Apache
Before starting: Make sure you have the necessary folders and permissions — get more information.
Links: Homepage | Downloads | Documentation
Dependencies: PCRE
Version: 2.4.37
The Apache HTTP Server is an open-source web server that was released in 1995.
Get the Code
Switch to /usr/local/src.
cd /usr/local/src
Download and extract the Apache HTTP Server.
curl --remote-name http://apache.mirror.iweb.ca//httpd/httpd-VERSION.tar.gz
tar -xzvf httpd-VERSION.tar.gz
Download and extract the Apache Portable Runtime.
curl --remote-name http://mirror.dsrg.utoronto.ca/apache/apr/apr-1.6.5.tar.gz
mkdir -p ./httpd-VERSION/srclib/apr
tar -xzvf apr-1.6.5.tar.gz --strip 1 --directory ./httpd-VERSION/srclib/apr
Download and extract the Apache Portable Runtime Utility.
curl --remote-name http://mirror.dsrg.utoronto.ca/apache/apr/apr-util-1.6.1.tar.gz
mkdir -p ./httpd-VERSION/srclib/apr-util
tar -xzvf apr-util-1.6.1.tar.gz --strip 1 --directory ./httpd-VERSION/srclib/apr-util
Move into the folder.
cd httpd-VERSION
Compile and Install
Configure, compile and install into /usr/local/mac-dev-env/apache-VERSION.
./configure \
--prefix=/usr/local/mac-dev-env/apache-VERSION \
--enable-so \
--with-included-apr
make
make install
Create a symbolic link to /usr/local/apache.
sudo ln -s mac-dev-env/apache-VERSION /usr/local/apache
Configuration File
Edit Apache's configuration file.
nano /usr/local/apache/conf/httpd.conf
Copy and paste the following text at the end of the aforementioned file. Make sure you replace the <username> string (3 times) with your macOS short username. This configuration only allows access from your local computer; all outside access is blocked.
ServerName dev.local
User <username>
Group staff
DocumentRoot "/Users/<username>/Sites"
ErrorLog "/usr/local/var/log/apache.log"
CustomLog "/usr/local/var/log/apache.log" common
<Directory "/Users/<username>/Sites">
Options All
AllowOverride All
IndexOptions NameWidth=*
Require all denied
Require host localhost
Require host 127.0.0.1
</Directory>
You also need to disable the ErrorLog and CustomLog directives in the Apache configuration file (leaving the above directives intact). Otherwise, Apache will log the same information in two separate locations.
Web Root
Create a folder that will contain your web sites and applications. I keep my projects in ~/Sites. You can place your projects wherever you'd like but make sure you update the path when mentioned in this article.
mkdir -p ~/Sites
Shell
Execute the following lines to update your Bash startup script.
echo 'export PATH=/usr/local/apache/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bash_profile
echo 'export MANPATH=/usr/local/apache/man:$MANPATH' >> ~/.bash_profile
Load the new shell configurations.
source ~/.bash_profile
Manual Start/Stop
To start the HTTPd.
sudo apachectl start
To shut down the HTTPd.
sudo apachectl stop
Automatically Start the Server at Boot
Create a configuration file for Launchd.
sudo nano /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.apache.apache2.plist
Do not name the file org.apache.httpd.plist as it collides with a similarly named file for loading the macOS web server.
Copy and paste the following text into the aforementioned file.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>Label</key>
<string>org.apache.apache2</string>
<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>
<string>/usr/local/apache/bin/httpd</string>
<string>-D</string>
<string>FOREGROUND</string>
</array>
<key>StandardOutPath</key>
<string>/usr/local/var/log/apache.log</string>
<key>StandardErrorPath</key>
<string>/usr/local/var/log/apache.log</string>
<key>RunAtLoad</key>
<true/>
<key>KeepAlive</key>
<true/>
</dict>
</plist>
Register with Launchd and start the server.
sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.apache.apache2.plist
Deregister with Launchd.
sudo launchctl unload /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.apache.apache2.plist
Verify the Installation
Verify that you have successfully installed Apache.
httpd -v
Visit your web server root page.