Setting up a reliable local development environment is not always easy. Whether you're juggling multiple PHP versions, wrestling with database configuration, or trying to debug that bug in production, local development should be your safe playground — not another source of frustration.
Enter DDEV: a free, open-source, Docker-based tool that lets you spin up a fully configured local Joomla environment in minutes, on any operating system. No more MAMP, XAMPP, or "it works on my machine" headaches.
In this talk I will explain how to get started with DDEV for Joomla development, from installation to code debugging. If you're not afraid to work in the terminal, DDEV might be the best local development environment you've ever worked with.
Topics
Installing DDEV — What is DDEV and how to get it up and running.
How to use DDEV — How to create a DDEV project, install Joomla from scratch, and have a fully functional local Joomla site running in under five minutes.
Using ddev-joomla — Ddev-joomla is a set of scripts that add additional Joomla support to DDEV. Create a Joomla project, switch PHP versions, backup your development sites. Ddev-joomla handles all the heavy lifting.
Debugging with Xdebug — How to enable and configure Xdebug in DDEV with a single command, and how to connect it to VS Code and PhpStorm for step-by-step PHP debugging of your Joomla extensions.
Tips and ticks - Additional tips and tricks when working with DDEV.