Demonstrates some of the best native Windows software tools available for working with Drupal. Focuses on XAMPP, Bitnami Drupal, and Git Extensions. Starts out by introducing nPackd (an awesome Windows package manager) which is then used to install most of the other software. Presentation includes multiple screencasts showing installation and configuration steps for each package.

1. Win with Drupal:
Windows tools for Drupal users
Philip Kiff
D4K Communications
Toronto DrupalCamp 2014
3 May 2014

2. 2
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++

3. 3
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

4. 4
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]

5. 5
● 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
XAMPP
www.apachefriends.org

6. 6
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

7. 7
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

8. 8
● Installed with bitnami Drupal module for XAMPP
● Accessed through Shell button in XAMPP Control Panel
Drush for Windows

9. 9
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

10. Philip Kiff
phil@d4k.ca
D4K Communications
www.d4k.ca
www.slideshare.net/d4kca
twitter.com/d4kca