Quick Start
Get your first DAMP project running in under 5 minutes
Introduction
Get your first DAMP project up and running in under 5 minutes. This guide assumes you have DAMP already installed and are familiar with web development concepts.
Note
New to DAMP? Start with our installation guide first.
Create Your First Project
-
Open DAMP
Launch DAMP from your applications menu or system tray.
-
Create a new project
Click the "New Project" button in the DAMP dashboard.
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Choose project type
Select your project template:
- Laravel Recommended badge - Full Laravel framework with MySQL
- PHP - Basic LAMP stack
- Existing project - Bring your own codebase
IMAGE OF THE DAMP NEW PROJECT SCREEN
-
Configure project
Fill in the project details:
- Project Name:
my-first-app - Local Domain:
my-first-app.local(auto-generated) - PHP Version:
8.2(for PHP projects)
- Project Name:
-
Create project
Click "Create Project" and wait for DAMP to:
- 🔄 Pull required Docker images
- 🔄 Generate SSL certificates
- 🔄 Configure local domains
- 🔄 Start development services
tip
First-time setup takes 2-3 minutes as Docker images are downloaded. Subsequent projects start in seconds!
Access Your Project
Once creation is complete, your project is immediately available:
Web Browser
- HTTPS:
https://my-first-app.local
Open in VS Code
For the best development experience, open your project in VS Code with DevContainer support:
-
Click "Open in VS Code"
In the DAMP project dashboard, click the "Open in VS Code" button.
-
Install DevContainer extension (if prompted)
VS Code will prompt you to install the DevContainer extension if not already installed.
-
Reopen in container
VS Code will ask to "Reopen in Container" - click "Reopen in Container".
note
This opens your project inside the Docker container with all development tools pre-configured.
-
Start coding
You now have a fully configured development environment with:
- ✅ PHP/Node.js runtime
- ✅ Xdebug debugging
- ✅ Database access
- ✅ All dependencies installed
Test Your Setup
Let's verify everything is working correctly:
Laravel Project Test
If you created a Laravel project:
-
View the welcome page
Navigate to
https://my-first-app.localin your browser. You should see the Laravel welcome page. -
Check the database
Laravel should connect to MySQL automatically. Run a migration:
php artisan migrate
Custom Project Test
For other project types:
-
Check web access
Visit your project URL and verify the web server is responding.
-
Test file changes
Edit a file and verify changes appear immediately (live reload enabled).
-
Database connection
Test database connectivity using the provided credentials.
Next Steps
Your development environment is ready! Here's what to explore next:
Essential Features
Master these DAMP features for maximum productivity:
- SSL Certificates - Understand HTTPS development
- Xdebug Setup - Configure debugging
- Custom Domains - Create memorable local URLs
Development Workflow
- Project Management: Use the DAMP dashboard to start/stop services
- Code Editing: Work in VS Code with DevContainer for best experience
- Database Management: Use PHPMyAdmin or your preferred database client
- Email Testing: Check emails in Mailpit during development
- Debugging: Use Xdebug for step-through debugging
Advanced Features
Once you're comfortable with the basics:
- Claude Integration - AI-powered development
Troubleshooting
If something isn't working:
- Check service status in the DAMP dashboard
- Verify Docker is running and accessible
- Clear browser cache for SSL certificate issues
- Restart the project if services seem stuck
Pro Tip
Keep DAMP running in your system tray for quick access to all your projects. You can start/stop individual projects without opening the main interface.
Congratulations! 🎉 You've successfully created your first DAMP project. You now have a professional development environment with SSL, database access, email testing, and debugging capabilities - all configured automatically.