A comfortable web development environment for most peoples might vary, but for most of them, it has to be easy to access web root folder and files, easy to manage webserver and mysqlserver.

On this articles, I’m going to give you a tutorial on setting up a comfortable web development environment for linux systems, from my point of view. Not entirely all systems, tested on Ubuntu 9++, Kubuntu 9++ and up, Mint 10 KDE. In theory, it will work on most linux system, just need some workaround.

Here are a few things that needs to be prepared :
1. Fully working Linux Systems
2. A bit knowledge on how to use the terminal
3. XAMPP for Linux [get it here]
4. Patience

First thing first, assume that I use apronouva as username and my host system name is insomnity, change it to whatever username you used for login into your systems.

Lets assume you already downloaded XAMPP for linux, by the time I wrote this tutorial, it is ver. 1.7.4 packed with :

Apache 2.2.17, MySQL 5.5.8, PHP 5.3.5 & PEAR + SQLite 2.8.17/3.6.16 + multibyte (mbstring) support, Perl 5.10.1, ProFTPD 1.3.3d, phpMyAdmin 3.3.8, OpenSSL 1.0.0c, GD 2.0.1, Freetype2 2.1.7, libjpeg 6b, libpng 1.2.12, gdbm 1.8.0, zlib 1.2.3, expat 1.2, Sablotron 1.0, libxml 2.7.6, Ming 0.4.2, Webalizer 2.21-02, pdf class 009e, ncurses 5.7, mod_perl 2.0.4, FreeTDS 0.63, gettext 0.17, IMAP C-Client 2007e, OpenLDAP (client) 2.4.21, mcrypt 2.5.7, mhash 0.8.18, eAccelerator 0.9.6.1, cURL 7.21.0, libxslt 1.1.26, libapreq 2.12, FPDF 1.6, XAMPP Control Panel 0.8, bzip 1.0.5, PBXT 1.0.11-6-pre-ga (temporarily disabled), PBMS 0.5.15 (temporarily disabled), PBMSlib 0.5.15, ICU4C Library 4.2.1

Pretty much complete, right ? Now lets get the dirty bit begin. Now hit up a terminal and make sure you and the newly downloaded xampp-linux-1.7.4.tar.gz are on youre home folder. In short, just extract the whole archive into directory /opt/ . Afterwards, set up the permission owner of the files and make some linking to the home folder so we won’t need to go deeper into the system just to edit our web files and folders. Remember, change apronouva to your own username!

apronouva@insomnity ~ $ sudo tar -zxvf xampp-linux-1.7.4.tar.gz -C /opt/
apronouva@insomnity ~ $ sudo chown -Rf apronouva /opt/lampp/htdocs/
apronouva@insomnity ~ $ ln -s /opt/lampp/htdocs/ www/

Yup, particularly installed, your xampp for linux and basic directory set up. The outcome will be as belows.

Now for the Graphical User Control Panel.

Actually, xampp already have linux graphical control panel, its just that the documentation are not that complete and its features not as rich as Windows Xampp Control Panel. All located on directory /opt/lampp/share/xampp-control-panel/ theres python application and already compiled binary. We’re going to use the already compiled one. Hook up terminal again.

apronouva@insomnity ~ $ sudo nano ~/.local/share/applications/xampp-control-panel.desktop

Now input the settings and code below. For gnome user, change kdesudo to gksudo. For the icon, you may use whatever icon you wished for because the location and icon name might vary depending on your system.

[Desktop Entry]
Comment=Start Developing Web Apps
Name=WebDev Env. CP
Exec=kdesudo /opt/lampp/share/xampp-control-panel/xampp-control-panel.py
Icon=/usr/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/actions/kt-start.png
Encoding=UTF-8
Terminal=false
Type=Application

Next, your shortcut should be available on your Application Launcher under Applications > Others (gnome) or Application > Lost & Founds (kde) . You will need to provide sudoers passwords to use the application.

Yup, now just activate the apache2 server, mysql server, open up your browser and point to http://localhost. Now you will be able to edit and develop your web application easier. The services can be activated when needed and won’t eat your resource when not needed.

If you want to mess around with the configuration such as httpd.conf, mysql.ini, php.ini, proftpd.conf. Go to /opt/lampp/etc/

Well, thats all for now folks, happy developing. Comments, suggestions and corrections are always welcomed.

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CLI Way
1. Open Terminal :

apronouva@insomnity:~$ lsusb
Bus 008 Device 002: ID 0461:4d22 Primax Electronics, Ltd
Bus 008 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 002: ID 201e:2009
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 5986:0145 Acer, Inc
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

2. Got the “Bus 006 Device 002: ID 201e:2009″ ? Good.

apronouva@insomnity:~$ sudo modprobe usbserial vendor=0x201e product=0x2009
apronouva@insomnity:~$ ls /dev/ttyUSB*
ls: cannot access /dev/ttyUSB*: No such file or directory

3. Because /dev/ttyUSB* not found, it means the devices detected as CD-ROM. You need to eject it first, normally it should be /dev/sr1 if you already have CD-ROM devices. Could be different.

apronouva@insomnity:~$ eject /dev/sr1
apronouva@insomnity:~$ ls /dev/ttyUSB*
/dev/ttyUSB0  /dev/ttyUSB1  /dev/ttyUSB2

4. Works good, next, edit /etc/wvdial.conf

[Dialer Defaults]
Init = ATZ
Init = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Modem Type = USB Modem
#Baud = 921600
Baud = 115200
Modem = /dev/ttyUSB0
Phone = #777
Username = aha@aha.co.id
Password = aha
New PPPD = yes
Stupid Mode = 1

5. Save it, now test your connection

apronouva@insomnity:~$ sudo wvdial
[sudo] password for apronouva:
--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.60
--> Cannot get information for serial port.
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
OK
--> Modem initialized.
--> Sending: ATDT#777
--> Waiting for carrier.
ATDT#777
CONNECT 3100000
--> Carrier detected.  Starting PPP immediately.
--> Starting pppd at Sat Sep 18 20:56:03 2010
--> Pid of pppd: 2265
--> Using interface ppp0
--> local  IP address 10.64.22.10
--> remote IP address 192.168.240.83
--> primary   DNS address 202.152.192.35
--> secondary DNS address 202.152.203.2

Great, now its connected.

Another workaround, if you prefer usb_modeswitch method, take it from here and here, then edit /etc/usb_modeswitch.conf :

DefaultVendor = 0x201e
DefaultProduct = 0x2009
#
TargetVendor = 0x201e
TargetProduct = 0x2009
#
CheckSuccess=20
#
MessageContent="555342431234567824000000800108df200000000000000000000000000000"

You can add this lines into /etc/modules to autodetect modem on each reboot :

usbserial vendor=0x201e product=0x2009

Warning : This might be different on another distros, practically, it lets modprobe to execute “usbserial vendor=0x201e product=0×2009″ at reboot.

GUI way :
1. Download and install gnome-ppp package (sorry, haven’t found KDE one)
2.a. Make sure modem detected, if not, you need to use CLI way above
2.b. Activate “Connect to Internet using Modem” on menu System > Administration > User & Groups > Advanced Settings > User Privileges
3. Set it up according to the variable on CLI above, connect, done! Thats it! only three steps, and practically two.

Update :

Info from Farihul Rouf (translated)

GUI way :
1- insert Modem AHA
2- after detected, issue command : cd /media/AHA\ Dialer/Linux/
3- check the file using : ls -l
You will get something like these :
-r——– 1 wangkeit wangkeit 827218 2010-06-03 17:12 data.bin
-r——– 1 wangkeit wangkeit 19701 2009-09-12 18:40 DataCard_Verify
-r——– 1 wangkeit wangkeit 23369 2010-06-03 17:12 install
-r——– 1 wangkeit wangkeit 16971227 2010-06-03 17:12 MobilePartner.tar.gz
-r——– 1 wangkeit wangkeit 871 2010-06-03 17:12 readme.txt
-r——– 1 wangkeit wangkeit 920 2010-06-03 17:12 SysConfig.dat
4- issue sudo chmod 700 install
5- execute it : ./install
6- Wait up a moment, and AHA GUI client will be installed : You can use it to connect and sent sms.

Disclaimer : On Ubuntu, BlankOn, Backtrack, OpenSUSE and Fedora, the essential is having package wvdial installed, on Archlinux, because its pretty nice and bleeding edge distros, it needs more workaround on the kernel. This posts was originally from my personal blog at Chibifish. I personally prefer CLI way. IMHO, its more stable than the GUI way. Basically, the installation on most modem are the same, you only need to probe its modules, make the system detect your modem, then let wvdial do the connection for you.

Credits: AHA, Insomnity, forum Ubuntu, milis ID-Ubuntu, milis BlankON.

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GRUB

Grub uses 640×480(px) and up to 14 color for the background image. You may convert/resize any images with any image editor, save it as .xpm file. If you have ImageMagick, you may use :

$ convert yourbootimage.png  -colors 14 -resize 640x480  bootimggrub.xpm

Then gzipped and copy boot-grub.xpm to /boot/grub

$ gzip bootimggrub.xpm
$ cp bootimggrub.xpm.gz /boot/grub

Now open /boot/grub/grub.conf and add bootimggrub, here’s an example of configuration :

default=0
timeout=33
splashimage=(hd1,0)/boot/grub/bootimggrub.xpm.gz
foreground=000000
background=fafafafa
hiddenmenu
title Slackware 12 (2.6.21.5-huge-smp)
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-huge-smp-2.6.21.5-smp root=/dev/hda10 ro
boot
title Windows XP SP3
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader +1

The other customizable lines:
default=0: The default priority boot Operating System
timeout=33: Countdown timer setting for selecting OS
foreground, background: This is for the color setting.
title Slackware 12 (2.6.21.5-huge-smp): This is where you edit the title for your OS, only this line, the afterlines are meant to be left as is.

LILO

LILO uses the same resolution, 640×480(px), but up to 255 color. Convert and save your image as .bmp file. After that, copy that file to /boot. For example, I use mybootimg.bmp, then :

$ cp mybootimg.bmp /boot

Now edit file /etc/lilo.conf, and put these lines:

install=bmp
bitmap=/boot/mybootimg.bmp
bmp-table=50p,215p,1,6
bmp-colors=255,0,240,75,240,60
bmp-timer=580p,455p,0,254,

Where :
bmp-table : A position of where the LILO table must be shown. The syntax is (x-coordinates),(y-coordinates),(column),(row); p means in pixels. On my examples, it means the LILO table will be shown 50pixels from left and 215pixels from top.

bmp-colors : Color setting. The syntax is <foreground>,<background>,<shadowbackground>,<selectionforeground>,<selectionbackground>,<selectionshadow>

You may left both shadow color and selection shadow color empty, the value is 0-254.

bmp-timer : Countdown Timer  setting for OS selection. The syntax is  <x-coordinates>,<y-coordinates>,<bgcolor>,<fgcolor>,<shadowcolor>

Check above rule for value.

Once you are sure that /etc/lilo.conf is properly configured, run

$ lilo -v

This is an old writing of mine, just want to keep it safe

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