🚀 Run Apache, MySQL, and PHP directly from VS Code — No need to manually install XAMPP!
🎯 Why XAMPP Manager?
Tired of having to open the XAMPP Control Panel repeatedly just to start a local server? Or lazy about downloading and configuring XAMPP on each different computer?
XAMPP Manager provides a portable PHP/MySQL development environment directly within VS Code. This extension detects your XAMPP installation or provides an internal server runtime so you can focus on coding, not server configuration.
✨ Key Features
⚡️ Zero-Download Runtime (Outstanding Feature)
- No Need to Reinstall XAMPP: This extension provides the ability to run an embedded server (PHP built-in server & portable MariaDB) if XAMPP is not detected on your system.
- One Click, Instant Run: Once the extension is active, right-click on your project folder, select
XAMPP: Serve Project Here, and your website will open instantly in your browser.
🎛️ Unified Control Center
- An elegant control panel inside the VS Code Sidebar that displays the status of:
- 🟢 Apache (Port 80/8080)
- 🟢 MySQL (Port 3306)
- Quick action buttons:
Start All, Stop All, Restart, and Open phpMyAdmin.
📂 Smart Workspace Detection
- Automatically reads the
htdocs folder from your local XAMPP installation.
- Virtual Host Creator: Create
*.test virtual host configurations directly from VS Code without manually fiddling with the httpd-vhosts.conf file.
🐳 Database Manager Integration
- Quick access to phpMyAdmin directly from the Status Bar.
- MySQL Shell: Run SQL queries directly from the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P > XAMPP: Run SQL Query).
🔔 Intelligent Notifications
Get real-time notifications when the server is running successfully or encounters a port conflict error.
- Auto-kill Process: If port 80 conflicts (for example, with Skype or IIS), the extension will offer to automatically kill the process.
📸 Interface
Experience complete control without leaving your code editor.
⚙️ Requirements & Dependencies
This extension is PORTABLE. You are not required to have XAMPP installed on your system.
However, for optimal performance, here are the recommendations:
If you ALREADY have XAMPP installed:
- XAMPP version 7.4.x or 8.x installed in the default directory (
C:\xampp or /Applications/XAMPP).
- The extension will automatically detect it and use the default binary.
If you have NOT installed XAMPP:
- Don't worry! This extension will automatically download and extract the XAMPP Portable Launcher (PHP 8.2 + MariaDB 10.11) to the extensions directory on the first run. Please ensure your internet connection is stable.
🛠️ Extension Settings
Customize the extension's behavior via Settings.json (VS Code Settings).
| Setting ID |
Description |
Default |
xampp-manager.autoStart |
Automatically start the server when VS Code opens a PHP workspace. |
false |
xampp-manager.apachePort |
Change the default Apache port (useful if port 80 conflicts). |
80 |
xampp-manager.mysqlPort |
Change the default MySQL port. |
3306 |
xampp-manager.useBuiltInPhp |
Highlight Feature: Force the use of VS Code's internal PHP server instead of XAMPP's Apache. |
false |
Example configuration in settings.json:
{
"xampp-manager.autoStart": true,
"xampp-manager.apachePort": 8080,
"xampp-manager.useBuiltInPhp": false
}
⌨️ Commands
Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P) and type XAMPP:
XAMPP: Start Servers - Starts Apache & MySQL.XAMPP: Stop Servers - Stops all services.XAMPP: Open htdocs Folder - Opens the document root folder in File Explorer.XAMPP: Open phpMyAdmin - Opens the database panel in the default browser.XAMPP: Create New Virtual Host - Local domain creation wizard.
🐛 Known Issues
- Windows Defender: When you first start
