Try Drupal CMS with the launcher
The Drupal CMS launcher is a desktop application that runs Drupal CMS on your computer without any other software. It suits evaluating Drupal CMS and exploring what it can do for as long as you like.
The launcher is a trial tool, not a starting point for a real site: it stores content in an SQLite database, which most hosting providers do not support. When you are ready to build a site you will move to a host, install Drupal CMS with DDEV instead; DDEV uses a MariaDB database that transfers cleanly.
Drupal CMS running on your own machine, with the setup assistant completed and the dashboard in front of you.
Prerequisites
Section titled “Prerequisites”- A Mac or Windows computer. No other software is required.
Download the launcher
Section titled “Download the launcher”- Visit the Drupal CMS launcher download page and fill out the form.
- On the next page, download the file for your operating system.
- On a Mac: unzip the download and drag the application into the Applications folder. On Windows: double-click the download.
Start Drupal CMS
Section titled “Start Drupal CMS”- Double-click the app to start it. The first run takes a few minutes while the launcher sets everything up; later runs are faster.
- Select Visit site to open Drupal CMS in your browser.
- Complete the setup assistant: pick a site name, a site template, and your admin account.
Verify
Section titled “Verify”- Your browser shows the Drupal CMS dashboard, with Top tasks and recent content listed.
- Closing and reopening the launcher brings the same site back, with your content intact.
Variations
Section titled “Variations”- Start over: select the trash icon in the launcher to delete the installed database, then set the site up again from scratch.
- Find your site files: select the folder icon in the launcher to open the site’s files on disk.
- Get a newer Drupal CMS version: the launcher installs the Drupal CMS version it shipped with. If you downloaded the launcher before the current release, delete the app and download it again.
- Uninstall: select the trash icon to delete the database, then remove the launcher from your Applications folder.
Related
Section titled “Related”- Install Drupal CMS with DDEV when you are ready to build a site that will move to a host.
- Getting around Drupal CMS tours the dashboard and admin navigation you landed in.
- Add features with recommended add-ons: the launcher supports add-ons, modules, and themes like any other Drupal CMS site.
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