I’ve chosen to write a Desktop Server review because it has ingrained itself into an integral part of my web dev process over the years. Most of us in the WordPress realm are familiar with the famous five minute install, a simple way to get a website up and running. Those tedious tasks are over now, with Desktop Server you can setup a WordPress website with a few simple clicks.
Local Development
I’ve used MAMP, XAMPP, and even WAMP. Desktop Server takes these server environments a step further by adding enriched WordPress features to the development process.
Desktop Server Review: An Invaluable Resource That Will Save You Boatloads Of Time
Two of the software’s best features that I utilize are:
- Blueprints
- Bypass Login
It has a slew of other components for developer skillsets ranging from beginner to advanced. I’ve mentioned these two because they can make a huge positive impact on your efficiency right out of the gate.
Blueprints
Blueprints let you spin up installs with preset settings and options configured. It’s equivalent to duplicating a sandbox website from a template that you created. You can setup all your default settings, plugins, and even licenses.
Bypass Login
Instead of relying on a password manager, or a messy spreadsheet of passwords, bypass login gets you right into the site. You don’t have to remember to disable or tweak this setting once you’re ready to go live.
Desktop Server Doesn’t Restrict Your Workflow
After setting up a development website with Desktop Server, I run a bunch of bash scripts to add another layer of automation. It’s great with WP-CLI commands to further automate the database setup. It’s very easy to integrate into anyone’s workflow. When you’re ready to clean house, deleting install’s is easy, you can wipe the database and files with one click.
There is a free version and a paid version for $99. I highly recommend the paid version to get all the features. I’ve been using it to improve my process for the last 4 years.
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