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Has anyone installed XAMPP under a normal Linux user account without root permission? Or alternatively install Apache, MySql, Php one by one?

The purpose is to leave nothing in the main Linux system after you delete the installation. Running a small background process as root to redirect port 80 to the user port is ok.

I've seen one of the big Linux advantages is that you know where the packages' files are and can quickly install some packages and test some ideas out without leaving a messy trace in the main system. However I can't find out an easy way to install XAMPP under a normal user account. On the other hand, Microsoft has been asking new software developers to enable installation of new software under a normal user account (UAC - the term used by them). Another note, best not to use any virtual machine.

Any idea will be appreciated.

Update May 15 2011: I started a project https://github.com/minghuascode/UserLAMP. The goal is to build an installable binary package. Now we only have a makefile to build and install from sources.

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Do you want it to act like a real web server? Apache can't bind to port 80 without root permissions – Intrepidd May 8 '11 at 17:56
I'm thinking either using port 8080 or using some kind of port-redirection. Running a simple step in root is ok, as long as not to change the main system permanently. – minghua May 8 '11 at 18:32
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@minghua - when you say:

However I can't find out an easy way to install XAMPP under a normal user account. On the other hand, Microsoft has been asking new software developers to enable installation of new software under a normal user account (UAC - the term used by them).

Does this imply that you're working also in a Windows environment, even though the question is put concerning Linux?

If yes, then have you considered using XAMPP Portable for Windows. Obviously it doesn't do anything to/in/with the host installation, so very clean on removal! As if it was never even there.

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Awesome! Now I need to find out a "XAMPP Portable for Linux"! That's a good hint anyway. Thanks, David! – minghua May 9 '11 at 0:09
Regarding your quote: I just feel weird seeing a Linux software that needs root permission for no good reason. As a contrast, we see Windows is moving away from that. – minghua May 9 '11 at 0:17
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