Win with Drupal:Windows tools for Drupal users

Philip KiffD4K Communications

Toronto DrupalCamp 20143 May 2014

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Overview● This presentation is a series of screencasts showing how to quickly

install and configure some Windows tools for beginner Drupal users

● Core tools covered:

– nPackd

– XAMPP with Bitnami Drupal Module

– Git Extensions

– Plus some notes (along the way or at the end) on:● HashCheck● KDiff ● Drush● Notepad++

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nPackd

● Free, open source application package manager for Windows

● Large repository (over 1000) of free software packages

● Interface delivers simple, one-click installs and uninstalls

● Checks for updated packages and provides one-click updates

npackd.appspot.com

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Basic Tools

● Use nPackd to install:

– 7-Zip (for .zip and .tar extraction)

– FileZilla or WinSCP (for FTP)

– HashCheck (for MD5/SHA1 checksums)

– KDiff (for diff and merge) [installed with Git Extensions]

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● AMP = Apache + MySQL + PHP “stack” of software

– WAMP = Windows AMP

– XAMPP = X-platform (cross-platform) AMP + Perl

● Alternatives to XAMPP for Windows users:

– WAMP Server

– Acquia Dev Desktop

– Microsoft WebMatrix

XAMPPwww.apachefriends.org

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bitnami Drupal module for XAMPP

● Bitnami is a software project and a cloud hosting service

– one-click installs of open source software (Wordpress, Joomla!, Drupal) with full WAMP/LAMP/MAMP stacks

● Bitnami and XAMPP partnered to convert those full stacks into modules that integrate specifically with XAMPP

● All the software is free and open source, it is supported by BitRock who leverages bitnami in their cloud hosting services

bitnami.com/stack/xampp#drupal

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Git Extensions

● Graphical User Interface for Git

● Git is the version control system used by Drupal.org

● Single installer for MSysGit, Git Extensions and KDiff

● Most Git activity can be managed without command-line

● Adds context-aware right-click menu options for:

– initialize (create) new repository

– commit files

– apply a patch

code.google.com/p/gitextensions

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● Installed with bitnami Drupal module for XAMPP

● Accessed through Shell button in XAMPP Control Panel

Drush for Windows

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Notepad++

● Fast, light, powerful text editor for Windows

● Install with nPackd, but take care with updates

● Configure file associations after install

● Plugin Manager: installs and updates plugins, try:

– Compare (adds diff features)

– Save as admin (allows saving of local hosts file)

– TextFX Characters (adds menu item with text manipulations)● To preserve plugins across updates, check out:

http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/notepad-plus/ [...]

– You need to drop an empty file into the install folder● allowAppDataPlugins.xml

notepad-plus-plus.org

Philip Kiffphil@d4k.ca

D4K Communicationswww.d4k.ca

www.slideshare.net/d4kca

twitter.com/d4kca