HostFog Panel 1.0.0 for Windows
===============================

Your own local web server: Apache or Nginx, PHP, MariaDB (MySQL),
Node.js, Redis, PostgreSQL and phpMyAdmin, with a HostFog control panel to start and stop everything.


WHAT IT DOES
------------
- Control panel: start and stop Apache, Nginx and MySQL (MariaDB), see
  memory, ports and logs, and open phpMyAdmin. Nginx is optional: install
  it on the Components page. It runs on its own port (8081) next to Apache.
- Components: choose any version of PHP, MariaDB, Nginx, Node.js, Redis,
  PostgreSQL, phpMyAdmin and Composer from the version menu, then Install.
- React, Next.js, Vue and other JavaScript projects: any folder in htdocs
  with a package.json gets npm install, Run dev (with hot reload at
  name.localhost) and Build buttons on the Sites page.
- Redis and PostgreSQL: optional servers next to MySQL, with their data in
  the HostFog folder. "Manager" on PostgreSQL opens PostgreSQL Manager:
  databases, tables and rows (browse, search, edit), structure, SQL,
  import, export and users.
- Mail: every email your sites send is caught. "Compose" writes an email
  (text or HTML, with attachments) into the catcher, or to real inboxes
  like Gmail through the server in Settings > Outgoing mail (for Gmail:
  smtp.gmail.com, port 587, and an app password).
- Sites: every folder in htdocs gets its own address (shop.localhost),
  with HTTPS from a certificate made on your computer. The installer
  trusts it for you: click Yes when Windows asks.
- New site in one click: WordPress, Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter, CakePHP,
  Drupal, Yii, Slim, React, Next.js, Vue, Svelte, Astro, Preact, Vite,
  blank PHP, static HTML, a ZIP or a Git repository. The installer's output
  is shown live in the New site window.
- Share: give a site a public link through HostFog Tunnel on hostfog.io,
  like https://shop.tunnel.hostfog.io, the same link every time. Free,
  no account or API token needed.
- Tunnel page: every site with its public link, and one-click Share /
  Stop sharing.
- Databases: create, back up, import .sql, add users, and DB Studio to
  browse tables and run SQL. Daily automatic backups.
- Mail catcher: every email PHP sends is kept on the Mail page instead of
  reaching real people (SMTP for apps: 127.0.0.1 port 1025).
- PHP settings, live logs, phone testing with a QR code.
- The "hostfog" terminal command: hostfog status, hostfog start,
  hostfog new wordpress blog, hostfog share blog, hostfog db ...
  Run "hostfog help" for the list.
- Stays up to date: new versions of Apache, PHP, MariaDB, phpMyAdmin and
  the tools are found every day; bug-fix updates install by themselves.
- Security: .git folders and .env files are never served.


QUICK START
-----------
1. Run  HostFog-Panel-1.0.0-Windows-Setup.exe.  It installs into  C:\hostfog  and adds
   HostFog Panel to the Start menu and desktop. No administrator rights needed.
   (Or use the portable zip: unzip it to C:\hostfog. Not inside "Program
   Files": Windows blocks writing files there.)
   Windows may show "Windows protected your PC" because the app is new and
   not signed. Click "More info", then "Run anyway".

2. Open HostFog Panel, go to "Components" and click "Install everything
   missing". The panel downloads the official Windows builds of Apache, PHP,
   MariaDB and phpMyAdmin, checks them, and sets them up. This takes a few
   minutes.

3. Go back to "Control panel" and click "Start all".

4. Click "Open site" on Apache to see http://localhost
   Click "phpMyAdmin" on MySQL to manage databases
   (user: root, no password).

Put your websites in the  htdocs  folder:
   htdocs\myapp\index.php   opens at   http://localhost/myapp

To uninstall: Windows Settings > Apps > HostFog Panel (or Settings >
Uninstall in HostFog Panel). It's a full clean: every server, setting and
log, the trusted HTTPS certificate, the .test lines in the hosts file and
open at sign-in are removed. You're asked whether to keep your websites
and databases.


WHAT YOU NEED
-------------
- Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit.
- The Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (x64). Apache and PHP need it.
  The panel warns you if it's missing and links to the download:
  https://aka.ms/vc14/vc_redist.x64.exe
- Microsoft Edge WebView2, which is already part of Windows 10 and 11.


FOLDERS
-------
HostFog Panel.exe   the control panel
hostfog.json        your settings
apache\             Apache web server        (installed from Components)
php\                PHP, and php.ini         (installed from Components)
mariadb\            MariaDB database server  (installed from Components)
phpmyadmin\         phpMyAdmin               (installed from Components)
htdocs\             YOUR WEBSITES
data\mysql\         your databases
config\             server settings (see below)
logs\               error and access logs
downloads\          downloaded zips
tmp\                PHP sessions and uploads

You can move or rename the whole folder. The panel fixes the paths the next
time it starts a server.


CHANGING SETTINGS
-----------------
- Ports, auto-start, time zone and more: the Settings page.
- config\httpd.conf and config\my.ini are written fresh every time a server
  starts, so don't edit them. Put your own settings in:
     config\httpd-custom.conf   (Apache: virtual hosts, aliases...)
     config\my-custom.ini       (MySQL / MariaDB)
  These are never changed by the panel.
- php\php.ini is yours to edit. The panel only keeps its folder paths and
  time zone up to date. Restart Apache after changing it.


IF SOMETHING DOESN'T WORK
-------------------------
"Port 80 is already in use"
   Another program has the port, often Skype, IIS or another web server.
   The Activity log says which one. Close it, or change the Apache port to
   8080 in Settings (then use http://localhost:8080).

A server stops right after starting
   Install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable (link above), then try
   again. Also check the server's error log from its "Logs" menu.

A download fails
   Download the zip yourself and put it in the  downloads  folder, then
   click Install again. The panel uses a matching zip from there first:
     httpd-2.4.x-...-Win64-VSxx.zip      https://www.apachelounge.com/download/
     php-8.x.x-Win32-vsxx-x64.zip        https://downloads.php.net/~windows/releases/
                                         (Thread Safe: the name has no "nts")
     mariadb-11.x.x-winx64.zip           https://mariadb.org/download/
     phpMyAdmin-5.x.x-all-languages.zip  https://www.phpmyadmin.net/downloads/

Windows Firewall asks about Apache or MySQL
   Only if you turned on "Allow access from my network" in Settings.
   Allow "Private networks" if you want phones or other computers on your
   network to open your sites.

The panel keeps its own log in  logs\panel.log.


SECURITY
--------
HostFog Panel is for building websites on your own computer. By default
everything only listens on this computer (127.0.0.1), and phpMyAdmin is
always local only. The MySQL "root" user has no password at first: set one
in phpMyAdmin (User accounts), then enter it in Settings so the panel can
stop MySQL cleanly.

For live websites, use HostFog for Ubuntu servers:
https://hostfog.com


LICENSE
-------
HostFog Panel is proprietary software of HostFog Ltd (see LICENSE.txt).
Third-party parts are listed in THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt. Apache, PHP,
MariaDB, phpMyAdmin and the other servers are downloaded from their
official sites and keep their own licences.

Copyright © 2026 HostFog Ltd.
All rights reserved.
