Skip to content
LampRabit
New LampRabit 0.2: Node.js projects, templates, MySQL and Linux

Local PHP and Node.js development, without the setup.

Apache or Nginx, PHP, MariaDB, MySQL and Redis in one friendly desktop app. Drop a project into www and open it at https://project.test, PHP site or Node.js dev server.

Download for WindowsVersion 0.2.0 · Other platforms
See what it does

Free and open source · Windows and Linux · macOS in preview

LampRabit's Home page with Apache, PHP, MariaDB, Redis and Mailpit runningLampRabit's Home page with Apache, PHP, MariaDB, Redis and Mailpit running

Everything a project needs, one click away

  • Apache
  • Nginx
  • PHP 8.1 – 8.5
  • MariaDB
  • MySQL
  • Redis
  • Memcached
  • Mailpit
  • phpMyAdmin
  • Adminer
  • Node.js
  • Composer

How it works

From download to a running site in minutes.

1

Install your stack

Open Services and pick the Apache or Nginx, PHP and database versions you want. Downloads are checked against their published checksums.

2

Start everything

One click on Start all, or start a saved profile. Health checks confirm each service is actually answering, not just running.

3

Drop in a project

Put a folder in www, or create one from a template, and open https://name.test. Node.js projects get their domain too.

Sites

Every folder is a site. Every site tells you about itself.

Folders in www are served at name.test with public/ detection and a trusted certificate. Open a project to see what it is, what it needs, and run its commands.
  • Automatic .test domains and sub-domains, hosts file kept in sync
  • PHP version, web server and HTTPS per site
  • Framework, requirements, dependencies, database and git at a glance

Node.js projects

The domain follows your dev server.

Run npm run dev however you like. LampRabit sees which port the project listens on and points project.test and its HTTPS certificate at it within seconds. When the server stops, the domain falls back to the project's files.
  • Vite, Next.js, Nuxt, Astro, Express and NestJS
  • Node version from NVM, .nvmrc respected; npm, pnpm, Yarn or Bun
  • Started from LampRabit or your own terminal, either works

Services

Every version you need, side by side.

A live diagram shows how requests flow from your web server to PHP and the database. Every runtime shows the versions you have and the ones you can add, and tells you when a newer patch is out.
  • PHP 8.1 to 8.5 together, a version per site
  • MariaDB and MySQL at the same time, each with its own data
  • Install, switch and remove versions; data is kept

New projects

Laravel, WordPress or Next.js in about a minute.

Pick a template, a PHP or Node version and a database, and watch it build. Requirements are checked first, and if a step fails nothing is left behind.
  • Asks the same questions the framework’s own installer does
  • Database, .env and mail settings wired up for you
  • Write your own templates in YAML

Logs

When something breaks, you see why.

Live logs from every service and every project's dev server and commands, with source, severity and regex filters. Failures are explained in plain language with a suggested fix.
  • Port conflicts name the program in the way
  • Config errors with the file and line
  • One-click diagnostics report for bug reports

And a lot more

The small things that save you an afternoon.

Trusted HTTPS

A local certificate authority issues certificates for every site and sub-domain.

Apache and Nginx

Run one or both, side by side, and choose the server per site.

MariaDB and MySQL

Both at once on their own ports, with a default for new projects and tools.

Redis and Memcached

Real Redis on every OS, with redis-cli and phpRedisAdmin. Memcached too.

Mailpit inbox

Every email your apps send is caught locally, never delivered.

Share a site

Public URLs through Cloudflare Tunnel (no account) or ngrok.

Command line

php, composer, mysql and redis-cli on your PATH, following each site’s PHP.

Stack profiles

Save the services a kind of project needs and start just those.

Port conflicts

See which program holds a port and fix it in one step.

Health checks

Services are checked every few seconds, not just assumed running.

Keyboard first

A shortcut for everything. Press ? in the app to see them all.

Updates itself

Signed app updates, and notices when newer runtimes are out.

See the complete feature list

Coming from XAMPP or Laragon?

Familiar idea. Fewer workarounds.

Keep what you like about a one-click stack, and drop the manual virtual hosts and global PHP switches.

LampRabit compared with XAMPP and Laragon
FeatureLampRabitXAMPPLaragon
Automatic project.test domainsYesNo (manual vhosts)Yes
Trusted local HTTPSYes, per siteSelf-signed, manualYes
Several PHP versions at once, per siteYesNoSwitch globally
Apache and Nginx side by sideYesApache onlyOne at a time
Node.js dev servers at their own domainYesNoNo
MariaDB and MySQL side by sideYesMariaDBOne at a time
Health checks and diagnostics reportYesNoNo
Free for commercial useYes (MIT)YesPaid licence
LinuxYesNo installer listedWindows only
XAMPP vs LampRabitLaragon vs LampRabitHerd vs LampRabit

Platforms

Ready on Windows and Linux. macOS in preview.

Linux gets LampRabit's own builds of Apache, Nginx, PHP, Redis and Memcached, so you pick versions the same way as on Windows. On macOS the same builds are arriving now.

LampRabit platform support
RuntimeWindowsLinuxmacOS
Apache, Nginx, PHPAvailableAvailablePreview
MariaDB, MySQLAvailableAvailableComing soon
Redis, MemcachedAvailableAvailableAvailable
Mailpit, tunnels, ComposerAvailableAvailableAvailable
Node.js projectsAvailableAvailableAvailable

From the blog

Notes, guides and what's new.

LampRabit 0.2: Node.js projects, YAML templates, MySQL and full Linux support

What's new in LampRabit 0.2: Node.js dev servers at .test domains, 14 framework templates, MySQL next to MariaDB, real Redis, Linux builds and a redesign.

How to replace localhost:3000 and 127.0.0.1 with a real local domain

Use https://myapp.test instead of localhost:3000 or 127.0.0.1:8000. Why ports cause bugs, how .test domains work, and how to set them up for PHP and Node.

XAMPP vs LampRabit: which local PHP stack fits you in 2026?

XAMPP and LampRabit compared: PHP versions, .test domains, HTTPS, databases, email, Linux support and day-to-day workflow, with an honest verdict.

All posts Changelog

Built in the open

Help shape what comes next.

LampRabit is free and MIT-licensed. Report a bug, suggest a feature, or see what others are asking for.

Issues and ideas The roadmap Contribute

Your next project is one folder away.

Free and open source. Ready for Windows and Linux, in preview on macOS.

Download for WindowsVersion 0.2.0 · Other platforms
Read the install guide