Localhost Server
for Free Interactive Websites
The process of developing interactive websites can be simplified with the use of a localhost server.
What is a Localhost Server?
Servers are actually machines that store web sites on the internet. The programs that control the access of users to those web sites are also referred to as servers. The most popular of those programs is the free Apache server.
You can download and install the Apache Server program on your Windows machine, and create an environment similar to the internet right on your computer.
When you run the server on your computer without an actual connection to the internet it is called a localhost server.
Why do I need a localhost?
You must be running on a localhost server to process your HTML forms on your PC. When you build a form the action statement calls a CGI script to process the data entered in the input boxes on your form.
The viewing browser must be able to access a server in order to find the scripts and the interpreter that processes the scripts.
Is a localhost server hard to install?
The process of setting up the Apache server for Windows as a localhost and then coordinating it with Perl, used to be a very tedious process. Things have changed.
There are now several resources available for installing the Apache server on your PC. Some free ones are:
IndigoPerl, provided by IndigoStar.com.
Merlin Desktop by Abriasoft.com
Or visit HotScripts Web Development Portal for the latest Apache installation packages.
PHP and MySQL
If you use Merlin Desktop PHP and MySQL are installed with the Apache server.
If you use IndigoPerl the server is set up for PHP and MySQL, but both must be installed to your PC.
For sources for PHP and MySQL see our PHP and MySQL guides.
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