations and upload them to your favorite cloud platforms. Unfortunately, those cloud options do not include Microsoft OneDrive, which I pay each month for 1TB of space, but it works great with Google Drive and Dropbox.
- TablePlus: Put simply, TablePlus is a modern and native GUI for accessing and interacting with your databases, and if you’re a macOS user, you’re in luck. Windows and Linux users won’t be able to use it though – and don’t try to install it, I already did that and it doesn’t work.
- Image Optimizer: If you’re looking at compressing all the images in your local installations, then you can do that with Image Optimizer, which compresses your files locally and without the need to sign in to a cloud server.
- Link Checker: It does exactly what its name says: It scans the links in your local installations and notifies you about any broken links – and you can, of course, change them with ease.
- Notes: Managing multiple WordPress local installations for clients? Use this add-on to add notes to each local installation you want, including to-do lists.
- Instant Reload: This add-on automatically refreshes your browser each time you make a change to your CSS files, which is extremely helpful and saves you time when you’re doing design adjustments.
There are other add-ons that you can install too, including Xdebug + VS Code, Xdebug + PhpStorm, and Atlas: Headless WP, and if you’re a developer you can also create and submit your own add-ons. Note that, for new users, not every add-on is available to install and run on Local, as you’ll first have to sign up for a Local account and then make sure you’ve signed in, and then you’ll have access to all of them.
What’s even greater is that Local provides documentation for each one of its available add-ons, meaning that you can see how to use it thanks to their step-by-step guides. To find all the instructions, you can head over to their official Local Help Docs page.
Before wrapping this up, it’s important to note that Local was previously known as Local by Flywheel, which was acquired from WP Engine back in June 2019. Since then, the tool has been integrated into WP Engine’s suite of tools, offering a comprehensive set of options for developers that build everything locally and want to quickly synchronize all their work and push it to their online environments.
Have you ever used Local to install and manage multiple WordPress installations? And if so, what did you like and hate the most about the tool? Have you found a better one that has more options and features, or are you still using XAMPP? Let me know in the comments down below.
Uh, oh! Legal stuff! Yikes.. Yet important! Affiliate Links Disclaimer: Many of the links on my articles are affiliate links. That means if you click on one and make a purchase, I might earn a small commission, and I'll keep doing what I'm doing, reviewing everything with absolute honesty. Sounds good? Good.
