ServerPress DesktopServer Releases v3.5.3

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March 11, 2013

14 Comments

Have you heard of DesktopServer via ServerPress before? Apparently I’ve been under a rock or something because this weekend was the first time I’ve ever heard of it.

Drat, because there are a few instances where I could have really used this application. Alas, I was not aware of it at time!

What is DeskTopServer? Simple: It gives you the ability to create virtual servers locally for all of your WordPress projects. I’m a big fan of MAMP but the Pro version is the one that allows multiple instances.

They have some premium versions available for those that are getting more serious, like WordPress multisite, but the free version might just be enough for you.

Create them simply and then start your development in earnest. They then are easily accessed from your desktop web browser via a fictitious, pseudo top-level domain name: .dev (in example, http://www.example.dev).

Heck, you can even use your own domain mames you want because it supports pretty permalinks. Here’s your overview for those that are just encountering it for the first time like I did:

Is this something that you might give a go? Love to hear your first impressions as you install and run it from scratch!

There are 14 comments

March 11, 2013 #

Paul

Been using the premium version for a while. It’s a real time saver.

You can also create non WordPress sites. The benefit is that it still creates the virtual domain name for you.

You can’t however use the latest version of PHP, so for that I still have a ubuntu suever
- March 11, 2013 #
  
  John Saddington
  
  ah, freakin’ nice testimonial!
- March 11, 2013 #
  
  Paul
  
  I meant server
March 11, 2013 #

Jack

LOL, I hacked together something like this over a year ago.

OTOH, I prefer setting up a test server on my host-based virtual machine.

Personal based stuff slows my machine down and if I use it on another machine at home I might as well just set something up on the host that can take advantage of a professional environment.
March 11, 2013 #

Mini

Been hacking it. It’s all about the blueprints feature. Apparently this works even in the free version. Though they don’t mention it, you can take a site from one of their supported formats (BackupBuddy, Duplicator, InfiniteWP, ManageWP, etc) and just dump the zip in the blueprints folder to (almost) instantly open the site. It doesn’t open them as fast as a site actually exported in from DesktopServer Premium. It probably uses the same functionality as the Premium’s import feature but they forgot to inhibit the supported formats. Great for viewing complete backups of your site and/or making blueprints of pre-configured WordPress scenarios to automate stuff. Saves a ton of time!
March 11, 2013 #

Neil Link

Wow I must have been under the rock with you….This does look like a huge time saver. Definitely going to check this out an let you know what I think. Great post!!!
March 11, 2013 #

Steven Gliebe

I’ve been using the premium version for a few months and haven’t had any need to resort to anything more complicated. I just run a single multisite install. It only takes a few clicks to add whatever.dev for some crazy testing or radical new experiment. A few clicks to start/stop the servers. It does a bit more but I haven’t had a need for the other bells and whistles.

Super simple and easy. Well worth $50.
March 11, 2013 #

Nathan

I have been using for almost a year, great product, great support. One of the biggest requests I had when I first started using was to share over your LAN without having to edit your host files.That feature was added a few months back.

Also has Dreamweaver AND Coda 2 integration and you can actually view your site correctly while editing.

One thing I have now started to do, is set it up on a virtual machine so I can use WAMP if needed on my main machine (they dont play nice together)
March 11, 2013 #

donnacha of WordSkill

The perfect combo for anyone running both local and remote installations of WordPress is DesktopServer and InfiniteWP.
March 11, 2013 #

Ryan

I started out using MAMP as most everyone probably did.

I ran into so many permission issues though with it, most likely unique to my own computer’s setup, that I desperately wanted another solution. It caused issues with updating plugins and my SVN & Git repos.

I found DesktopServer and have been using this for quite some time, and have tried to convince my coworkers to switch too. It’s worked excellent for me, I’ve even somehow installed MultiSite without the premium version. 😉
March 11, 2013 #

Paul

guys, if you like the software and use it daily for your work, buy the premium version and support development.
- March 11, 2013 #
  
  Nathan
  
  Exactly.
March 11, 2013 #

Armand Morin

I’ve been using this for over a year and it’s awesome. I create separate instances to each plugin I develop and also a separate instance for each theme. I was using the full version of xampp, which this uses a a lite version of, but it’s a whole lot easier to create a new evironment.
March 12, 2013 #

Dan

I used it a year ago and have been wondering what’s new with it now, if anything, It’s a nice tool and mindlessly easy to set up, compared with MAMP, XAMP, etc. Very friendly to Windows users too.

How do you stay on top of your WordPress game?