XAMPP vs WAMP: Key Differences

The full form of XAMPP is Cross-platform, Apache, Mysql, Php, and Perl. The full form of WAMP is Windows, Apache, Mysql, and Php. The main difference between xampp and wamp is that multiple operating systems are supported by xampp, but wamp can only work on Windows operating systems. In this article, we will learn the difference between xampp and wamp.

What is XAMPP?

The full form of XAMPP is Cross-platform, Apache, Mysql, Php, and Perl. And Xampp is a completely free open source and easily available platform. Some attributes are involved in it such as supporting Filezilla, Mercury mail, Perl, etc. And multiple operating systems support this platform like Linux, macOS, and Windows that’s why it is a multi-platform. Installation and configuration of xampp is also easier. It can also be implemented and managed easily due to the control panel.

Features

Some of the features of xampp are given below:

• Multiple operating systems support xampp such as Linux, Windows, and macOS.
• User-friendly interface is provided by it.
• It also includes beginner-friendly extensions and modules.
• It can be easily installed and configured and implementation of it is also easy.

Pros

Some of the benefits of Xampp are given below:

• It’s a platform that is very straightforward to implement and configure.
• It is multi-platform means it can be used on different operating systems like Linux, macOS and Windows.
• It’s a standard platform.
• Only a single command is needed to start and stop the complete database stack and web server.

Cons

The disadvantage of xampp is given below:

• XAMPP can be more resource-intensive than WAMP due to its cross-platform nature and added tools.
• XAMPP’s broader components might complicate setup, especially for beginners.
• Additional components in XAMPP could pose security risks if not managed properly.
• XAMPP’s larger package size may consume more disk space compared to WAMP.

What is WAMP?

The full form of WAMP is Windows, Apache, Mysql, and Php. It can be downloaded very easily and its configuration setup is also simple. A graphical user interface is provided by its server, which can be used to start and stop any individual software component when it is running. An option is provided by its server for switching among multiple versions of PHP, different versions of Apache, and different MySQL versions. And due to this more flexibility is provided by it in terms of development which is not provided by the xampp.

Features

Some of the features of Wamp are given below:

• It is supported by Microsoft Windows.
• It involves PHP, MySQL and Apache.
• It is easy to navigate and use due to its straightforward interface.
• It is an open-source platform.
• Installation and setup configuration is straightforward for this platform.
• And it includes components that are Windows compatible.

Pros

Some of the advantages of wamp are given below:

• It can be installed very easily and its configuration setup is also easy.
• It is supported by the Windows operating system.
• Multiple modules are included in it such as MediaWiki, phpMyAdmin, OpenSSL, etc
• It can be easily used on both 64-bit and 32-bit systems.
• Like xampp, wamp also needs only a single command to start and stop the database and web server.

Cons

The disadvantage of wamp is given below:

• WAMP is tailored for Windows, while XAMPP is cross-platform, accommodating various OS.
• XAMPP offers better control over component versions, enhancing customization options compared to WAMP.
• XAMPP includes extra tools like Perl and FTP servers, broadening its functionality beyond WAMP.
• XAMPP’s broader component range aids in mimicking production environments more accurately than WAMP.

Due to the differences in the included components and their versions, applications developed on WAMP might behave differently when deployed on a different environment, such as a production server. XAMPP’s broader range of components can help mimic production environments more closely.

XAMPP vs WAMP: Key Differences

Below is a table to explain the difference between xampp and wamp.

XAMPP vs WAMP: Detailed Comparison

Below are some points to discuss the detailed difference between xampp and wamp.

Creator(S):

Xampp was developed in 2002 by a non-profit organization named Apache Friends, while Wamp was developed in 2003 by Romain Bourdon, a French engineer.

Platform (Operating System):

One of the main advantages of xampp is its multiple operating system compatibility. It can be downloaded for macOS, Linux, and Windows operating systems. On the Other hand, wamp is restricted in terms of compatibility with different operating systems. It can only be used on Windows operating systems but it can be used for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

Download Size:

Sizes of files are small for both platforms but the size of Wamp is tough equivalent to four times the size of xampp. For Linux and Windows, it is 149 mb, and for macOS, it is 158 mb. And on the other hand, for Wamp, it is around 518 mb for 64-bit systems.

Ease of Installation and Setup:

Installation and configuration setup of xampp is simpler and easier. After running the setup, the installer will ask you from the package which component you want to install. In xampp installation, it is only the decision-making step. Apart from that, a FAQ section is also available on the website of xampp which provides help to the users, and general queries and problems faced by the users are answered there.
On the other hand, if we talk about Wamp, many users are confused, especially those users who try to set up Wamp on any other operating system except Windows. The setup of the wamp is also simple. However, some people raise complaints about facing issues in solving the problem of missing dependencies. Brief instructions are also provided on the homepage of the wamp for downloading and installation of the wamp. But it can not be proved too useful for beginners as it does not provide any detailed instructions.

Folder Structure:

Folder structures are different for both Wamp and xampp. Project files of xampp are stored inside the folder named htdocs which is available inside the installation directory. And you can place the project files of the wamp inside the www folder which is available inside the installation folder of wamp.

User Interface:

Xampp and Wamp both provide an easy-to-use and primary interface for interaction. The graphical user interface is the central board in both wamp. And xampp by which you can switch on or off any individual segment programming projects when they are running. A control panel is provided by the xampp, in which the start and stop buttons are available for individual mechanisms like Apache when its control panel is running. GUI is also provided by the Wamp server, by which any individual component can be started and stopped when the Wamp is in running mode.

Facility:

Xampp and Wamp both can be installed after downloading them from their websites. You can install xampp on macOS, Linux, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. But Wamp can only be installed on Windows. And the installation of Wamp is a little bit complex in comparison to the installation of xampp.

Performance:

MySQL or MariaDB, Apache, and PHP are the core internal software components that are required for locally running the web server. So the performance of both xampp and wamp is almost similar as both are used for 5he same purpose and both have mostly similar software components.

Similarities Between XAMPP and WAMP

There are various similarities between xampp and wamp like both the platforms are open source and free web server packages and both are used for running web servers on the system. Php server, Apache, and multiple other required servers are included in both for the execution of web applications/websites.

The major advantage of both xampp and wamp is that you are not required to download MySQL, PHP, Apache, etc. separately for running a web server on your system. The only requirement is to download the xampp and Wamp available on their websites and simply need to install and configure them on your system.

Conclusion

• Full form of XAMPP is a Cross-platform, Apache, Mysql, Php, and Perl. Xampp is a completely free open-source source and easily available platform.
• Multiple operating systems support, User-friendly interface, etc. are some features of the xampp server.
• In comparison to WAMP, Xampp configuration and settings are difficult and complex.
• Full form of WAMP is Windows, Apache, Mysql, and Php. It can be downloaded very easily and its configuration setup is also simple.
• Microsoft Windows support, easy to navigate and use, etc. are some features of the Wamp server.
• Installation of Wamp is complex in comparison to xampp installation.
  The main difference between xampp and Wamp is that multiple operating systems are supported by xampp, but Wamp can only work on Windows operating systems.
• There are various similarities between xampp and Wamp like both the platforms are open source and free web server packages and both are used for running web servers on the system.