[opensourcedex]

ddev is a free, open source learning management systems (lms) project written in Go and released under Apache-2.0. It has 3,887 GitHub stars, 719 forks and 163 open issues, and was last pushed 8 hours ago. On this registry it ranks #2 of 6 tracked projects in Learning Management Systems (LMS), with 5 head-to-head comparisons available. It gained 11 stars over the last 3 tracked days.

What is ddev?

What it is

DDEV is an open-source tool for local PHP and Node.js web development environments built on Docker. It serves projects such as Drupal, Laravel, Magento, Craft CMS, Backdrop, and WordPress. It is written in Go and licensed under Apache-2.0. The project is run by the community and cared for by the nonprofit DDEV Foundation.

It solves slow, inconsistent local setup by handling Docker configuration, providing defaults, and keeping project settings in version control. Teams can use macOS, Windows, WSL2, Linux, and GitHub Codespaces while choosing PHP, web server, database, and Node.js versions per project.

Key capabilities

  • DDEV starts and stops project containers with ddev start and ddev stop, so developers do not manage Docker directly.
  • It supports PHP 5.6 through 8.5, Nginx or Apache, MariaDB, MySQL, or PostgreSQL, and any needed Node.js version per project.
  • It keeps one setup per project in Git, so teams can share the same local configuration instead of relying on individual machine changes.
  • It imports database dumps and user-upload files with ddev import-db and ddev import-files, and it saves and restores database state with ddev snapshot.
  • It provides trusted HTTPS, Xdebug, add-ons, custom shell commands, and hosting integrations with Upsun, Pantheon, Acquia, and other services.
  • It provides everyday commands for running commands inside containers, inspecting logs, listing projects, and sharing a temporary public URL through ddev exec, ddev ssh, ddev logs, ddev list, and ddev share.

Who uses it and how

  • Developers use quickstart guides for a chosen CMS or framework, then run ddev start to bring the project up in minutes.
  • Teams use DDEV when they need several local projects on one machine, with each project keeping its own stack choices.
  • Developers load existing data with ddev import-db and ddev import-files, then use ddev share for a temporary public URL.
  • Teams use hosting integrations with Upsun, Pantheon, Acquia, and other services as part of their local development workflow.

Getting started

The typical path is to install a Docker provider and DDEV, choose a quickstart, and run ddev start. A browser trial and GitHub Codespaces are also supported.

When to use it — and when not to

DDEV fits local PHP and Node.js projects that need shared configuration and quick starts. It is less suitable for production hosting or environments where a Docker provider cannot be installed, because DDEV depends on Docker. The project has open issues, so some workflows may need maintenance or workarounds.

project readme (upstream, from github) — read inline
DDEV

Docker-based local development environments, ready in minutes

Get the power of Docker without needing to know Docker. Start PHP and Node.js projects in minutes, run many projects at the same time, and spend less time on setup.

Website Docs Add-on registry Discord License

Get Started · Documentation · Quickstarts · Add-on Registry · Contributing · Sponsor

Get started

The quickest path is the Get Started guide: pick your operating system and it gives you the install commands and your first project, on one page.

If you'd rather read the full instructions:

  1. 💻 Check that DDEV runs where you work: macOS, Windows 11, WSL2, Linux, and GitHub Codespaces. See the system requirements.
  2. 📥 Install a Docker provider and DDEV: follow the install instructions.
  3. 🏁 Start your first project: pick a quickstart guide for your CMS or framework, then run ddev start.

Want to try DDEV first? Run it in your browser, nothing to install: Open in GitHub Codespaces

Why DDEV?

DDEV takes care of Docker for you, so you and your team can focus on your work. It comes with good defaults for everyday use, and you can change them when you need more.

  • 🚀 Ready in minutes: good defaults and little setup. Just run ddev start.
  • 📦 One setup per project: keep it in Git and share the same environment with your whole team.
  • 🔧 Your stack, your choice: PHP 5.6 through 8.5, Nginx or Apache, and MariaDB, MySQL, or PostgreSQL, per project. And any version of Node.js you need.
  • 🧩 Easy to extend: a growing set of add-ons for extra services and integrations, and custom commands are ordinary shell scripts.
  • 🖥️ Runs everywhere: macOS, Windows, WSL2, Linux, and GitHub Codespaces, on both ARM64 and AMD64.
  • 🔒 Included out of the box: trusted HTTPS, Xdebug, database snapshots, and hosting integrations with Upsun (formerly Platform.sh), Pantheon, Acquia, and others.
  • 💙 Run by the community: free and open source, cared for by the nonprofit DDEV Foundation.

Everyday commands

  • ddev start and ddev stop: run or pause a project's containers
  • ddev import-db and ddev import-files: load a database dump, or user-upload files such as Drupal sites/default/files and WordPress wp-content/uploads
  • ddev snapshot: save and restore database state
  • ddev exec and ddev ssh: run a command inside the web container, or open a shell in it
  • ddev logs and ddev list: read container logs, or see every project on the machine
  • ddev share: hand someone a temporary public URL for your local site

Run ddev for the full command reference.

Community and support

  • 💬 Discord: the fastest way to get help and talk to the maintainers
  • 🧭 Support: every place the friendly community answers questions
  • 🐛 Issues: report bugs and ask for new features
  • 📚 Documentation: guides, references, and how-tos
  • 📣 Blog: news, releases, and community updates

Contributing

Sponsor DDEV

DDEV is free and open source, maintained by the nonprofit DDEV Foundation and paid for by its community. If DDEV saves you time, please consider sponsoring the project. Sponsorships fund the maintainers and infrastructure, and keep DDEV independent.

DDEV featured sponsors

Sponsor DDEV

In-kind sponsors

DDEV depends on products and services provided free of charge by the generous companies below. Thanks!

Sponsor Contribution
Cloudsmith Linux package repository hosting is graciously provided by Cloudsmith. Cloudsmith is the only fully hosted, cloud-native, universal package management solution, that enables your organization to create, store and share packages in any format, to any place, with total confidence.
JetBrains JetBrains provides DDEV maintainers with licenses for its IDEs.
MacStadium MacStadium provides a cloud-hosted Apple silicon machine that DDEV uses for testing.

License

DDEV is licensed under the Apache License 2.0. See LICENSE.

Frequently asked questions

Is ddev free to use?

ddev is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. There is no licence fee and no seat count — you can self-host it or, where the project offers one, pay a vendor for a managed version instead.

What does ddev do?

Docker-based local PHP+Node.js web development environments

What is ddev written in?

ddev is primarily written in Go. Its source is publicly available at https://github.com/ddev/ddev, and it has 3,887 GitHub stars.