📑 Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Why I Built Interview-Nest

• My Tech Stack

• Technical Walkthrough

• Setup Instructions

• Managing Services with Batch Scripts

• Accessing Tools and Admin Panels

• Useful Scripts

• Linting & Code Quality

• Future Plans

• Self Deployment Guide

• Final Thoughts

Introduction

In today's fast-paced tech world, having a reliable and portable development environment is crucial, especially when you're on the go or preparing for an important interview. Imagine needing to showcase your PHP skills during an offline interview or quickly test a project without the hassle of setting up a full development stack from scratch. This is a common challenge many developers face, and it's exactly why I created Interview-Nest.

Interview-Nest is a self-contained, XAMPP-based environment designed to streamline your PHP development process. Whether you're conducting demos, preparing for interviews, or testing projects, this tool ensures you have everything you need at your fingertips, without the need for constant installations or internet access. Dive into a seamless development experience and focus on what truly matters—your code and creativity.

Why I Built Interview-Nest

My Tech Stack

• XAMPP Stack (Apache 2.4.58, PHP 8.2.12, MariaDB 10.4.32)

• phpMyAdmin 5.2.1

• Tomcat 8.5.96

• FileZilla FTP Server

• Mercury Mail Server

• Strawberry Perl 5.32.1.1

• Batch scripting for service control

Technical Walkthrough

🧰 Setup Instructions

To run Interview-Nest, follow these steps:

1. Download the zip file and extract it.

2. Install Microsoft Visual C++ 2019 Redistributable, which is required for PHP.

3. Start the services using the .bat scripts provided.

🕹Managing Services with Batch Scripts

Each server can be controlled individually:

apache_start.bat / apache_stop.bat  
mysql_start.bat / mysql_stop.bat  
filezilla_start.bat / filezilla_stop.bat  
mercury_start.bat / mercury_stop.bat  
catalina_start.bat / catalina_stop.bat (Tomcat)

Or use the central controller:

ctlscript.bat

Accessing Tools

• Main site: http://localhost

• phpMyAdmin: http://localhost/phpmyadmin

Default Credentials

Passwords are stored in passwords.txt
Config options are editable via properties.ini

Useful Scripts

• killprocess.bat: Stops all services forcefully

• setup_xampp.bat: Initial setup helper

• ctlscript.bat: Unified controller for all services

Linting & Code Quality

Since this is infrastructure-focused, batch scripts were tested for:

• Startup consistency

• Cross-version compatibility of XAMPP

• Graceful service shutdown (Windows)

Future Plans

• Here are some expanded and interesting ideas for the future plans:

  1. Add a GUI-based Launcher: Transform the user experience by developing a graphical user interface (GUI) that simplifies the process of starting and managing your development environment. This intuitive launcher will allow users to easily toggle services on and off, monitor system status, and access tools with just a few clicks, making it accessible even to those less familiar with command-line operations.

  2. Make Portable for USB Runs: Enhance the portability of Interview-Nest by enabling it to run directly from a USB drive. This feature will allow developers to carry their entire development environment in their pocket, ready to plug into any computer. It ensures that your setup is consistent and available wherever you go, without the need for installation or configuration on new machines.

  3. Extend Support for Node.js or Python Backends: Broaden the versatility of Interview-Nest by integrating support for additional back-end technologies like Node.js and Python. This expansion will cater to a wider range of development needs, allowing users to seamlessly switch between different programming environments and frameworks, thus accommodating diverse project requirements.

  4. Provide a Live Log Viewer via Browser: Implement a live log viewer accessible through a web browser to monitor real-time activity and logs of your development environment. This feature will provide developers with immediate insights into system performance, error tracking, and debugging, all from a convenient and centralized interface, enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the development process.

Self Deployment Help

This setup is currently limited to Windows and can operate without administrative privileges if it is pre-configured correctly. For deployment, follow these steps:

1. Clone the repository.

2. Extract the files on any system.

3. Launch the environment using ctlscript.bat.

Once configured for the first time, it functions completely offline.

Final Thoughts

Interview-Nest is a game-changer for students and developers who are weary of the tedious process of setting up their development stack. Imagine having the power to prepare for interviews or showcase a project in class without the usual setup delays. With Interview-Nest, you can launch, run, and start coding instantly, eliminating the barriers that often hinder productivity and creativity. This tool is designed to streamline your workflow, allowing you to focus on what truly matters—your code and innovation. Whether you're a student eager to impress in a classroom setting or a developer preparing for a critical interview, Interview-Nest ensures you have a reliable and efficient environment at your fingertips. Dive into a seamless coding experience and unleash your full potential.

🔗 Explore the Project Repo: GitHub - Interview-Nest

📬 We welcome your feedback, suggestions, and feature ideas in the comments! Your input is invaluable in making Interview-Nest even better.