DDEV for Windows

Simplifying local development with DDEV

DDEV is a free command-line tool that helps developers create Docker-powered local environments for PHP and Node.js projects. It streamlines the process of configuring web servers, databases, and common services so you can focus on writing code instead of managing infrastructure. Because environments run inside Docker containers, projects remain isolated and behave consistently across different machines.

Major benefits

• Fast environment lifecycle: spin up and destroy dev environments in seconds to match project needs.
• Container isolation: avoid dependency clashes by keeping each project in its own Docker stack.
• Automatic service setup: web servers, databases, and other essentials are configured for you.
• Platform flexibility: works on Windows and other operating systems, integrating with your existing toolchain.

Frameworks and tools supported

• Magento, Laravel, Drupal and other widely used PHP frameworks are handled out of the box.
• Node.js applications can also be developed inside DDEV-managed containers.
• Integrates with common developer tools and workflows so you can use the editors and CI systems you prefer.

How it improves your workflow

DDEV reduces setup friction for new contributors, makes environment parity simple between teammates, and shortens onboarding. Its Docker-based approach prevents "it works on my machine" problems and lets you reproduce production-like stacks locally without complex manual configuration.

A free alternative to consider

USB Disk Ejector (free) — a lightweight utility aimed at safely ejecting USB drives on Windows — is suggested as another no-cost tool if your needs include simple device management alongside your development setup.