Installing existing CakePHP project locally

Question

I started a project where the previous developer was using CakePHP and they've sent me their files (core and app folders and files). I'm trying to set this project up locally using MAMP to make changes.

I'm also saving my files in dropbox, I don't have any experience with CakePHP but have some knowledge with PHP mostly through WordPress. Not sure where to start.

Thanks!

@summea

Router::parseExtensions('csv');
Router::connect('/', array(
    'controller' => 'pages',
    'action' => 'view',
    'home'
));  

/**
 * ...and connect the rest of 'Pages' controller's urls.
 */
Router::connect('/pages/*', array(
    'controller' => 'pages',
    'action' => 'display'
));
Router::connect('/' . Configure::read('Routing.admin') , array(
    'controller' => 'statistics',
    'action' => 'index',
    'prefix' => Configure::read('Routing.admin') ,
    'admin' => true
));
Router::connect('/img/*', array(
    'controller' => 'attachments',
    'action' => 'view'
) , array(
    'size' => '(?:[a-zA-Z_]*)*'
));
Router::connect('/files/*', array(
    'controller' => 'attachments',
    'action' => 'view',
    'size' => 'original'
));
Router::connect('/img/*', array(
    'controller' => 'attachments',
    'action' => 'view',
    'size' => 'original'
));
Router::connect('/terms', array(
    'controller' => 'pages',
    'action' => 'display',
    'terms'
));

Router::connect('/new-idea', array(
    'controller' => 'ideas',
    'action' => 'add'    
));

Answer 1

While this sort of question may not be a good fit for StackOverflow (possibly too broad,) the need to set up an existing CakePHP installation can be very real.

Depending on what version of CakePHP you are using, checking out the CakePHP book (version 1.3 / version 2.0) would probably be a great place to start (as @Shankar has noted in the comments.) For installation in particular, the "Beginning With CakePHP" or "Installation" sections of those respective CakePHP Book editions may be good starting points.

Note: you may be able to find the version of CakePHP in the cake/VERSION.txt file of the project folder.

Common Issues with Getting Started

1. Getting existing database data into your local database
2. Making sure your app/config/database.php is set up to match your database
3. Making sure that your app/tmp folder is "writeable"

Dealing with the Issues

1. If you have an .sql file of the previous (production) database, you can then create a new database locally (in your MAMP-based database,) and import the production .sql file into your new database. (Note: If you don't have an .sql file of the previous database, you may need to find a way to "dump" the existing/production database so that you can import it into your newly-created, local database. This may involve using something like mysqldump or phpMyAdmin to do the actual "database dump" as the database you need may be on the production server.)

2. In order to connect to the newly-created local database, however, you'll need to make sure that you have the correct database connection information listed in your app/config/database.php file. (Basically: make sure the host, login, password, database fields match your new, local database information. (Note: sometimes the host is the hardest part out of these setup pieces... for local installations, you may need to use 'host' => '127.0.0.1', instead of 'host' => 'localhost', ... or whatever hostname was used in the original/existing production setup.)

3. Your app/tmp folder needs to be made "writeable" by the "web server user". Your "web server user" probably depends on your MAMP setup... and may be able to be set in a way similar to the screenshot in this other (non-related) question. (Note: Basically, you are looking for a way to set the w "write permission" to "on" or "enabled"... for the user that is "connected" to your MAMP setup.)

Update

So, from looking at the screenshot you posted from the comments below, there are a few errors here that might help:

1. URL rewriting is not properly configured on your server

   • You can either try to find out what advice CakePHP gives you by clicking on the 1) Help me configure it link in the error message (to the right of the above URL rewriting error message,) or you can try looking around online for tips on configuring URL rewriting within a MAMP environment, like in this question (and related answers).
     
     

2. Cake is NOT able to connect to the database

   • Does the app/config/database.php file match your database credentials? (And, as you know, please don't post the database file... unless the connection data is changed to something generic :)
     
     

3. Please change the value of the 'Security.salt' in app/Config/core.php

   • At some point down the road, you'll probably want to change the letters/numbers in the Security.salt in your app/Config/core.php so that the letters/numbers are different from the standard installation salt value. (This could be randomly generated with some tool online... or done manually by hand.)
     
     

4. Please change the value of the 'Security.cipherSeed' in app/Config/core.php

   • This is similar to #3 above... but for the 'Security.cipherSeed' instead of the 'Security.salt' (and it appears to be a string of only numbers... rather than letters/numbers.)