When to prefer Xampp over a complete installation of Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP

Question

In which cases, except development, would you prefer Xampp over a complete installation and configuration of Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP.

Answer 1

Other than development, the only other time I use it is for demos - it's nice being able to take a "solution on a stick" to a customer.

I'd never consider it for a live/public site though.

Answer 2

I would say that XAMPP would be preferred over a complete manual install, whenever one is not confident enough, skilled enough, experienced enough, or educated enough to properly install, the OS/HTTP Server/Database Server/Language System with all the mainstream security and stability aspects in mind, and compensated for.

Although I recognize that XAMPP is not perfect it is, in 99% of cases, much better then anyone without proper knowledge could accomplish.

Answer 3

XAMPP is great for development because it's simple and fast. It's not about lack of skill or knowledge to build a server. It's a simpler solution. It's great if you want to use php and mysql. I wouldn't try to run a production server or try to add modules to it.

Answer 4

LAMP will perform 4x better

Benchmarks: http://www.formboss.net/blog/2010/02/hosting-php-linux-vs-windows-benchmarks/