Gain a solid grasp on WordPress through this tutorial, which covers everything from setting up a local server using MAMP/XAMPP to creating advanced themes for a replica site, along with practical exercises for hands-on learning.
This exercise is excerpted from Noble Desktop’s past WordPress training materials and is compatible with WordPress updates through 2020. To learn current skills in WordPress, check out our WordPress Bootcamp and coding bootcamps in NYC and live online.
Topics covered in this WordPress tutorial:
Installing MAMP/XAMPP
Exercise Overview
In this class, you will learn how to install and create advanced themes for WordPress. Throughout the class, you will be working on a replica of an existing site, Monteith Restoration & Performance. While you could install WordPress directly with your host, in this class you will be working on a local server. Working locally makes it quick to update files and provides a great environment for testing and development. In a later exercise, you will learn to upload your work to a host.
In order to use WordPress locally on your computer, you first need to set up a local server. Luckily, there are two free applications called MAMP and XAMPP that make creating a local server easy. It is very important that you do this exercise first, or you will be unable to follow along with the book!
- If you are taking this class at Noble Desktop, you can skip this exercise. We’ve already done the setup for you! Otherwise, install the appropriate application:
Mac: Installing MAMP
Launch Chrome and enter the following URL: mamp.info/en
Click the Download button underneath MAMP: One-click-solution for setting up your personal webserver.
Click the Download button.
Once the download completes, click the file name at the bottom left of the browser and follow the instructions for installing MAMP into the Applications folder.
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Go to Hard Drive > Applications > MAMP and open MAMP.app.
NOTE: If you get a warning about running MAMP PRO concurrently with MAMP, just hit Launch MAMP.
The Apache and MySQL servers should start automatically. You should see green squares next to them light up. If not, click Start Servers.
If the MAMP start page does not open automatically, click the Open WebStart page button.
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The MAMP start page will open in your default browser. To return to this page, you can either click Open WebStart page in MAMP, or go to localhost:8888/MAMP in Chrome.
NOTE: To make Chrome your default browser, go to Chrome > Preferences, and under Default browser, click Make Google Chrome the default browser.
Windows: Installing XAMPP
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Launch Chrome and enter the following URL: tinyurl.com/xampp56
The download should start automatically (save the file on your desktop if it asks).
Once the download completes, double–click the file, then click Yes to start the install.
If the installer warns that you have antivirus software running that may interfere with the installer, click Yes to continue the installation.
If it warns about UAC, just click OK.
Click Next to start.
Under Select Components, make sure all of the options are checked, then click Next.
C:
\xampp should already be set for the Installation Folder. Click Next.Uncheck Learn more about Bitnami for XAMPP, then click Next.
Click Next one more time to start installing XAMPP.
It should go though the install. When it’s done, make sure Do you want to start the Control Panel now? is checked, then click Finish.
The XAMPP Control Panel will open.
Press Start next to Apache and MySQL to start those services.
If you get a warning that Windows Firewall has blocked some features, click Allow access.
Open Chrome and go to this address: localhost
Click English as your preferred language to finish the installation. XAMPP is now installed and running!