What is WAMP LAMP MAMP XAMPP (Plus Their Differences)

Welcome, and you are probably here because of the confusion between WAMP, LAMP, MAMP, and XAMPP. Techies sure like to abbreviate everything, just what the heck do these mean? For a quick answer:

You sharp ones should already have the answer. “AMP” is simply a server stack consisting of Apache, MySQL, and PHP. The only difference between “WAMP LAMP MAMP XAMPP” is the supported operating system. For you guys who are still lost at “what is a server stack” – Read on for more!

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

WHAT IS A SERVER STACK?

A server stack is the collection of software that forms the operational infrastructure on a given machine. In a computing context, a stack is an ordered pile.

– WhatIs.com

In simple terms, a server stack is just a collection of software that we install on the server. The server stack is also considered a part of the server infrastructure, critical to the operations.

 

THE AMP SERVER STACK

Yes, a “server stack” is nothing but a suite of software that we install on a server. In the case of “AMP”, we are referring to a “web server stack”. A server that is specialized in dealing with the Internet and websites:

Component	Role	Link
Windows, Linux, Mac	Operating system. Don’t think this needs any explanation.	NA
Apache	HTTP web server. To handle HTTP requests, serve web pages.	Click Here
MySQL	Database. To store and process data.	Click Here
PHP	Scripting language.	Click Here

 

 

MORE COMPONENTS

But of course, an “AMP” stack is just a general collection. We can install as many components and run as many other services as required:

Component	Role	Example
FTP	File transfer protocol. Allow users to directly connect and manage their files.	Link
SSH	Secure shell. Allow users to directly connect and access the command line.	Link
SMTP/POP	To send and receive email.	Link
Socket	Allow persistent connections.	Link

 

WHAT IS XAMPP THEN!?

An “AMP” stack should be crystal clear by now. So what is this “odd one out” XAMPP?

• XAMPP stands for Cross-Platform (X), Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and Perl.
• It is simply a package that makes the installation of an AMP stack easy. Just download the respective Windows/Linux/Mac XAMPP package and run the installer. Don’t need to manually download and configure each component.
• As you can see, XAMPP uses “MariaDB” instead of “MySQL”. Long story short, the original developers were afraid MySQL might turn into a “paid database” when Oracle took over. So they came out with another version called “MariaDB”.
• Perl is just another programming language.

 

 

 

OTHER “AMP” INSTALLER PACKAGES

Of course, XAMPP is not the only “AMP” stack installer. Here are a few more that I know of:

Name	Supported OS	Link
XAMPP	Windows, Linux, Mac	Click Here
WAMP Server	Windows	Click Here
MAMP Server	Windows, Mac	Click Here
AMPPS	Windows, Linux, Mac	Click Here

 

OTHER WEB SERVER STACKS

One last point to make here – Please take note Apache-MySQL-PHP is not the only possible web server stack. There are many other technologies out there:

Component	Examples & Links
Web Server	Microsoft IIS, NGINX, LiteSpeed
Database Server	MSSQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite
Server-side Language	ASP, Python, Ruby
Mail Server	Mercury, Sendmail

So yep, if you have a Windows, IIS, MSSQL, PHP stack, you can call it a WIMP. 😆