Local testing environment

Hey guys, how u doing?

I'm working at a project right now doing some testing and data entry and we have a "local" environment for testing purposes in order to test modifications before actually uploading them to the "live" version of the website. We use git for this and I use VS Code to modify stuff and then push them.

It's logical to work this way so I wanna do the same with OpenCart but I already have my website working with lots of modifications so, is it possible to "copy" my website and install it on my computer (local)? I've found three options so far:
1. Install OpenCart using XAMPP.
2. Similar to what we do at work with git and stuff.
3. Someone in that post suggested TortoiseSVN.

Any other ideas or suggestions?

Thanks!

Basicall operating a "dev server" locale is a very good idea!
Would be good if more people would do that ..

Back to you:

1. install XAMPP (32bit only up to php 7.2.x, 64bit has also php 7.4.x)
2. use TortoiseSVN
3. set up TortoiseSVN locally and work with that (if you need a version control)
4. install optional Winmerge (to compare files and folders easily)

Further:

A. make a complete copy (folders and files and database) of the live shop
B. copy all folders and files as the are into the local folder after htdocs (xampp) into a new subfolder
C. adjust the 2 config.php (catalog and admin)
D. (optional): adjust the .htaccess

Now you have a locale copy of your live shop you can test whatever you want/need.

OSWorX wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 15, 2020 2:48 pm

Basicall operating a "dev server" locale is a very good idea!
Would be good if more people would do that ..

Back to you:

1. install XAMPP (32bit only up to php 7.2.x, 64bit has also php 7.4.x)
2. use TortoiseSVN
3. set up TortoiseSVN locally and work with that (if you need a version control)
4. install optional Winmerge (to compare files and folders easily)

Further:

A. make a complete copy (folders and files and database) of the live shop
B. copy all folders and files as the are into the local folder after htdocs (xampp) into a new subfolder
C. adjust the 2 config.php (catalog and admin)
D. (optional): adjust the .htaccess

Now you have a locale copy of your live shop you can test whatever you want/need.

Thank you so much for your answer, help and time.

Seems quite easy to do but I don't wanna make any mistakes so:
1. XAMPP opened up a control panel with different options like MySQL, Apache, FileZilla, Mercury, Tomcat and another bunch of choices, anything I should consider tweaking there?
2. Setting up TortoiseSVN means after installation I should do anything in particular?
3. Winmerge would be similar to VS Code? Like a file explorer?
/edit:
4. I don't have config.php inside catalog but I do in admin, what should I adjust? Sorry for such newbie questions haha
5. Same for .htaccess what do I need to adjust?

Sorry for the newbie questions but sometimes I'm not even sure what I'm doing hahaha

Thanks a lot!

No problem, it is always good to see when someone goes the "correct" way ..

Winmerge, see https://winmerge.org/
A tool to compare files and check the differences. Files can be edit directly in it.

XAMPP > Controlpanel: basically you need only MySQL and Apache. all others not really (but you can if you want).
What I do, is to edit the php.ini and "tweak" that a bit.
So, for example I add there my SMTP settings to be able to send emails right out of the dev shop the "normal" way.
Needed then also to enable and add the SMTP-Settings in the store configuration.

TortoiseSVN: I use that for my locale development.
Advantages are:
1. no external dependies
2. useable also when I have no internet
3. all files are stored locale

Simply install, setup (define your settings) and go.
But only needed if you want/need a "version control" (fine to have ..)

config.php
Every OpenCart Shop has 2 config.php: one in root folder, one in ../admin
Otherwise the store would not operate ..

.htaccess
Is optional if you want to test locale the SEO-URLs and/or other
If no SEO, and/or no additional requirement, no need to for a .htaccess

One (last) tipp: try to configure XAMPP the same way your production server is.
Same php-Version is very important, MySQL (Maria-DB) also.
Not so other like FPM or not.

But if you have some special settings on your production server, you should try to have them on your dev-server also.
If not replicable 1:1, try to have similiar options.
That way you avoid big troubles later!

And one more tipp: try to have a clean structure!
Do not put all files into one (root) folder.
For example:
{rootfolder} htdocs and so on.
Doing so, calling the different OpenCart versions are very easy like:
https://localhost/oc/3/3/0/3 or https://localhost/oc/3/3/0/6

SSL-Certificate for enabling https can be done - and should.
With XAMPP it is not required to install an external or paid.
The default will not work (!!), because to weak.
Simply create one locale with stronger algo - search the net for instructions (is done within 2 minutes).