[Worzel]

What does everyone use as a test server when developing / experimenting with a new site or just generally fiddling around?

To date, I've always just installed WP on the domain / host I intend to use for a site and restricted access to my IP address until I'm ready for it to go live. But now I want to install WP on a domain that already has a static "holding page" on it, and has had for several years - one of those projects I've always meant to get around to, but never quite have

It's another of those niche, highly specific (and, in this case, mainstream) domains that wouldn't interest 99.999% of the population, but it's listing well for the few folks who definitely ARE interested, and I don't really want to lose the holding page content while I fiddle around installing WP, choosing a theme, writing a load of content etc. The obvious solution seems to be set up a local test installation, and use that to build the site, then transfer the new content to the site in one go when I'm happy with it. But what to use as a test setup?

Since I'm on a Windows box for the moment, I've had a look at Wampserver, but couldn't get the apache service to run. Fiddled around with it, read various troubleshooting / FAQs that didn't help and eventually gave up. I've currently got XAMPP installed and running, but haven't really played with it yet.

Alternatively, I could run a LAMP setup in a VM - I already run Ubuntu desktop in a VM for things that I don't absolutely need Windows for, and I wouldn't have a problem running Ubuntu server the same way if it wouldn't consume too many resources - how much (or little) RAM could I get away with allocating to a LAMP setup that's only going to be used for testing WP and similar?

Or, I suppose, I could install a LAMP setup on an old PC rather than a VM, but, again, I'm not sure how much oomph such a box would need and anyway I'm not massively keen on running yet another machine in here.

Thoughts or suggestions much appreciated!

[Tigger]

I write the content in Word, addressing static pages & some blog postings, then set the theme up and paste from word - this way the blog live within an hour so I'm not really worried about blocking it - maybe thats a way forward for you - I also write all the SEO content so again it can be posted at the same time

[pete4adult]

would you do this on a site rather than blog as well ?

[Tigger]

I don't see any reason why not - if I've got an idea for some pages I'll write them in word and save them for later date and if theres enough content then I'll map a site out and use it - after all the more linking tools you haver the better. That content can be used within a site or a blog

[Worzel]

Originally Posted by Tigger

I write the content in Word, addressing static pages & some blog postings, then set the theme up and paste from word - this way the blog live within an hour so I'm not really worried about blocking it - maybe thats a way forward for you - I also write all the SEO content so again it can be posted at the same time

Slightly less than 20 mins - that's what I call a quick response

That would definitely work for the content, but it's going to take me longer than an hour to find a theme that's suitable and twiddle with it. If it was a theme I'd used before and was familiar with then maybe, but some kind of magazine style grid layout is probably going to be in order for this one and I don't have much experience with them. I've been playing with "suffusion" on another site - it took me days to get it kinda how I wanted it, and even now I'm not really happy with it. No doubt I'll get faster with repetition, but still... Plus, it doesn't help that the day job tends to interrupt at random

Overall, it's probably going to take a few days to get things sorted, even with much of the content written in advance.

[Tigger]

Slightly less than 20 mins - that's what I call a quick response

I aim to please............although the wife would disagree

I've looked at a few of those magazine themes and they do look nice - but the thing thats held me back is the photo content thats required as without decent images I think it would look crap

I don't know what the set up would be like but I can't see it being too bad - but I would stay away from the free themes and most of the mag themes I looked at were between $30-$100 so nothing really, so hopefully getting the thing kicked into life won't be too painful especially as the paid ones offer some support

You could pre write the content and assign photos to each page / posting and still see no reason why it couldn't go live quickly

[Worzel]

Don't they always?

Pics are definitely going to be a problem. It's not a subject that readily lends itself to bright, glitzy pics. In fact, the whole thing is famed for being tedious and dull, and I'm probably going to have to brighten up posts with images from affiliate links (I'll be using Amazon, amongst others, so at least there will be some pics there!). Don't know that they'll work as thumbnails for the posts though.

More faffing around is going to be in order to get some feel of what looks acceptable and what doesn't - it might be that I'll go with icons representing the type of post, rather than an illustration for each. Still, it's all good, clean (unfortunately!) fun

[Tigger]

Pics are definitely going to be a problem. It's not a subject that readily lends itself to bright, glitzy pics. In fact, the whole thing is famed for being tedious and dull, and I'm probably going to have to brighten up posts with images from affiliate links (I'll be using Amazon, amongst others, so at least there will be some pics there!). Don't know that they'll work as thumbnails for the posts though.

its the pics thats held me back with these themes

But if its mainstream why not try using alternative images / graphics - like for example the bubble men I've used on the AA247 banner above and also used on the home page of the forum - these work well and theres thousands you can download covering almost every subject .........other than adult

[Worzel]

Good thinking that man! I've just noticed the little dudes on the banner - looking great! And I'm sure something of the sort could be pressed into service for what I have in mind. Cheers Tigger!

[Tigger]

you buy them in sets let me know if you want the url

[Gaystoryman]

I tried xamp but it sucked for using with wordpress. Instead I just set up a wordpress install on a test domain, to manage my tweaks and all that, which made it quite easy to see what worked, what didn't. Like playing with new themes etc.

send the url please oh kind and furry critter

[Worzel]

Originally Posted by Gaystoryman

I tried xamp but it sucked for using with wordpress. Instead I just set up a wordpress install on a test domain, to manage my tweaks and all that, which made it quite easy to see what worked, what didn't. Like playing with new themes etc.

I was afraid there might be an element of suckyness about it, though it is at least running, which is more than Wampserver was prepared to do. Was it anything specific that put you off or just a general unfitness for purpose?

[Worzel]

Originally Posted by Tigger

you buy them in sets let me know if you want the url

Cheers, will do. I just spent a couple of hours poking around some free(ish) image / clipart archives - some of them offer small versions of photos for free (well, free plus acknowledgement). Not very helpful for most things, but might be ok for small pics to brighten up a blog post, if I can find some generic enough.

[Gaystoryman]

Originally Posted by Worzel

I was afraid there might be an element of suckyness about it, though it is at least running, which is more than Wampserver was prepared to do. Was it anything specific that put you off or just a general unfitness for purpose?

Basically it was just too geeky and cumbersome. I prefer to just log in, fiddle, and then see what it looks like. All the rigamarole was too much, so using an existing domain, gave me an easy option. Plus I could access it easier with different browsers, to check the layout.

me no geek, so I like things simple.

[Worzel]

Me have slightly geek-like leanings, but you can't beat simple for getting the job done! There's an inherent conflict between playing with the toys just for the fun of it, and the need to get something up and running in a reasonable timeframe. I'm bad at that

I've decided to bite the bullet and set up Ubuntu server in a virtual machine - might as well let apache et al run in their natural environment rather than trying to force things along on Windows. In theory, it shouldn't be too difficult. In reality, I may be gone for some time...