Maybe you’re maintaining a client’s old system, need to match a staging server, or are running a vintage CMS. XAMPP with PHP 7.1.3 can be a lifesaver—if you know how to tame it.

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Because XAMPP simplifies the installation of the entire LAMP stack into a single directory, it allowed developers to mirror the environment of shared hosting providers, many of whom standardized on PHP 7.1 during its long-term support (LTS) phase.

"Okay, let's see if you still have a pulse," he muttered, clicking the "Start" button on the XAMPP Control Panel

For many developers, XAMPP with PHP 7.1.3 became a "golden version" for compatibility.