Last week in Gearhead I discussed the struggle to get my hosting provider to give me a server with the version of PHP I needed to run a PHP-based groupware system.

Effortlessly install a development server running Apache, MySQL, and PHP with XAMPP for Windows.

These are 5 of the best Xampp Server alternatives as they combine the three necessities - MySQL, PHP, and Apache, for a good testing software.

XAMPP extends theseacronyms, and provides a one-click installation of this stack onLinux, Windows, Mac, or Solaris, along with a handful of otherhelpful applications and services.