Testing PHP Scripts before installation
It is a good idea to test scripts like blogware, content management systems, etc before actually installing them on your web site.
Testing the script is a good idea because:
- It will give a rough idea about the capabilities of the script practically.
- You will feel more comfortable with the script. You will learn about the various functions first hand.
- You can make modifications to the script, test them and if they are perfect, use them on your main site. This will ensure that your website doesn’t get thrashed or stay down if the modifications go out of hand.
Here are some ways to test them:
- Create a test folder on your web server and install the script there. Test it and once you feel comfortable with it, delete the installation and reinstall it on the root on the domain. For example, if I were to test Wordpress, I would create a folder like say "test", upload the files to it and install Wordpress. I can access the installation at say www.ncaditya.com/test/ and when I am done, I can delete the script or move it to the root of the site.
- Try the script offline on your computer. If you have a windows based system, you will have to install a webserver with support for PHP and MySQL. Installing and configuring each of them independently is a bit difficult (unless you are SUPERGEEK!), but there are other ways. For example: www.uniformserver.com and EasyPHP make it very easy to install a complete working web server on your computer within minutes. So go ahead, download Uniserver, install it and you will be in a position to test any PHP-MySQL based script within minutes. I will be doing a more detailed post on Uniserver, but later
- Buy a separate shared hosting account exclusively for testing scripts. You can get an entry level hosting account for as little as $5/month. I believe it is worth the investment.
- Buy a VPS (virtual private server). An entry level VPS will cost about $10 per month. This will give you more flexibility. However, you may have to grind your teeth a little more harder
Whatever the way you choose, don’t forget to test and retest the scripts until you get comfortable with it.
