XAMPP for Mac does come with PEAR but it is NOT configured.

Update PEAR
sudo su - [Enter root password]
cd /Applications/xampp/xamppfiles/lib/php/pear
sudo php pearcmd.php channel-update pear.php.net
sudo php pearcmd.php install PEAR
sudo php pearcmd.php install Log
sudo php pearcmd.php list

add PEAR to the php.ini include_path
Edit /Applications/xampp/etc/php.ini (include path is at the very end of the php.ini file)

include_path = “.:/Applications/xampp/xamppfiles/lib/php:/Applications/xampp/xamppfiles/lib/php/pear”

To install a package
Type
sudo su [Enter root password]
cd /Applications/xampp/xamppfiles/lib/php/pear
pear install pear/PACKAGE_NAME

Thats it, good luck.

If you like making things a little easier on yourself while you are working on your local development server this is for you!

What am I talking about you ask?

hmm….
What I am talking about is editing your Mac hosts file so that you can view your local site with this
http://myawsomesite
rather than this
http://localhost/myawsomesite

Here it is….

Launch your Mac Terminal and type
sudo su [RETURN]
Enter Root Password [RETURN]
nano /etc/hosts [RETURN]

Position yourself with your keyboard arrows
type 127.0.0.1 myawsomesite

Hit the ctrl-x keys. Terminal will ask if you want to save changes. Type a “y” for yes.
Hit [RETURN] to save the file

thats it, now type http://myawsomesite into your internet browser and it will take you to you local site.

note: If you are using a v-host configuration in apache, you will need to add myawsomesite as an alias under that host.

After you get apache up and running on your Mac, you will not be able to see your .htaccess and other configuration files. Here is a quick fix for that problem.

Open Terminal and copy the following text-
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
killall Finder

You will notice you screen will blink as finder restarts. Once it come back on all you hidden files will be visable.

note: Change “TRUE” to “FALSE” to make them disappear again.

Open Terminal and copy the following text-
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
killall Finder

Installing XAMPP
debian:~# wget http://kent.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/xampp/xampp-linux-1.6.5a.tar.gz
(command downloads XAMPP to the server)

debian:~# tar xvfz xampp-linux-1.6.5a.tar.gz -C /opt
(command extracts the downloaded archive file to /opt:)

Starting XAMPP
debian:~# /opt/lampp/lampp start
(Apache, PHP, MySQL, & ProFTPD will start)
Starting XAMPP for Linux 1.6.5a…
XAMPP: Starting Apache with SSL (and PHP5)…
XAMPP: Starting MySQL…
XAMPP: Starting ProFTPD…
XAMPP for Linux started.

Test XAMPP
Check to see if your installation was successful. Navigate to http://yourdomain.com. You should see the XAMPP splash page.

XAMPP Start Page

XAMPP Security
XAMPP is setup to be used in a development environment. The base configuration of XAMPP has NO SECURITY and should not be used as a live web server.

Missing security in XAMPP:

1. The MySQL administrator (root) has no password.
2. The MySQL daemon is accessible via network.
3. ProFTPD uses the password “lampp” for user “nobody”.
4. PhpMyAdmin is accessible via network.
5. Examples are accessible via network.
6. MySQL and Apache running under the same user (nobody).

To fix or close all these matters simply call
debian:~# /opt/lampp/lampp security

The command will start an interactive program.
XAMPP: Quick security check…
XAMPP: Your XAMPP pages are NOT secured by a password.
XAMPP: Do you want to set a password? [yes] yes
XAMPP: Password:
XAMPP: Password (again):
XAMPP: Password protection active. Please use ‘lampp’ as user name!
XAMPP: MySQL is accessable via network.
XAMPP: Normaly that’s not recommended. Do you want me to turn it off? [yes] yes
XAMPP: Turned off.
XAMPP: Stopping MySQL…
XAMPP: Starting MySQL…
XAMPP: The MySQL/phpMyAdmin user pma has no password set!!!
XAMPP: Do you want to set a password? [yes] yes
XAMPP: Password:
XAMPP: Password (again):
XAMPP: Setting new MySQL pma password.
XAMPP: Setting phpMyAdmin’s pma password to the new one.
XAMPP: MySQL has no root passwort set!!!
XAMPP: Do you want to set a password? [yes] yes
XAMPP: Write the password somewhere down to make sure you won’t forget it!!!
XAMPP: Password:
XAMPP: Password (again):
XAMPP: Setting new MySQL root password.
XAMPP: Change phpMyAdmin’s authentication method.
XAMPP: The FTP password is still set to ‘lampp’.
XAMPP: Do you want to change the password? [yes] yes
XAMPP: Password:
XAMPP: Password (again):
XAMPP: Reload ProFTPD…
XAMPP: Done.

Check the XAMPP Security page

Controlling XAMPP

XAMPP Directories

Stop XAMPP with this command:
debian:~# /opt/lampp/lampp stop

Uninstall XAMPP with this command:
debian:~# rm -rf /opt/lampp

Visit ApacheFriends.org

I recently switched from Windows XP and Windows Vista to Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. One of the many things I had to figure out how to do on my new Mac was the Print Screen function that I used all the time on Windows. So for those of you that don’t already know, here is the different key combination for “Print Screen” on Mac OS X Computers.

Command key, Shift key, and the number 3 key - takes a screen shot and saves it to the Desktop.

Command key, Shift key, and the number 4 key - the mouse changes from an arrow into cross hairs. Drag the cross hairs over the area you want to capture, when you release the mouse the screen shot will appear on your desktop.

Command key, Shift key, and the number 4 key, + space bar - the cursor will turn into a camera. Move over a window and click the mouse to take a snapshot of the window.