Installing WordPress On PC

What ia the best way to install WordPress on a PC? MySQL is already installed.

If you installed MySQL manually and you want to use this existing installation, then you’ll have to install AND configure everything else manually. See WordPress’ requirements on what to install and configure: https://www.ads-software.com/about/requirements/

Alternatively, you could use an all-in-one desktop server appliance that will bundle and pre-configure all the required software in one installation, ready to go out of the box.

I followed the WordPress offial instructions which say DeskTop Server should be installed at a cost of $99 which is not appopriate for a trial of the product ….

DesktopServer from ServerPress.com is just one of these all-in-one desktop server appliances. And no, you don’t need to pay for the premium version — especially not when you’re just starting out. The free version should work just fine.

Another WordPress-specific alternative is LocalWP (by Flywheel), and, again, the free version is all you need.

Download WordPress:
https://en-ca.www.ads-software.com/download/

Then just use xampp or mamp:
https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html
https://www.mamp.info/en/windows/

Either of these distributions come packaged with php, apache, mysql, etc.

I like “local” for local sites: https://localwp.com/

It looks like I will need a Word Press Server on my PCart some point.

Which Servers should I consider? Server Express and anything else?

Just install localwp.

If you want to put a site on the Internet, then contact a reliable web host. Do not run an externally accessible site on your own PC.

@patrick-grant

What are you trying to accomplish?

What I am trying to accomplish is
1. To build and test a WP site on a PC using MySQL and Python for SQL forms
2. publish the web site on Bluehost VPS or similar which would permit Python Scripts and upload reference table data to MySQL database
3. Use The PC to publish WP web page changes – without updating data in the database

This is still valid then:
https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/installing-wordpress-on-pc/#post-14838970

However, you would need to combine your Python and wp cli commands in a script, and would recommend using a Cron.

For number 3, you can’t do this, the db is used to store settings from theme, plugins, core etc as well as changes.

WordPress is a PHP application. While it’s possible to set up Apache (and maybe even nginx) to serve both PHP and Python scripts, the configuration is tricky, and the Python scripts will be CPU-intensive due to how they must be served. You’re probably better off choosing either Python or WordPress for the entire project.

How are changes normally made to WP web sites so they are tested and controlled?

Are they made on a PC then tested and then published to the host? Or are they made on the host then published?

In both above cases, are the changes made a tool like Desktop server or Local WP?

Generally not. The changes (if it’s just content) are made on the site then published.

WordPress, like many other CMSes are build with the intention that the content of the website can be placed in multiple states such as Draft, Waiting for Approval, In Translation, Published, etc, etc. A Revision history of the content (or page) is also maintained.

If you are updating content, generally it is done in Production.
If you are updating functionality, testing plugins, etc – then you should have a development server set up to do this, then duplicate your changes to production.
If your site needs a staging server, and a development server, then you could look at products like Flywheel:
https://getflywheel.com/managed-wordpress-hosting/
or Pantheon:
https://pantheon.io/why-pantheon
or Platform.sh:
https://platform.sh/product/

Many thanks for the replies. It has helped plan what I need to do to get setting up the site and environments as right as I can.

Presumably I need some sort of IDE which I can use for:
>>> Building Web Pages
>>> Updating Content: and
>>> Coding CSS, PHP, SQL and Python

Any good recommendations?

You do not need an IDE for building web pages or updating content. You do that in WordPress. I like VSCode for coding, but there are lots of good, free editors.