Latch

First of all.. great idea seretogis!

You can run a http server with php on your own system, so you can test from your home system (don't even need to be connected to the net).

Windows:
HTTP Server:
I recommend Apache. Windows 2000 and XP comes with IIS (Microsoft's Web Server), but as I've never used PHP w/ it, I won't talk about it. As gigawatz said, it is a good quick 'n dirty test enviroment. Google for IIS+PHP if you want to try that. You can get the latest version of Win32 Binaries for Apache at:

http://www.apache.org/dyn/closer.cgi...inaries/win32/

I suggest a 2.x version. At the time of this writing, apache_2.0.48-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi would be appropriate for you. Use the .exe version if you don't have the MSI installer (chances are you already do. XP, 2K, and ME comes with it).

Note: If you're using XP, you need to have XP SP1 installed.

PHP:
You can get PHP from:
http://www.php.net/downloads.php

At the time of this writing, the latest stable version is 4.3.3. You can get it here:

http://www.php.net/get/php-4.3.3-ins.../from/a/mirror

Setup:
Once you install those two programs (apache first, then PHP), edit your apache configuration and add this:

ScriptAlias /php/" c:/path-to-php-dir/"
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
Action application/x-httpd-php "/php/php.exe"

Then start the Apache service and you should be able to run PHP scripts with no problems.

Other:
There are distributions out there that install everything for you in one big go (and usually come with MySQL, a Database Management System). I've never tried these, so can't verify how good they are. I don't have any links, but I'm guessing you could google for them. Also, below's some links with more indepth insturctions on setting up Apache/PHP/MySQL. Good luck!

http://www.coe.uncc.edu/~asingh/setup_apm.htm
http://www.weberdev.com/ViewArticle.php3?ArticleID=86


Linux
HTTP Server:
Once again, Apache 2.x is recommended. You can get it from:
http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi

Just chose one of the Unix sources.

PHP:
You can get PHP from: http://www.php.net/downloads.php.

Just choose one of the sources.

Other:
You may want to install MySQL as well. Setting up Apache/PHP on Linux can be a pain, but not too bad. Below are some sites that give you good insturctions on how to do it. These may also go through installing other stuff, like SSL.

http://www.weberdev.com/ViewArticle.php3?ArticleID=378
http://www.devshed.com/Server_Side/P...inglySeamless/
http://www.linuxguruz.com/z.php?id=3...p+mysql+apache


General Links:
The following link(s) will give you setup/install instructions for either Linux or Windows.

http://www.php.net/manual/en/install.apache2.php


OK. That's it. Good Luck. If anyone has anything to add to this or thinks should be changed, just reply to the thread and I'll add it in.