# Phase 2: Local macOS Apache Development ## Scope This guide applies only to local macOS development using Apache `httpd`. It does not apply to production. Production is served through Nginx, which does not read `.htaccess` files. ## Local hostname Use: ```text http://defapp.local/ ``` Add this entry to `/etc/hosts`: ```text 127.0.0.1 defapp.local ``` ## Local document root Set the local document root to the parent applications directory: ```text /Users/YOUR_USERNAME/websites/apps ``` The application then resolves at: ```text http://defapp.local/defapp/ ``` Alternatively, point the virtual host directly to DefApp: ```text /Users/YOUR_USERNAME/websites/apps/defapp ``` The application then resolves at: ```text http://defapp.local/ ``` Choose one URL scheme and use it consistently. ## Recommended Apache virtual host Save a local-only virtual-host file, for example: ```text /etc/apache2/extra/httpd-defapp.conf ``` Example configuration when Apache points directly to the DefApp directory: ```apache ServerName defapp.local DocumentRoot "/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/websites/apps/defapp" Options -Indexes +FollowSymLinks AllowOverride None Require all granted Require all denied Require all denied Require all denied ErrorLog "/private/var/log/apache2/defapp-error.log" CustomLog "/private/var/log/apache2/defapp-access.log" combined ``` Replace `YOUR_USERNAME` with the local macOS account name. ## Why `AllowOverride None` This configuration intentionally uses: ```apache AllowOverride None ``` The local Apache virtual-host configuration owns access control. This avoids scattered `.htaccess` behavior and keeps local behavior explicit and reviewable. Apache only processes `.htaccess` directives when the relevant directory allows overrides. `AllowOverride FileInfo` or `AllowOverride All` is required for `.htaccess` rewrite directives. [Apache documentation] ## Enable the virtual host Ensure Apache includes the local file from `/etc/apache2/httpd.conf`: ```apache Include /private/etc/apache2/extra/httpd-defapp.conf ``` Check configuration syntax: ```bash sudo apachectl configtest ``` Expected result: ```text Syntax OK ``` Restart Apache: ```bash sudo apachectl restart ``` ## Local validation ```bash curl -i http://defapp.local/ curl -i http://defapp.local/css/app.css curl -i http://defapp.local/pages/breadcrumbs.php ``` Expected results: | Path | Expected result | |---|---| | `/` | HTTP 200 | | `/css/app.css` | HTTP 200 and `Content-Type: text/css` | | `/pages/breadcrumbs.php` | HTTP 403 or HTTP 404 | ## If `.htaccess` testing is needed Use it only for Apache compatibility testing. Create a local-only file that is not committed to the production deployment: ```text .htaccess.local ``` Example: ```apache Options -Indexes ``` To test actual `.htaccess` processing, local Apache must permit it: ```apache AllowOverride Options FileInfo ``` Do not use this as the normal configuration. Prefer virtual-host configuration with `AllowOverride None`# Phase 2: Local macOS Apache Development ## Scope This guide applies only to local macOS development using Apache `httpd`. It does not apply to production. Production is served through Nginx, which does not read `.htaccess` files. ## Local hostname Use: ```text http://defapp.local/ ``` Add this entry to `/etc/hosts`: ```text 127.0.0.1 defapp.local ``` ## Local document root Set the local document root to the parent applications directory: ```text /Users/YOUR_USERNAME/websites/apps ``` The application then resolves at: ```text http://defapp.local/defapp/ ``` Alternatively, point the virtual host directly to DefApp: ```text /Users/YOUR_USERNAME/websites/apps/defapp ``` The application then resolves at: ```text http://defapp.local/ ``` Choose one URL scheme and use it consistently. ## Recommended Apache virtual host Save a local-only virtual-host file, for example: ```text /etc/apache2/extra/httpd-defapp.conf ``` Example configuration when Apache points directly to the DefApp directory: ```apache ServerName defapp.local DocumentRoot "/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/websites/apps/defapp" Options -Indexes +FollowSymLinks AllowOverride None Require all granted Require all denied Require all denied Require all denied ErrorLog "/private/var/log/apache2/defapp-error.log" CustomLog "/private/var/log/apache2/defapp-access.log" combined ``` Replace `YOUR_USERNAME` with the local macOS account name. ## Why `AllowOverride None` This configuration intentionally uses: ```apache AllowOverride None ``` The local Apache virtual-host configuration owns access control. This avoids scattered `.htaccess` behavior and keeps local behavior explicit and reviewable. Apache only processes `.htaccess` directives when the relevant directory allows overrides. `AllowOverride FileInfo` or `AllowOverride All` is required for `.htaccess` rewrite directives. [Apache documentation] ## Enable the virtual host Ensure Apache includes the local file from `/etc/apache2/httpd.conf`: ```apache Include /private/etc/apache2/extra/httpd-defapp.conf ``` Check configuration syntax: ```bash sudo apachectl configtest ``` Expected result: ```text Syntax OK ``` Restart Apache: ```bash sudo apachectl restart ``` ## Local validation ```bash curl -i http://defapp.local/ curl -i http://defapp.local/css/app.css curl -i http://defapp.local/pages/breadcrumbs.php ``` Expected results: | Path | Expected result | |---|---| | `/` | HTTP 200 | | `/css/app.css` | HTTP 200 and `Content-Type: text/css` | | `/pages/breadcrumbs.php` | HTTP 403 or HTTP 404 | ## If `.htaccess` testing is needed Use it only for Apache compatibility testing. Create a local-only file that is not committed to the production deployment: ```text .htaccess.local ``` Example: ```apache Options -Indexes ``` To test actual `.htaccess` processing, local Apache must permit it: ```apache AllowOverride Options FileInfo ``` Do not use this as the normal configuration. Prefer virtual-host configuration with `AllowOverride None`.