XAMPP installation guide for Windows

_SETUP_DEV_ENVIRONMENT.md

@@ -22,6 +22,64 @@ There are several ways to set up your development server and environment. Basica
 
 Note: to regenerate the docker configuration, use `php artisan sail:install --devcontainer`
 
+### Windows (natively)
+On Windows, probably the optimal option with respect to performance is
+to simply install a web server and a database server natively on the system,
+instead of using containers or virtual machines.
+However, the installation itself is a bit more complicated.
+(But actually, there aren't as many mysterious errors as with containers.)
+
+1. Download and install the following programs:
+    - [XAMPP](https://www.apachefriends.org/download.html) (the newest available one) – this includes the PHP interpreter, the Apache web server and the MySQL database server.
+        - Besides the obligatory options, we only need MySQL, phpmyadmin and Fake Sendmail.
+        - You don't need to allow it through the firewall, as we are only going to access these locally.
+    - [Composer](https://getcomposer.org/download/) – this is a package manager for PHP.
+        - It's enough to install it only for your account when asked.
+    - [NVM](https://github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows/releases) (choose `nvm-setup.exe`) – this downloads Node.js and the NPM package manager, which will again download other things:D
+    - [Git](https://gitforwindows.org/) – the version manager.
+        - For the text editor, the simplest is to choose Windows' Notepad (or VS Code, if you have it). Otherwise, you can stick to the defaults.
+2. Open `C:\xampp\php\php.ini`. This is PHP's configuration file. We need to enable two extensions here for things to work.
+    - To do this, search for the lines `;extension=zip` and `;extension=gd`, and delete the semicolon (`;`) before them. (If there are more than one copies of them, it's enough to enable only one instance.)
+3. Open a command prompt (open Start menu and type `cmd`).
+4. Type `nvm install lts`. This command will install NPM for you.
+5. To be able to use it, you need to add the folder containing the NPM binary to the operating system's PATH variable (so that the command prompt will find it).
+    - Check the installed version of Node.js with `nvm list`
+    - Follow [these steps](https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/94933-how-do-i-edit-my-system-path-in-windows). Add the path `%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\nvm\vXX.XX.X`, where `XX.XX.X` is the version printed by `nvm list`.
+6. Close the command prompt and open it again. This way, it is going to see the binaries under the folder added.
+7. Select the directory under which you want to install the project, and `cd` to that directory. For example, if you choose `C:\Users\myname\Documents\`, say `cd C:\Users\myname\Documents\`.
+8. Download the project by saying `git clone https://github.com/EotvosCollegium/mars`. This will create a `mars` folder under the current directory.
+9. Say `cd mars`.
+10. There are lots of dependencies Laravel (and specifically Mars) use. But now, Composer and NPM does this work instead of you. Just say:
+```bat
+composer update
+composer install
+npm install
+npm run dev
+```
+11. Make a copy of the file named `.env.example` and call it `.env`. This is the configuration file of Mars; this specifies some settings that are local to the environment (in this case, your machine).
+12. Open `.env`. Change `DB_HOST` to `127.0.0.1` (this is the IP on which you can access your own machine) and `DB_PASSWORD` to some long, random string (you won't have to remember it).
+13. There are still some adventures left: we need to start and configure the database server. For this:
+    - Open the XAMPP Control Panel.
+    - Here, start MySQL.
+    - Then, click on the `Admin` button next to the `Start`˛button. This will open an administration page called _phpmyadmin_.
+    - On the left side, create a new database and name it `mars`.
+    - Select `User accounts` and add a new user. This is what Mars is going to use. Name it `mars` and give it the password you wrote in `.env`.
+    - After you created it, click `Edit privileges` and switch to the `Database` tab. Click on the `mars` database you created in the first step, and then `Go`. `Check all` and `Go` again.
+    - You can now close this page.
+14. To initialise the database (with fancy test data!) and some other things, switch back to the command prompt and while being in the `mars` folder, run:
+```bat
+php artisan key:generate
+php artisan migrate:fresh --seed
+```
+15. Finally, you can start your server! For this, type `php artisan serve`. (To stop the server, press Control-C. If you want to use the command prompt, you will need to open a new window.)
+16. Your local site can be accessed from the browser at `127.0.0.1:8000`. Log in with `[email protected]` and `asdasdasd`.
+17. If there are firewall exceptions for Apache or mysqld under _Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Defender Firewall\Allowed apps_, you can safely delete them, as you only need them on your own machine.
+
+Most of these things need to be done only once. There are two steps you have to take every time you start working:
+- Start MySQL in XAMPP Control Panel. (If it asks, you need not let it through the firewall.)
+- Open a command prompt, `cd` to the `mars` directory and run `php artisan serve`.
+When you are done, simply shut down your server by pressing Control-C while in the command prompt.
+
 ### OS X
 For OS X, [Valet](https://laravel.com/docs/6.x/valet) gives a pretty smooth experience. Easy to download, easy to configure.