Static Files

• httpd.conf.default — Apache server configuration. Instruct how the HTTP server should operate globally.

Environment

1. Install Homebrew.

2. Execute brew install httpd.

3. Execute sudo apachectl stop.

4. Check localhost and localhost on port 8080 in your web browser to confirm that there are no running Apache processes. The page should not return a response.

5. Execute sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.apache.httpd.plist 2>/dev/null to prevent the default Apache process from starting with the system.

6. Execute brew install php@7.4.

   • Other versions of php can be installed and unlinked/linked as needed. For example: brew unlink php@7.4 then brew link php@7.3 to switch from PHP 7.4 to 7.3.

7. Copy and rename the project file httpd.conf.default to httpd.conf and make adjustments as necessary.

   • In Nova code editor, the Build action in the Apache task will copy httpd.conf and make the necessary modifications automatically.

   • In Nova code editor, the Clean action in the Apache task will remove error and log files that are created by the running Apache process.

8. Execute apachectl start -f $(pwd)/httpd.conf to start the Apache process.

   • In Nova code editor, the Run action in the Apache task will start the Apache process.

9. Execute apachectl stop -f $(pwd)/httpd.conf to stop the Apache process.

   • In Nova code editor, stopping the Run action in the Apache task will stop the running Apache process. It will also stop itself if it detects the process has been closed elsewhere.

HTTPS

To be able to use HTTPS with localhost we need a root certificate and a domain certificate specifically created for the localhost domain.

1. Follow the steps laid out by Daksh Shah to generate an SSL certificate for your local development environment.

2. Place the resulting server.key and server.crt files into the same directory as httpd.conf.

3. Make adjustments to httpd.conf:

   • Change Listen localhost:8888 http to Listen localhost:8888 https.

   • Change SSLEngine off to SSLEngine on.

Modules

XSendFile

mod_xsendfile is a module that allows you to instruct Apache to send a file. It is most useful when performing access checks in PHP, so you could allow or deny access to certain files depending on authentication or other metrics.

Download and follow the instructions to enable this module: https://github.com/nmaier/mod_xsendfile

I am also looking for a better way to install modules like this one directly through homebrew.