Installing Apache on Microsoft Windows
Here I describe installation and configuration of Apache. These instructions should be valid for version 2.0.x and above.
Microsoft Windows
Should I choose Apache with or without SSL?
When downloading Apache from apache.org for Microsoft Windows Operating System, you are given two options:
- Win32 Binary without crypto (no mod_ssl) (MSI Installer)
- Win32 Binary including OpenSSL 0.x (MSI Installer)
OpenSSL is an open-source implementation of SSL and TLS protocols. mod_ssl is a package that provides cryptography for Apache via SSL and TLS. SSL and TLS specify how to securely encrypt and send confidential information over HTTP.
Content search on Windows 7
Windows 7 search interface is different from previous versions of windows and it can be frustrating for new users. The Start > search field is used for all search i.e. programs, files, file contents, and even outlook emails search. By default, search is limited to file names and properties like date and file type. The search does not look inside the files so if you are searching for a file whose name you forgot but remember some lines of text, you will not be able to find it with the default settings.
Getting started with Git
A version control system keeps track of changes in code. It keeps track of every change made by every developer. It allows code bases to be branched and then merged back. You can also go back in time to a point before you introduced something in the code. Version control is absolutely essential for software development.
Running Linux Commands on Microsoft Windows
DOS commands don't pack a punch leaving you wishing you could use Linux commands in Windows. Wish granted. You can run Linux commands on Windows. The answer is git bash.
- Download git bash from https://git-scm.com/downloads
- Double-click to install and follow directions. Make sure “Run Git from Windows Command Prompt” option is chosen.
Thats it! Run git bash and type ls to test.
Neat Microsoft Windows keyboard shortcuts
Microsoft Windows offer many simple keyboard shortcuts. If you use computer as much as I do, you would find that these commands are easy to remember and simplify life a little bit. The symbol + in the table means that you have to press those keys together. win is the windows button just to the right of ctrl with Microsoft Windows logo. The keys are typed in CAPS to increase readability e.g. one and the letter can be confusing is lowercase but not when L is written in uppercase. The commands are NOT case sensitive.
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Windows equivalent Mac commands
Following is a list windows commands and their mac equivalents:
How to modify your host file
Your host file enables your system to override the DNS setting for a domain. This change only affects your system.
The syntax of a host file entry is as follows
# this is a comment
192.168.22.22 molecularsciences.org
Basically you specify an IP followed by a domain. All lines beginning with # sign are comments.
Host files should only be edited with plain text editors like notepad, notepad++, sublime, etc. Following are the locations of host files on different systems: