🚀 Local Development Stack Alternative for PHP

After much frustration with XAMPP and other dev stacks, I decided to try a better approach — one that feels closer to a real server environment without the Composer bloat or the limits of outdated tools.

I'm now using Debian Linux 12 (Bookworm) inside VirtualBox, running a full ISPConfig 3 server.

🌟 Why This Stack Rocks

✅ Secure Boot-compatible VirtualBox VM
✅ ISPConfig 3 with PHP versions 5.6 through 8.4
✅ HTTPS, DNS, MySQL, Mail, Let’s Encrypt — real-world server behavior
✅ No Composer dependency — ideal for classic or custom PHP apps

🛠️ Getting Started

This guide assumes you’re using a computer that supports VirtualBox. I’m using Debian 12 as my host OS, but it works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

⚠️ Note: These are general install instructions. You're responsible for anything that may go wrong on your system by following them.

Step 1: Download & Install VirtualBox

🔗 https://www.virtualbox.org/

On Windows and macOS, this should be straightforward.

🐧 On Debian Linux, you may need extra steps. See my post here:
👉 Installing VirtualBox on Debian 12 with MOK

Step 2: Download Debian ISO

🔗 https://www.debian.org

Get the debian-12.x.x-amd64-netinst.iso file.

Step 3: Create Your Virtual Appliance in VirtualBox

Follow these steps in VirtualBox:

Machine → New
Name your VM and choose a folder to store it.
Select the downloaded Debian ISO.
✅ Check "Skip Unattended Installation" to avoid Gnome getting installed.
Allocate at least 2048 MB RAM and 2 CPUs
Create a virtual hard disk — 20 GB minimum
Click Finish and start the VM.

Now follow this guide in a browser tab:

📖 Minimal Debian Server Install

Step 4: Configure Networking & Export Your Appliance

After Debian is installed:

Open VirtualBox → Settings → Network
Set "Attached to" → Bridged Adapter
Click OK
Right-click your appliance → ACPI Shutdown
Go to File → Export Appliance (create a backup to save time later)

Step 5: ISPConfig 3 Installation

Restart your appliance.

You can install ISPConfig 3 from the terminal window or over SSH (e.g., using Remmina or PuTTY). Log in as your non-root user, then:

su -

Install ISPConfig 3 by following:

📖 Perfect Server Auto-Installer for Debian/Ubuntu

Once installed, open your browser and go to:

https://YOUR_VM_IP:8080

🛡️ You’ll get a self-signed certificate warning — accept it.

Step 6: Set Up a Local Development Site

In ISPConfig:

Go to Sites → Add new Website
Enter a dev domain like dev1.local or any fake domain.
Note your Document Root for development.
Set:
- Auto-Subdomain: None
- SSL: ✅ (check the box)
- Let’s Encrypt SSL: ❌ (uncheck, this only works with a public IP, and port forwarding, with a real domain)
- PHP Mode: PHP-FPM
- PHP Version: your choice
Scroll back to the top and click the SSL tab
- Enter your info, leave the other fields blank (self-signed certs are generated) at the bottom click Save

Step 7: Set Up MySQL, FTP, SSH

Create Database Users and Databases under the "Sites" panel
Create optional FTP users
For secure access, set up a Jailkit SSH/SFTP user and assign an SSH key(Optional)

Step 8: Set Up Local Email Testing

Go to Email → Add Domain → enter your dev domain
Go to Email Mailbox → Add new Mailbox
Enter email & password → click Save

Use this to test mail functionality in local apps.

Step 9: Edit Hosts File on Your Host Machine

You need to map your fake domains to the VirtualBox appliance.

🐧 Linux or 🍎 macOS

Edit /etc/hosts:

sudo nano /etc/hosts

Add:

YOUR_VM_IP   dev1.local dev2.local

Then:

CTRL+O → Save | CTRL+X → Exit

(Optional DNS flush on macOS):

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

🪟 Windows 10 / 11

Run Notepad as Administrator

Open:

   C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Add:

YOUR_VM_IP   dev1.local
YOUR_VM_IP   dev2.local

Save the file

(Optional DNS flush):

ipconfig /flushdns

✅ Test Your Setup

Open a terminal and run:

ping dev1.local

If it resolves to your VM’s IP, you're set!

Try opening:

https://dev1.local/
https://dev1.local/phpmyadmin
https://dev1.local/webmail
https://dev1.local/stats

You’ll likely get SSL warnings — accept and continue.

🚀 Deploy Your Code

Use your IDE or code editor to upload files via:

FTP
SFTP/SSH
Or work directly in your VM’s Document Root

You now have a real server environment to build and test modern PHP apps — no XAMPP required.

🎉 Done! Enjoy Developing

That’s it. You've now built a powerful, flexible local dev environment using open-source tools, full LAMP stack features, and no Composer nonsense.

Happy coding!

🌟Donate to the Developers:

If you like this setup consider making a small donation to the developers of ISPConfig 3 by buying the manual here https://www.ispconfig.org/documentation/.

✍️ Written by:

Vector-Meister – vector-meister.com
🤖 Co-authored by ChatGPT (OpenAI) — Assistant for polishing, structure, and formatting.