According to the Wikipedia, WAMP is an acronym for the combination Microsoft Windows, Apache, MySQL and one or more of Perl, PHP and Python. You can find a collection of freely available software packages that support WAMP.

For this class we will use a package called WAMP and notepad++

Installation steps:

1. Download and install WAMP on your machine. Once you've started WAMP, click on the "meter" style icon in the icon-bar, which brings up a menu of installed software. In the list you'll see Apache (web server), mySQL (database), and phyMyAdmin (a web-based tool for administering mySQL).
   
2. Test your installation by visiting http://localhost. You should see a WAMP test page.
3. Download and install notepad++ (free editor)

Notes:

1. You will need to reinstall WAMP at the beginning of class. All files are "wiped" from the classroom machines every time the machine is turned on.
   
2. You should save your work before leaving class. You can email it to yourself or save it to a USB drive or 3.5" disk.
   
   
3. Your PHP files will go in c:\wamp\www ("root" folder for the Apache webserver that comes with WAMP)