When thinking about websites and how they’re designed, it’s useful to differentiate between static and dynamic sites. Generally, static sites display HTML-based content stored on a server, but can only be updated by a developer changing the source code. Dynamic websites, by contrast, are much easier to update and feature content that can be actively generated by user requests.

When a website displays constantly changing content and offers a range of functionality to users, it can be safely described as dynamic. To support these features, dynamic websites are usually more demanding than static ones in terms of server resources and development.

So if you want to build a dynamic site, what kind of setup do you need? One of the best solutions is a LAMP stack server. Let’s dive into what LAMP stack technology is, how it works, alternative LAMP stack software solutions and more.

What is a web stack?

Web stacks, AKA software stacks or solution stacks, are bundles of software used in web development. A web stack includes several components, typically an operating system, web server, database and scripting language. Taken as a whole, the stack provides everything needed to build a complete platform – i.e. nothing else is required to run a specific application.

Operating system

The operating system – usually Windows or Linux based – provides the main interface between the server hardware and the other parts of the software stack.

Web server

The web server – often Apache or NGINX – stacks on top of the OS to serve client requests (e.g. from web browsers) with the appropriate content. This content can be static, like HTML files and images that appear the same way for every user, or dynamic, such as interactive forms and anything that reacts to user input – this dynamic content is only possible with the help of databases and scripting.

Database

The database – which might be MySQL or MariaDB, just to name a couple of options – stores the data that the web server needs to access in order to serve dynamic content to clients. The database also needs to work in tight coordination with a scripting language to deliver advanced functionality.

Scripting language

Scripting languages like PHP, Python, Perl and JavaScript run either on the server or client-side. This code allows complex processes to be automated and executed on the fly, enabling dynamic content to be generated based on a huge range of variables.

Working together, these services form a platform for a wide variety of websites and applications. Depending on the needs of the project, different stack configurations can fulfil very different needs. For example, while the LAMP stack is great for PHP-based applications such as WordPress, more JavaScript-focused projects will need a stack that includes specialised frameworks.

What is LAMP stack technology?

As explained above, dynamic sites need a specialised infrastructure of software – called a web stack – that includes an operating system, web server, database and scripting to function. There are several web stack options available, but one of the most popular is called LAMP.

Prevalent on CMS platforms like WordPress, a LAMP stack includes all of the usual web stack options within a single platform that bundles together Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP. These four open-source software solutions complement each other and function together to form the complete full-stack infrastructure needed to create and maintain dynamic websites.

What is the LAMP stack used for?

The beauty of the LAMP software stack is in how the individual components work in concert to achieve the desired results.

For example, Apache running on Linux can be used to create a base of static web content, while a programming language such as PHP delivers an additional layer of advanced functionality. On top of everything else, relevant information can be pulled from the MySQL database to provide a truly dynamic experience for site users.

But what else can the LAMP stack be used for? Online stores! Think about it – a robust ecommerce website builder or platform will need to be able to handle ever-changing content, from informational through to stock levels. MySQL is often utilised in these cases due to being a robust solution that can handle tons of data.

Why choose the LAMP stack?

Cost

Running a LAMP stack on a server can be an affordable option because of its reliance on open-source software. The open-source nature of LAMP also means you can depend on long-term support from the developer community if you choose to install LAMP stack.

LAMP doesn’t need a huge investment in server hardware, either. You can set up a LAMP stack on a fairly modest cloud or dedicated server – just keep in mind the level of performance you'll need for the visitor numbers you expect, plus any extra requirements such as streaming media.

Flexibility

Another strength of LAMP is its flexibility. While the catchy LAMP acronym has stuck, it’s really more of a general model with interchangeable components. So, for example, you could use Nginx instead of Apache, or Python instead of PHP, depending on the needs of your project. This is what makes full-stack software so useful. 

Want to use a LAMP stack on your dedicated server? Fasthosts provides everything you need to get your LAMP stack up and running. Just get in touch to find out more!

Resource availability

New web development stacks typically require multiple frameworks, tools, libraries and more. But with the LAMP stack being one of the most popular solutions, there are tons of these resources available, which in turn can help speed up a web developer’s workflow. Plus, with the prevalence of the LAMP stack across the globe, it’s safe to expect technologies are constantly updated due to publicly available source codes to ensure they’re secure and usable.

Alternative LAMP stack options

Full-stack developers love LAMP for its open-source accessibility, community support and customisation. As such, the LAMP software stack gives the basis for several variations. Alternatives to the LAMP formula include:

  • LAPP: an ideal option for switching MySQL out for PostgreSQL
  • LEMP: an option which swaps out Apache for NGINX (the E comes from the pronunciation of ‘engine-X’ since LNMP doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue)
  • LLMP: designed for replacing Apache with lighttpd
  • LEAP: Linux, Eucalyptus, AppScale and Python
  • XAMPP: Cross-platform, Apache, MariaDB, PHP and Perl

With so many Linux distributions out there, it’s no surprise that these LAMP variants all begin with L. If you’re a Linux developer, you’re likely to find a LAMP-like web stack that supports your tools of choice, whether it’s a specific web server or a particular database. For other operating systems, there are even more options to choose from.

Non-open source alternatives to the LAMP stack include:

  • WAMP: Windows, Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, PHP/Perl/Python
  • WIMP: Windows, Internet Information Services, MySQL/MariaDB, PHP/Perl/Python
  • MAMP: macOS, Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, PHP/Perl/Python

Choosing a web stack alternative

In addition to distros like Debian and Ubuntu, the LAMP stack model can support non-Linux operating systems. WAMP, for example, uses the same components as the standard LAMP stack, but on top of a Windows OS.

XAMPP, on the other hand, is a cross-OS full-stack software, hence the X, which works equally as well on Linux and Windows with PHP or Perl. Ideal for creating test servers, XAMPP can be downloaded as a single file and easily installed. It’s a great option for testing applications that need to run across different operating systems.

For more advanced Microsoft-centric applications, the LAMP stack isn’t going to cut it. This is where a specialised web stack like WISA comes in. WISA is basically ‘the Microsoft web stack’, containing the following components:

  • Windows Server – the operating system
  • Internet Information Services (IIS) – the webserver
  • Microsoft SQL Server – the database
  • ASP.NET – a web application framework

For many developers, LAMP vs WISA essentially comes down to PHP vs ASP.NET languages. The scripting you need to use will likely make up your mind for you. And of course, the proprietary nature of Microsoft products means that cost could be an issue.

Alternatively, the MAMP stack is a way of running the classic LAMP stack components on macOS. MAMP is downloaded as a complete package that includes Apache, NGINX, MySQL, PHP, Python and Perl, all with instant macOS compatibility. This is as opposed to individual software versions, which need to be installed manually and aren’t always up to quality in terms of macOS integration.

One major draw of MAMP full stack is also its ability to run WordPress locally on a Mac. With MAMP, Mac users can work directly with WordPress files without uploading and downloading them via a web server. This is ideal for WordPress development and testing purposes.

MEAN stack vs LAMP stack

A MEAN stack is another popular alternative to the traditional LAMP stack setup. A MEAN stack comprises:

  • MongoDB: a NoSQL database
  • Express: a web application framework for Node.js
  • AngularJS: a JavaScript-based web application framework
  • Node.js: a runtime environment

Obviously, this is not the classic LAMP stack structure. But the MEAN stack model isn’t dependent on a particular OS, and Express can offer the functionality of a web server. This means that the MEAN stack is a slimmed-down option compared to LAMP, and because it's a single language – JavaScript – it still runs at every level of the web stack. This gives the MEAN stack the potential advantage of not having to switch between languages – essentially making it a “full stack” approach. 

Read our guide on PHP vs JavaScript to find out more about client-side vs server-side scripting.

Some variations on a MEAN stack software include:

  • MERN: which uses React instead of AngularJS
  • MEEN: which replaces AngularJS with Ember.js
  • MEVN: which replaces AngularJS with Vue

What is the difference between LAMP stack and MEAN stack?

In a LAMP stack vs MEAN stack comparison, the deciding factor could well be the database: MySQL vs MongoDB – or in other words, SQL vs NoSQL. While SQL (relational) databases like MySQL and MariaDB are well-liked for their ability to efficiently manage large data volumes in complex structures, NoSQL databases like MongoDB are often preferred for their increased flexibility in smaller applications. Plus, whilst LAMP traditionally uses PHP on the server side, many stacks (including the MEAN stack) support alternatives like Python, Perl, or even JavaScript for full-stack development (client and server).

Ultimately, your choice of web stack will probably boil down to a particular tool or set of tools that you need to use. Frequently, this is a particular scripting language like PHP or JavaScript, but equally, it could be a specific web server, database or framework. With so many possible configurations, the final decision rests on the details of your project and your skillset as a developer.

What are the disadvantages of the MEAN stack?

Although the MEAN stack brings many advantages to web development, it carries a few notable disadvantages. First, MongoDB, the database used in MEAN, employs a NoSQL structure, which can cause difficulties when dealing with complex, relational queries.

JavaScript usage might also be a hindrance for developers primarily well-versed in other programming languages. Plus, Angular.js has a steep learning curve due to its complex syntax often cited by the web dev community. Lastly, the MEAN stack technologies stay isolated, meaning a failure in one part might lead to a complete application breakdown.

You can easily install a LAMP stack by signing up with Fasthosts. We'll walk you through the process while providing a suite of bonus benefits and monthly payment options. Get in touch with us for more details.