Choosing an install method for one person
This page is for individuals who are about to install Exponential. There are three methods; all three run the same installation steps and produce the same result. They differ in how they ask their questions (Choosing an install method, Chapter 4 of the installation book).
Contents
- The three methods
- Which one for you
- The quick start on your own computer
- The setup wizard on shared hosting
- Options that matter for a real site
- Mistakes to avoid
The three methods
| Method | You answer | Needs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup wizard | Forms in the browser, one page per step | A web server during the install; a browser and FTP | A first install; hosts without shell access |
Console install (exp:install) | Command-line options, each with a default | A shell | The fastest install; your own computer; a small server |
Kickstarter (exp:kickstarter) | A reviewed kickstart.ini file | A shell | Repeating the same install (a test copy and the real site) |
Which one for you
| Your situation | Choose |
|---|---|
| You want to see Exponential running tonight on your laptop | exp:install with its defaults |
| Your host offers only FTP and a control panel | The setup wizard |
| You have a small virtual server with a shell | exp:install, with the options below |
| You will rebuild the site several times while you learn | The kickstarter, so every rebuild is the same |
The quick start on your own computer
With PHP and Composer installed and the code fetched (Getting the code):
php bin/php/console exp:install --dry-run
php bin/php/console exp:install --applyThe defaults are SQLite and the default site package sevenx_multisite, with demo content to explore
(Console install). Then serve it
(Serving the site) and sign in
(Default administrator password).
The setup wizard on shared hosting
- Upload the code, including
vendor/, by FTP. Without a shell you cannot run Composer on the host, so preparevendor/on your own computer and upload it with the rest (Shared hosting, Installing without a shell). - Open the site's address in the browser; the wizard starts.
- Follow its pages: system checks, database (SQLite needs nothing prepared), site package, languages, site details.
- At the end, sign in and change the administrator password (Change the admin password).
Since 6.0.15 the wizard works with a single database you own and does not need privileges a shared host does not give (A clean installation that fits shared hosting). The full chapter: The setup wizard.
Options that matter for a real site
For exp:install on a server, set at least (7.3 Options):
| Option | Why |
|---|---|
--package=sevenx_multisite_clean | No demo content in the real site |
--url=https://www.example.com | Links, mails and feeds are built from it |
--access=host with --host, --admin-host | Separate addresses for the site and the administration; best with HTTPS |
--title | The site name |
--email | A real address; it becomes the administrator mail |
--language | Your site's main language |
Mistakes to avoid
- Reinstalling a site that holds real content. An install replaces the database. Back up first, and never point an install at your live database (Backups for one person).
- Keeping the default administrator password. Change it in the first minute.
- Building the real site on the full package with demo content. Deleting demo content later is tedious; use the
_cleanpackage for the real site. - Running the web server and the install as different users on a server, so files are not writable later (Writable directories and permissions).
Related pages
- Setup for individuals
- Choosing a site package and theme
- Choosing an install method (website creators)
- After installing
- Free documentation: this page is free to copy, translate and improve under the GNU FDL 1.3.
Become an Exponential Partner
Partners share their information, provide funding, contribute back and develop the products with us, and that is how Exponential grows. A partner website and dashboard are planned for mid-2027: please become a partner today to speed up our growth rate and land new features faster.