Using Local With Flywheel: A Complete Guide to Local WordPress Development

What Is Local by Flywheel?

Local by Flywheel is a desktop application designed specifically for local WordPress development. Originally developed by Flywheel, a managed WordPress hosting company, the tool was acquired by WP Engine in 2019. Following this acquisition, the application was rebranded as LocalWP while maintaining the core functionality that made it popular among WordPress professionals.

The application provides a graphical interface that eliminates the complexity traditionally associated with setting up local web development environments. Instead of manually installing web servers, databases, and PHP, Local by Flywheel handles all of this automatically, allowing you to create a fully functional WordPress site with just a few clicks.

Key Capabilities

The tool offers several fundamental capabilities that make local WordPress development accessible to users of all skill levels:

• One-Click WordPress Installation: Local by Flywheel automatically downloads and configures WordPress along with the necessary server infrastructure
• PHP Version Switching: Switch between PHP versions without reinstalling your site
• WP-CLI Integration: Perform administrative tasks through the WordPress Command Line Interface
• SSH and Database Access: Advanced access for troubleshooting and custom configurations

For developers working with WordPress professionally, having a reliable local environment is essential. Tools like Local by Flywheel integrate seamlessly with broader WordPress development services, enabling efficient workflows from local development through deployment. When you're ready to advance your skills, explore our guide on mastering WordPress shortcodes to extend site functionality.

LocalWP Official

Installing and Setting Up Local by Flywheel

Getting started with Local by Flywheel begins with downloading and installing the application on your computer. The tool is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux operating systems.

System Requirements

• Operating System: macOS 10.14+, Windows 10/11, or modern Linux distribution
• Processor: Modern multi-core processor
• Memory: At least 4GB RAM (8GB recommended for multiple sites)
• Storage: 500MB-2GB per site depending on content and plugins

Download and Installation

1. Visit the official LocalWP website and download the appropriate version
2. Run the installer and follow on-screen instructions
3. Wait for dependencies to download (web server, PHP, database)
4. Launch Local by Flywheel after installation completes

For teams adopting modern development workflows, local tools like Local by Flywheel complement custom web application development by providing consistent local environments for testing before deployment. Once your local environment is set up, you can begin creating a Gatsby site with WordPress data to explore headless WordPress architectures.

ThemeIsle Tutorial

Creating Your First Local WordPress Site

Creating a new WordPress site with Local by Flywheel is designed to be quick and straightforward:

1. Click "Create a new site" in the Local application interface
2. Enter a site name (used for local URL and folder name)
3. Choose PHP version and web server type
4. Configure WordPress admin credentials
5. Wait for automatic download and configuration
6. Click "View Site" to access your local installation

The entire process typically completes in under two minutes for a standard WordPress installation, significantly faster than manual setup methods.

Local URL Structure

Local by Flywheel creates sites with URLs ending in .local or .lnk depending on your system. For example, a site named "my-project" would be accessible at my-project.local. This structure simulates real website environments without requiring port numbers.

When your local development is complete, you can seamlessly transition to professional deployment services for moving your WordPress site to production environments. For advanced customization, learn how to use custom fields in WordPress to extend your site's data architecture.

Managing Multiple Sites and Development Workflows

Professional WordPress development often requires managing multiple projects simultaneously. Local by Flywheel provides features to streamline workflows for agencies and developers handling numerous client projects.

Site Management Features

• Centralized Dashboard: View all local sites with status indicators
• Quick Start/Stop: Manage individual sites without affecting others
• Site-Specific Settings: Configure each site independently
• Log Access: Troubleshoot issues with detailed site logs

Cloning and Exporting Sites

A valuable feature for development workflows is the ability to clone existing sites or export them for deployment:

• Clone Sites: Create copies of local installations for staging environments
• Export for Deployment: Package local sites with themes, plugins, uploads, and database exports
• Direct Hosting Integration: Deploy directly to Flywheel/WP Engine hosting

For agencies managing multiple client projects, these capabilities complement comprehensive managed WordPress hosting solutions by enabling efficient local development and testing workflows. Before deploying custom solutions, review our recommendations on best WordPress themes for news publications if you're building content-heavy sites.

WP Engine Guide

Advanced Configuration Options

While Local by Flywheel works well out of the box, advanced developers may need to customize their local environment.

PHP Configuration

Modify PHP settings such as memory limits, upload sizes, and execution times through site settings. Changes require a site restart to take effect.

Custom Domain Configuration

For projects requiring specific domains, Local by Flywheel allows custom local domains. This is useful when developing for specific production domains.

Blueprints and Site Templates

For agencies with standard configurations, blueprints allow pre-configured WordPress installations:

• Pre-configured security plugins across all client sites
• Development-specific tools and debugging configurations
• Standardized theme framework installations
• Specific plugin combinations for project types

These advanced features support complex development requirements often encountered in custom WordPress theme development projects. To further customize your themes, learn about registering custom post types and permalinks for building content-rich sites.

ThemeIsle Tutorial

Modern Alternatives and Ecosystem Context

The local WordPress development landscape has evolved with several alternatives:

Other Local Development Tools

• DevKinsta: Google's official local tool with Google Cloud integration
• MAMP/XAMPP: Traditional server stack applications for general web development
• Docker-based Solutions: Container approaches with greater flexibility
• LocalWP: The evolution of Local by Flywheel, now maintained by WP Engine

The Evolution to LocalWP

Following WP Engine's acquisition of Flywheel, Local by Flywheel was rebranded as LocalWP. The rebranding primarily affects branding and packaging--the underlying technology and workflows remain familiar to existing users.

Regardless of the tool chosen, local development remains a cornerstone of professional WordPress workflows, complementing our broader approach to enterprise WordPress solutions. For teams exploring modern JAMstack approaches, our guide on just how niche headless WordPress is provides valuable context for architectural decisions.

LocalWP Official

Best Practices for Local Development

Establish good practices early in your local development workflow:

Version Control Integration

Always use Git or similar version control for WordPress projects, including theme and plugin code, configuration files, and custom modifications.

Environment-Specific Configurations

Maintain clear separation between local, staging, and production configurations using WordPress constants in wp-config.php.

Regular Backups

Implement regular backup practices using Local's export functionality to protect against data loss from hardware failures or accidental deletion.

Documentation

Maintain documentation for complex configurations, especially helpful for onboarding new team members and troubleshooting months later.

These practices align with professional software development methodologies that ensure consistent, maintainable code across all environments. For team collaboration, learn how to create a meet the team page in WordPress to showcase your development team.

WP Engine Guide

Conclusion

Local by Flywheel, now known as LocalWP, remains one of the most accessible and feature-rich tools for local WordPress development. Its intuitive interface handles the complexity of setting up local server environments, allowing developers to focus on building and testing WordPress sites.

From basic one-click installations to advanced workflows involving site cloning, PHP version switching, and deployment automation, Local by Flywheel provides the tools needed for professional WordPress development.

For developers, agencies, and anyone working with WordPress professionally, understanding how to effectively use Local by Flywheel represents a foundational skill that streamlines the entire development process, from initial concept through deployment to production environments.

Sources

1. LocalWP Official Site
2. WP Engine: Local WordPress Development Environment Guide
3. ThemeIsle: Local by Flywheel WordPress Tutorial