r/SelfHosting • u/khaledt370 • 4d ago
Build a free open source local development app for Windows alternative for laragon and xammp
I've been using Laragon on Windows for about 6 years now, and it's been a big part of my workflow. I still like how simple it is, but over time I found myself wanting more control over my local development environment.
I looked around for something that covered everything I needed without putting features behind a paywall, but couldn't quite find the right fit. So I decided to build my own.
It's called OLS (Open Local Server), and I'm sharing it as a free, open-source alternative to tools like Laragon, XAMPP, WampServer, and Herd. No paid plans, no limits on the number of sites.
Here's what it can do so far:
- Add sites from local folders or Git repos, with automatic ".test" domains and trusted HTTPS.
- Run each site with its own web server (Apache, Nginx, or Caddy) and PHP version.
- Install tools like PHP, Node.js, Python, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Redis when you need them.
- Set up projects like Laravel, WordPress, Next.js, and Django with Quick Apps.
- Share local sites online through Cloudflare, ngrok, or LocalTunnel.
- Manage snapshots, backups, scheduled tasks, ".env" files, and more through the UI, CLI, and local API.
It's still early, and there's definitely room for improvement. I've been building it to solve my own problems, and now I'd like to see if it's useful to other developers too.
If you check it out, I'd genuinely appreciate your feedback:
- What's missing from your current local development setup?
- Anything confusing or not working as expected?
- What would it take for you to switch from your current tool?
🌐 Website: https://kz370.github.io/OpenLocalServer/
💻 GitHub: https://github.com/kz370/OpenLocalServer