How to use MAMP (Mac Apache MySql php)

Running your project with MAMP

MAMP - basic usage

• Click ‘Start’ button to start Apache, PHP, MySQL
• Click the ‘Preferences’ cog button to:
  • Set port number for Apache and MySQL
    e.g. Apache Port: 80, MySQL Port: 3306
  • Set the root folder of the project 
    e.g. Users/UserName/Sites/Project/public_html
• If the desired PHP version is not listed in the php drop down of MAMP:
  • Rename other php folders in Applications/MAMP/bin/php — MAMP only shows 2 of the latest php versions
    e.g. rename ‘php8.0.0’ too ‘php8.0.0_RENAME_TO_ENABLE’
• Log files:
  • All log files are stored in: /Applications/MAMP/logs/
  • The logs need to be enabled on Apache, in the file: /Applications/MAMP/conf/apache/httpd.conf
    #CustomLog /Applications/MAMP/logs/apache_access_log combined
    — remove '#' to uncomment this line:
    CustomLog /Applications/MAMP/logs/apache_access_log combined
  • Apache will write the access logs into /Applications/MAMP/Library/logs/access_log.
• Restart MAMP Apache server: press 'Stop' button, then 'Start' button.

Config files

Add a new project:

• Add a new item to hosts list in: /etc/hosts
• Add a new block in the config file:
  • Applications/MAMP/conf/apache/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf
  • Make sure all the paths are correct
• Restart MAMP

Useful information:

• If you want to maintain multiple domains/hostnames on your machine you can setup VirtualHost containers for them.
• Most configurations use only name-based virtual hosts so the server doesn't need to worry about IP addresses.
• You may use the command line option '-S' to verify your virtual host configuration.

Example of the httpd-vhosts.conf file: