Difference Between XAMPP vs MAMP
The following article provides an outline for XAMPP vs MAMP. XAMPP is an acronym in which ‘X’ stands for Multiplatform, ‘A’ stands for Apache, ‘M’ stands for MariaDB, ‘P’ stands for Pearl and ‘P’ stands for PHP. It is software which is used to develop and test the web applications on the local server before deploying them on the internet. It is the only web server which is supported by all the Operating systems like Windows, Mac and Linux. XAMPP is quite easy to install and use for the developers. It is 100% open source which means it is completely free to use, and no premium version is available of it.
MAMP is an acronym in which ‘M’ stands for Mac, ‘A’ stands for Apache, ‘M’ stands for MySQL, ‘P’ stands for PHP. MAMP Pro version is now also available for the developers, which facilitates the command Line interface for the other languages like Python, Ruby and Pearl. MAMP is quite easy to install and use for the developers. Both the free and premium versions are also available to the users.
Head to Head Comparison Between XAMPP vs MAMP (Infographics)
Below are the top 7 differences between XAMPP vs MAMP:
Key Difference Between XAMPP vs MAMP
Let us discuss some of the major key differences between XAMPP vs MAMP:
Though there are not many differences between the XAMPP and MAMP local servers, which are used to develop and test the web applications locally on the desktop. Users can edit any number of times and can run the applications normally before hosting on the actual web server on the internet.
- As indicated in the full form of both the web servers, ‘X’ in XAMPP stands for X- operating system, which means multiple Operating System. Yes, you heard it right! XAMPP web server is supported by almost all the Operating Systems, be it Windows, Mac, Linux, whereas in MAMP, ‘M’ stands for Mac, i.e. MAMP is supported by the Mac-based Operating System. Though MAMP Pro also supports Windows-based Operating Systems.
- Talking about the web development languages supported by both the servers, the XAMPP server provides the support for the Pearl and PHP languages, whereas the MAMP server provides support for the PHP, Pearl, Python and Ruby language (though as per the full form, only PHP language is supported). It provides the built-in editor for the above languages as well as the various testing tools.
- Both the XAMPP and MAMP local web server provide the support for the Apache server, but the MAMP Pro server version also supports the Nginx web server as well to the developers.
- XAMPP server comes with some extra ordinary features like support of FileZilla, pearl, mercury mail and various other scripts, whereas MAMP provides a lot of tools which are necessary to run WordPress on the local machine.
- XAMPP is a 100% open-source server, so it is completely free to use. There is no premium version of it, so no hidden features are there for the developers, whereas both the free and premium versions are available for the MAMP server to the developers.
- The biggest disadvantage of using the MAMP server over the XAMPP server is that MAMP does not offer the standalone installers for applications like WordPress. Users need to set up the websites manually.
- One of the advantages of using the MAMP server is that it provides various tools to the user, like the ability to set up the Nginx server, mobile testing tools and built-in editors. Mac users always prefer the MAMP as their first preference; it provides a lot more tools, including the WordPress development tools.
- Talking about the ease of use, both are easy to install and use for the developers and testers, but comparatively, MAMP is much easier to use. Installation is just a few clicks away in the MAMP software. In XAMPP, installation and usage differs from one operating system to another. Both the web servers are best at their own places; it depends on the operating system, database server and the programming language which the developer/ tester is using.
XAMPP vs MAMP Comparison Table
Both the environments ensure to achieve the same goal in order to get the best results. But there are some technical differences between them.
| Sr. No | XAMPP |
MAMP |
| 1 | XAMPP is an acronym in which ‘X’ denotes Multiplatform, ‘A’ denotes Apache server, ‘M’ stands for MariaDB, ‘P’ stands for Perl, and ‘P’ stands for PHP. | MAMP is an acronym in which ‘M’ denotes Mac Operating System, ‘A’ stands for Apache Server, ‘M’ stands for MySQL, and P stands for PHP. |
| 2 | The installation process of the XAMPP server is quite easy, but it differs from one system to another. | Installation of the MAMP server is really an easy process and takes only a few clicks. |
| 3 | XAMPP is a cross-platform which is supported by all the Operating systems (as the name indicates), be it Windows, Mac, Linux. | MAMP is supported by the Mac Operating System. It can also be used for the Windows-based Operating Systems. |
| 4 | For the development and testing purpose of web applications, XAMPP allows the developer to use the MariaDB database, which is a relational database and developed by MySQL only. | MAMP server allows the developer to use the MySQL database, one of the most famous relational databases. |
| 5 | Development and Testing languages used in XAMPP software is Perl and PHP (OOPS programming language). | The development and Testing language used in MAMP software is PHP only. |
| 6 | When it comes to the difficulty in using, XAMPP is comparatively difficult to use as compared to the MAMP server. | MAMP server is quite easy to use for the local development and testing of web applications. |
| 7 | XAMPP is free to install and use for the developers. | Both the free and paid versions of the MAMP server are available, and the paid version is also at a very nominal charge. |
Conclusion
The above description clearly explains what the XAMPP and MAMP are and the major differences between the two. Both these servers play an important role to set the whole WordPress environment with the availability of web servers, databases and the programming language editor support. Being a developer/ tester working on the web application, it is important to understand the technical differences between these servers.
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