ServBay Introduction and Instructions
Tags: webdev, beginners, php, update
Published: 2024-02-17 14:51:44

Somebody wants know what ServBay is and how to use it. Here's the instruction.

## About ServBay
ServBay is an all-in-one, user-friendly localized web [development environment](https://www.servbay.com). **It enables developers to deploy a localized development environment within minutes, addressing the installation and maintenance challenges faced by web developers (such as PHP, Node.js), test engineers, and small teams.** ServBay integrates web servers, databases, mail servers, and other web development tools, streamlining the workflow for developers.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/yneu5c936ng6w4ekjpqh.png)

Key features of ServBay include integrated support for multiple PHP and Node.js versions, customizable domains, and free SSL. With a command-line interface, unified service management, and compatibility with Docker and Node.js, ServBay ensures a clean and efficient working environment. The platform supports internal network access and facilitates easy sharing of local websites among team members. It enables binding locally running applications, like Docker and Node.js, to the host for domain access without custom ports like 8080/8081, supporting SSL.

ServBay also includes various versions of MariaDB and PostgreSQL, offering compatibility for developers accustomed to using MySQL. Additionally, it comes with NoSQL databases like Redis and Memcached, saving developers time in configuring cache services.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/q50vuwe13sfv1e1xnv2j.png)


**Advantages**
- User-friendly with one-click deployment, avoiding the need for time-consuming source code compilation or resource-heavy module dependency maintenance.
- Supports concurrent running of multiple PHP, Node.js, and databases, allowing code simulation in different environments to detect bugs early.
- Ready to use with seamless upgrades, eliminating the need for manual environment maintenance.
- Facilitates quick alignment of development environments among team members, avoiding inconsistencies.
- Supports multiple hosts and domains, free SSL certificates, and non-standard TLDs in domains, with reverse proxy and mapping for Docker/Node.js/Python environments.
- Multilingual support.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jfxk60vc2vgvdpzez4pz.png)

## Target Users
**Web developers, Node.js developers, PHP programmers, and IT operations engineers using the macOS operating system, as well as newbie programmers, teams requiring a unified development environment, and web development test engineers.**
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/06h45t9ffq7ie9ftp55q.png)



## System Requirements
Operating System: macOS 12.0 Monterey or a higher version
Processor: Intel or Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) chips
Storage Space: More than 10GB of available space

## Getting Started Quickly

**Download**:
[Obtain the latest version of ServBay](https://www.servbay.dev/download).

**Installation**:
Open the downloaded `.dmg` file with a double-click.
In the opened window, drag the `ServBay.app` icon into the Applications directory.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/fqgjk21q33xbhgarz22g.png)

Once installed, locate ServBay in the Applications directory.

**Accessing the Database and Deploying a Website:**

After downloading, double-click to open and click on the "Select Package" in the bottom right corner.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/gnmbh71olfv4unl1sk4f.png)

Select the necessary services.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/5jhgef6uldy1z9akkqdi.png)

After selection, click on "Initialize".
After initialization, open ServBay, navigate to the website management interface, and click on the browser icon under the "Hosts" on the left.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/oenaa2demvcybsbv7895.png)

Upon opening, access ServBay's demo website. Click on phpMyAdmin or Adminer to enter the database management tools.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ifu1dpx34lbbrvp41i33.png)

Find the database account and password on the ServBay "Settings" page.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jjdg3op10aqw9x96m619.png)

After entering the account and password, you can add a new database yourself.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/n13g6ywpnc60vs9bhdya.png)

Next, create a new website.
Under the "Hosts", click on the + button below, input website information, and deploy the website.
![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/gn81n357ijd1ea6e6qrb.png)


## Reference
https://support.servbay.com/getting-started/introduction.html
https://support.servbay.com/basic-usages/custom-domains.html#add-a-custom-domain-when-adding-a-new-website
https://support.servbay.com/faq/frequently-asked-questions.html

**Feel free to join [Our Discord Community](https://talk.servbay.com) at https://talk.servbay.com to engage with our staff and share any issues or feedback you may have.**