How to Install Mahara on macOS

Mahara is a free and open-source ePortfolio and social networking web application that facilitates users to create and maintain a digital portfolio. If you want to install Mahara on your macOS, then you are at the right place. Here's a quick and easy to follow tutorial on how to install Mahara on macOS.

Prerequisites

Before you start the installation process, make sure that the following prerequisites are met:

  • Web server (Apache)
  • PHP (version 7.3 recommended)
  • MariaDB or MySQL
  • Composer
  • Git

Step-by-Step Installation Process

Follow these simple steps to install Mahara on your macOS:

Step 1: Create Database

Create a database on your MySQL or MariaDB server. You can use phpMyAdmin or any other client to create a database.

Step 2: Download Mahara

Go to the official Mahara download page (https://mahara.org/download). Choose the latest stable version and download it as a ZIP file.

Step 3: Extract Source Code

Once you have downloaded the ZIP file, extract it to your desired location.

Step 4: Install Dependencies

Run the following command to install all dependencies using Composer.

composer install --no-dev

Step 5: Configure Database

Open the config.php file, which is located in htdocs/config.php. Replace the database details with your own settings.

$cfg->dbtype   = 'mysql';
$cfg->dbhost   = 'localhost';
$cfg->dbname   = 'mahara_db';
$cfg->dbuser   = 'mahara_user';
$cfg->dbpass   = 'mahara_password';

Step 6: Set Up the Web Server

Configure your web server (Apache) to serve files from htdocs directory of the Mahara installation.

Step 7: Run Installation Script

In your web browser, navigate to http://localhost. You will see the Mahara installation page. Follow the instructions and complete the installation.

Step 8: Set Up Cron Job

Mahara needs a cron job to run background processes. Set up a cron job by running the following command in the terminal.

* * * * * /usr/bin/php /path/to/mahara/htdocs/lib/cron.php

Replace /path/to/mahara with your own path.

Conclusion

That's it! You have successfully installed Mahara on your macOS. Now you can create and maintain your digital portfolio and share it with others.