Drubuntu Alternatives: Top Development Environments for Drupal
Drubuntu is a well-regarded LAMP-stack solution designed for providing a stable, ready-to-use development platform specifically for Drupal 7 and Drupal 8 within a virtualization environment. It aims to offer the power of Vagrant with the ease of Acquia's Dev Desktop, serving as a robust native root server experience for Windows users. However, for various reasons—be it platform compatibility, specific feature requirements, or personal preference—many developers seek Drubuntu alternatives. This guide explores some of the best replacements to help you find the perfect fit for your Drupal development workflow.
Top Drubuntu Alternatives
Whether you're looking for cross-platform support, specific database integrations, or a more lightweight solution, there's a Drubuntu alternative out there for you. Here are some of the leading choices:
XAMPP
XAMPP is a completely free and open-source Apache distribution that includes MariaDB, PHP, and Perl, making it a powerful Drubuntu alternative. It's incredibly easy to install and set up, available across Mac, Windows, Linux, and PortableApps.com. XAMPP offers features like portability, a built-in web server, support for FTP, import from MySQL, support for Javascript, MariaDB, Nginx, Node-based development, and support for NodeJS, making it versatile for various web development needs, including Drupal.
WampServer
WampServer is a popular Drubuntu alternative specifically for Windows web development environments. This free and open-source solution enables you to create web applications with Apache, PHP, and the MySQL database, similar to Drubuntu's core functionality. It also conveniently bundles PHPMyAdmin, facilitating database management. Its focus on Windows makes it a straightforward choice for developers on that platform.
MAMP
MAMP (My Apache, MySQL, PHP) is a fast and easy way to set up a local server environment on your computer, making it a great Drubuntu alternative, especially for Mac users, though it's also available for Windows. This freemium tool includes PhpMyAdmin and offers strong WordPress integration, making it suitable for Drupal development. It provides a web server and PHP capabilities without compromising existing system installations, offering a clean and efficient development space.
AMPPS
AMPPS is a free Drubuntu alternative that provides an easy-to-install software stack of Apache, MySQL, PHP, Perl, Python, and the Softaculous auto-installer. It's available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, offering cross-platform flexibility. Key features include guided configuration, PHP support, and WordPress integration, making it a comprehensive solution for web development and an excellent choice for setting up a local Drupal environment.
UwAmp
UwAmp is a free WAMP server with Apache, MySQL, PHP, and SQLite, presenting a viable Drubuntu alternative for Windows users. It stands out with its smart interface that provides extensive information, configuration options, and commands. Its portable nature means you can run it directly from a USB drive, offering flexibility for developers needing a mobile environment. UwAmp focuses on providing a straightforward web development setup with PHP and a web server.
The Uniform Server
The Uniform Server is another free WAMP package that serves as a strong Drubuntu alternative for any MS Windows OS based computer. It is exceptionally small and portable, allowing it to be easily downloaded, moved around, and even run from a USB stick. With no installation required, it offers PHP and PhpMyAdmin, making it a convenient and lightweight option for local web server needs, including Drupal development.
EasyPHP
EasyPHP is a free and open-source Drubuntu alternative that simplifies the setup of a pre-configured Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP environment. It can be installed directly on your system or run from a USB key, providing excellent portability. While the provided data doesn't list specific features, its core purpose is to enable local development and presentation of projects, making it a simple and effective choice for developers needing a quick LAMP stack setup on Windows.
Zend Studio
Zend Studio for Eclipse is a commercial Drubuntu alternative that offers a powerful IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, it provides robust PHP and Ruby development tools. While not a direct LAMP stack like Drubuntu, its comprehensive development environment can integrate seamlessly with local server setups, enhancing the development workflow for complex Drupal projects.
Winginx
Winginx is a free Drubuntu alternative that provides a complex of local web servers on Windows (Vista and higher), focusing on PHP and Node.js development using databases like MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, and Memcached. Its features include Nginx, Apache Monitoring, PhpMyAdmin, and support for NodeJS. With a graphical interface, one-click installation, and system tray integration, it offers a user-friendly yet powerful environment for diverse web development, including Drupal.
WPN-XM
WPN-XM is a free and open-source Drubuntu alternative solution stack for professional PHP development on the Windows platform. It includes components like MariaDB, Memcached, MongoDB, Nginx, OpenSSL, and Xdebug, providing a comprehensive and portable development environment. Its focus on professional PHP development makes it a strong contender for those building and maintaining Drupal applications, offering flexibility and advanced features.
Each of these Drubuntu alternatives offers unique strengths in terms of platform support, included technologies, and ease of use. Consider your specific needs—whether it's portability, certain database requirements, or operating system preference—to choose the best fit for your Drupal development environment.