What's the best php/mysql package for XP?

Question

I want to teach myself PHP/MYSQL using my XP machine. What's the best software package - free or low cost - to install a PHP/MYSQL development environment on an XP machine?

Answer 1

A good Apache/PHP/MySQL environment for Windows is XAMPP
http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-windows.html

What I did was to put XAMPP on my portable HDD so that I can use the environment on whatever computer I want. There's even XAMPP for portable apps for USB thumb drives

http://portableapps.com/apps/development/xampp

Hope this is what you're looking for.

Answer 2

I use WAMP (Windows Apache MySQL PHP).
It installs Apache, MySQL and PHP all in one.

It also installs phpMyAdmin which is a handy tool for visual for editing MySQL databases (though I suggest you still learn the queries if you intend on using it combines with PHP).

Another thing it installs is SQLiteManager though I still don't get what it is or how to get it to work.

It is free and can be downloaded here:
http://www.wampserver.com/en/download.php

Enjoy!
~Edo

Answer 3

I just self install everything...
You need to also install Apache...the Web Service
MySql is the easiest to install...
Apache and PHP....you will need to alter the config files.

Tutorial to install PHP:
http://www.thesitewizard.com/archive/php4install.shtml

Tutorial to install Apache:
http://www.thesitewizard.com/archive/apache.shtml