WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are usually web-based software, but did you know you can install and configure them as a local "web site" on your own computer? Whether you're trying to decide on a new CMS or testing out new features for your live site, having a local copy on your own computer is extremely helpful. Here's why.
A local "web site" on your own computer is a great way to test the CMS before signing up for a hosting account.
Sure, many hosts now offer all these CMS programs (and tons more). But you may be better served by a host that specializes in the CMS you choose.
Drupal, in particular, runs much faster on a host that specializes in Drupal sites. Because the servers are only running Drupal (not Drupal and WordPress, Joomla, mail servers, FTP servers, coffee servers, and anything else you can think of), the admins can tune them to Drupal's needs.
A Drupal-only host may cost a few more dollars a month, but the speed and performance are well worth it. Especially once you start adding modules and/or getting more traffic.
If you only want a quick peek at the software, the fastest way is to try an online demo. But online demos have a major drawback: they're hard to customize.
The real power of a contemporary CMS is in adding your own plugins or modules. You craft your own unique site. A local copy gives you unlimited freedom.
Often, you may be drawn to a CMS for a particular plugin. On an online demo, you usually can't install and test this plugin.
But you can install it on your local copy.
If you think this is great for one plugin, wait until you're experimenting with three or four. Sometimes a new plugin can unexpectedly break other installed plugins. It may even take down your whole site. You want to discover this now, not on your live site.
What if you've already got your live website? A local copy on your own computer is even more useful. Any time you want to change the theme or add a new plugin or module, you should always test these changes on a "development" copy of your web site. The simplest, most innocuous little change can fry your site, blanking every page into an empty White Screen of Death or a cryptic error message.
If that hot new plugin is going to melt your site, wouldn't you rather find out in the privacy of your own desktop? Not in front of the whole Internet?
Of course, the local development version probably will not match your live site exactly. The software may be slightly different. Changes that work on your own computer might still break your site.
Ideally, you'll also have a third site, the "staging" site. The staging site is on the same server as your web site, so that the software is as similar as possible, but it's at some private URL, like
However, setting up a staging site can be a bit tricky. The process varies with your hosting setup. If you've set up your CMS using the "one-click" installer that many hosts offer, you may not find anywhere to click to set up a second copy. You'll have to dig into the details and set it up the hard way.
Sound too intimidating? A local copy is much easier. If you decide to skip the staging site, then you need to set up a local copy on your computer. It's so much better to test your changes on a local development copy first, rather than slapping plugins on a live site and hoping for the best.
Ready to get started? Installing WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal is a bit more complicated than, say, downloading Firefox. You might want to understand how "virtual machines" work.
But basically, you'll download a program, download a big hunk of data for that program to run, then do some configuration. If you're impatient, you can skip right to how to install a CMS with VirtualBox and TurnKey Linux.
Test Your CMS Before Choosing a Host
A local "web site" on your own computer is a great way to test the CMS before signing up for a hosting account.
Sure, many hosts now offer all these CMS programs (and tons more). But you may be better served by a host that specializes in the CMS you choose.
Drupal, in particular, runs much faster on a host that specializes in Drupal sites. Because the servers are only running Drupal (not Drupal and WordPress, Joomla, mail servers, FTP servers, coffee servers, and anything else you can think of), the admins can tune them to Drupal's needs.
A Drupal-only host may cost a few more dollars a month, but the speed and performance are well worth it. Especially once you start adding modules and/or getting more traffic.
Customize Your Local Copy
If you only want a quick peek at the software, the fastest way is to try an online demo. But online demos have a major drawback: they're hard to customize.
The real power of a contemporary CMS is in adding your own plugins or modules. You craft your own unique site. A local copy gives you unlimited freedom.
Often, you may be drawn to a CMS for a particular plugin. On an online demo, you usually can't install and test this plugin.
But you can install it on your local copy.
If you think this is great for one plugin, wait until you're experimenting with three or four. Sometimes a new plugin can unexpectedly break other installed plugins. It may even take down your whole site. You want to discover this now, not on your live site.
Test New Plugins or Modules On Your Own Computer First
What if you've already got your live website? A local copy on your own computer is even more useful. Any time you want to change the theme or add a new plugin or module, you should always test these changes on a "development" copy of your web site. The simplest, most innocuous little change can fry your site, blanking every page into an empty White Screen of Death or a cryptic error message.
If that hot new plugin is going to melt your site, wouldn't you rather find out in the privacy of your own desktop? Not in front of the whole Internet?
A Local Development Site Isn't Perfect, But It's Better Than Nothing
Of course, the local development version probably will not match your live site exactly. The software may be slightly different. Changes that work on your own computer might still break your site.
Ideally, you'll also have a third site, the "staging" site. The staging site is on the same server as your web site, so that the software is as similar as possible, but it's at some private URL, like
staging.example.com. You try things out on your development copy, then test them one last time on the staging site. If they work on the staging site, you push them to the live site.However, setting up a staging site can be a bit tricky. The process varies with your hosting setup. If you've set up your CMS using the "one-click" installer that many hosts offer, you may not find anywhere to click to set up a second copy. You'll have to dig into the details and set it up the hard way.
Sound too intimidating? A local copy is much easier. If you decide to skip the staging site, then you need to set up a local copy on your computer. It's so much better to test your changes on a local development copy first, rather than slapping plugins on a live site and hoping for the best.
Get Started With VirtualBox and TurnKey Linux
Ready to get started? Installing WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal is a bit more complicated than, say, downloading Firefox. You might want to understand how "virtual machines" work.
But basically, you'll download a program, download a big hunk of data for that program to run, then do some configuration. If you're impatient, you can skip right to how to install a CMS with VirtualBox and TurnKey Linux.