Development environment setup

[JonathanH]

I don't want to test changes to my live store. I'd like to be able to test things on my local box and when I have them working be able to elevate the changes to a "quality assurance" (qa) area to have others test my changes. Finally I would then move my changes to my live site.

 

I was told that I could use XAMPP http://www.apachefriends.org/en/ to develop locally. It seems to be working ok. I do have to keep track of different configure.php files.

 

Also, can I install a second instance of oscommerce on my website for the qa purpose. It doesn't seem powweb will allow me to create a 2nd mysql database.

 

I understand the source code management / movement aspects of elevating my code from environment to environment. I'm using beyond compare, ultra edit and cuteftp. I'll also use dreamweaver for the html stuff. Is there a recommended way to move data from one database to the next?

 

I want to get started right with this project, so I'm looking for everyone's experience.

 

Thanks.

[♥Vger]

You're doing the right thing with using XAMPP. You should also test how the site looks using different browser - IE, Firefox, Mozilla, Opera, and (if you have a Mac) Safari. Also test on different screen resolutions - Firefox with Developer Toolbar makes this easy for you to do, also to analyse css used on the pages.

 

I wouldn't advise using PowWeb full-stop. In addition to offline testing I'd recommend registering a domain and having a hosting package where you do your online testing..

 

Vger

[JonathanH]

You're doing the right thing with using XAMPP.  You should also test how the site looks using different browser - IE, Firefox, Mozilla, Opera, and (if you have a Mac) Safari.  Also test on different screen resolutions - Firefox with Developer Toolbar makes this easy for you to do, also to analyse css used on the pages.

 

I wouldn't advise using PowWeb full-stop.  In addition to offline testing I'd recommend registering a domain and having a hosting package where you do your online testing..

 

Vger

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I plan to have my "live" store in the "root htdocs" and have the "qa" store in a subdomain \qa\htdocs\(catalog contents here).

 

Is your advise regarding having 2 osc sites in the same webspace? Or is it something particular about PowWeb that I'm not familiar with yet.

 

I'd like the QA area so my partners can see and approve changes before I affect the live shop. I really like doing the development on my local machine. Its so much faster having the files local.

 

Thanks for all your help.

[Guest]

you dont have to keep track of different configure.php files, for your development locally, place the configure.php files in the includes/local directory (just make sure you do not xfer those to the live web site)

[JonathanH]

you dont have to keep track of different configure.php files, for your development locally, place the configure.php files in the includes/local directory (just make sure you do not xfer those to the live web site)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the tip. I didn't realize this functionality existed.

 

Do you know if this also works for

easypopulate.php <-- there are some file paths coded in it

seo_cache.php <-- location of cache directory is coded in it.

 

Thanks again.