Running a website locally is a convenient way to develop and test your site before publishing it on the internet. By installing WordPress on localhost, you can experiment with themes, plugins, and configurations safely without affecting a live website.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to install WordPress on localhost using XAMPP on FunOS. The process includes configuring Apache, creating a database, downloading WordPress, and completing the installation through the browser.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) used to create websites and blogs. It is one of the most popular website platforms in the world and powers millions of websites.

With WordPress, users can easily create and manage website content without needing advanced programming skills. WordPress supports thousands of themes and plugins, allowing you to customize the appearance and functionality of your website.

Why Install WordPress on Localhost?

Installing WordPress on localhost has several advantages:

• Safe testing – You can test themes, plugins, and updates without affecting a live website.
• No hosting required – Everything runs on your own computer.
• Faster development – Local websites load much faster because they do not depend on internet speed.
• Learning environment – Perfect for learning how WordPress works before deploying a real website.

Prerequisites

Before installing WordPress, make sure XAMPP is installed on your system.

XAMPP provides the components needed to run a local web server, including:

• Apache web server
• MySQL/MariaDB database
• PHP

If you have not installed XAMPP yet, see the following guide:

How to Install XAMPP on FunOS
https://funos.org/install-xampp-funos/

How to Install WordPress on Localhost Using XAMPP on FunOS

Follow the steps below to install WordPress on your local system.

Step 1: Create a Website Directory

First, create a directory where your website files will be stored.

Open a Terminal and run the following commands:

cd
mkdir -p website

This creates a folder named website in your home directory.

Note:
You can replace website with any other directory name if you prefer.

Step 2: Configure Apache DocumentRoot

Next, configure the Apache server so it serves files from the directory you just created.

Open the Apache configuration file:

sudo mousepad /opt/lampp/etc/httpd.conf

Find the following lines:

User daemon
Group daemon

Change them to:

User bustami
Group bustami

Note:
Replace bustami with the username you use to log in to FunOS.

This change allows Apache to run under your user account, making file permissions easier to manage.

Now locate the following lines:

DocumentRoot "/opt/lampp/htdocs"
<Directory "/opt/lampp/htdocs">

Change them to:

DocumentRoot "/home/bustami/website"
<Directory "/home/bustami/website">

Note:
Again, replace bustami with your own username.

This change tells Apache to serve websites from the directory:

/home/bustami/website

instead of the default:

/opt/lampp/htdocs

After making these changes, save the file and close the editor.

Step 3: Start XAMPP

Start the XAMPP services so Apache and MySQL can run.

In the Terminal, run:

sudo /opt/lampp/lampp start

If the services start successfully, you will see messages indicating that Apache and MySQL have started.

Step 4: Create a Database

WordPress requires a database to store website content, settings, and user information.

1. Open your web browser.

2. Go to the following address:

http://localhost/phpmyadmin/

3. Click New in the left sidebar.

4. In the Database name field, enter a name such as:

wordpress

In the right column, select Collation.

Click the Create button.

The database is now ready for the WordPress installation.

Step 5: Download WordPress

Next, download the latest version of WordPress from the official website.

Open a Terminal and run:

wget -4 -O latest.zip https://wordpress.org/latest.zip

This command downloads the latest WordPress installation package to your home directory.

Step 6: Install unzip

To extract the downloaded archive, you need the unzip utility.

Install it with the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install unzip

Step 7: Extract WordPress Files

Now extract the WordPress archive and place it inside the website directory.

Run:

unzip ~/latest.zip -d ~/website
mv ~/website/wordpress ~/website/funos

This creates a directory:

~/website/funos

containing all WordPress files.

Note:
You can replace funos with any folder name you prefer.

Your website will then be accessible at:

http://localhost/funos/

Step 8: Run WordPress Installation

Now complete the installation using your web browser.

1. Open your browser and go to:

http://localhost/funos/

2. Select your preferred language and click Continue.

3. Click Let’s go!

4. Enter the database connection details:

Database name
Enter the database name you created earlier (for example: wordpress)

Username

root

Password
Leave this field empty.

Database Host

localhost

Table Prefix

wp_

Then click Submit.

Next:

5. Click Run the installation.

6. In the Information needed section, enter the following details:

• Site Title
• Username
• Password
• Email address

Click Install WordPress.

If the installation is successful, you will see the WordPress success screen.

Accessing Your WordPress Website

After installation, you can access your website using the following address:

http://localhost/funos/

To log in to the WordPress dashboard, open:

http://localhost/funos/wp-admin/

Enter the username and password you created during the installation process.

Stopping XAMPP

When you are finished using your local server, you can stop XAMPP by running:

sudo /opt/lampp/lampp stop

Stopping XAMPP when it is not needed helps save system resources.

Example of a WordPress Website

Conclusion

Installing WordPress on localhost using XAMPP on FunOS is a practical way to develop and test websites safely on your own computer. By running WordPress locally, you can experiment with themes, plugins, and configurations without affecting a live website.

Once you are comfortable working with WordPress locally, you can later move your site to a web hosting server and make it accessible to the public.