Documentation
Everything you need to get the most out of Stratos. If you're new here, start with the installation guide and the quickstart.
Current download: 1.7.0. Some guides describe features added in later versions. Check the version in each guide before following its steps.
Advanced
Getting Started
Import from Herd or Valet (1.5.0)
Preview project links, PHP versions, and domain conflicts before switching environments.
Installation & System Requirements
Hardware requirements, macOS compatibility, notarization, and privileged network setup.
Quickstart Guide
Get from a fresh install to a running HTTPS project site in under 60 seconds.
Site Management & Project Scaffolding
Link existing folders, configure custom webroots, isolate PHP versions, and scaffold new Laravel, WordPress, or Slim apps.
Developer Tools
Start Project Workflow (1.5.0)
Start shared services and selected project workers with prerequisite and port checks.
MailCatcher Inbox & DumpServer Console
Local SMTP email interceptor with mobile viewport previews, and real-time Laravel dump() console with 1-click IDE jump.
Request Inspector & cURL Replay
DevTools-grade HTTP traffic monitor with Chrome/Safari resource filters, cURL copying, and executable request replay.
Site Doctor & Diagnostics Export
1-click system health audits, BSD socket port conflict detector, auto-recovery, and sanitized support bundle exports.
Webhook Receiver & Local Replayer
Embedded webhook catcher on port 9920 to test Stripe, Shopify, GitHub, and Twilio webhooks locally.
Core Engine & Security
Multi-PHP Runtime & Extensions
Run PHP 8.1 through 8.5 in parallel with SHA-256 integrity verification and 1-click extension toggles.
Trusted Root CA & Green HTTPS
Generate 4096-bit RSA Root Certificates and trust them in the macOS login Keychain for zero browser warnings.
Xdebug Step-Debugging & SPX Flame Graphs
Configure 1-click Xdebug for PhpStorm and VS Code, and record SPX memory & CPU profiler flame graphs.
Database Tools
Universal Database Hub & Web Adminer
1-click database engine installer, SQLite browser, interactive ER Schema Diagrams, and Web Adminer (db.test).
Safe .env Editor & Database Automation
Edit .env files safely with timestamped backup protection, generate APP_KEY secrets, and 1-click provision databases.
Pro Workflows & Networking
Visual PHP & Laravel Tinker REPL (Free & Pro)
Interactive PHP and Eloquent code playground with formatted Table Grids, execution timing, and saved snippet library.
Site Restore Points & SQLite Backups (1.6)
Back up project files and configured in-project SQLite data. Pro creates restore points; every plan can restore existing backups.
Public Cloudflare Tunnels (Free & Pro)
Expose local sites to the internet via Cloudflare Tunnels for client demos and Stripe/Shopify webhook testing.
1-Click Team Stack Sync (Pro)
Export and import .stratos stack configuration packages to replicate identical team environments.
License Management & 1-Click Activation
Instant 1-click deep link activation, multi-Mac device seat management, and offline usage policies.
CLI Reference
Guides & Comparisons
Fixing Docker Battery Drain & High CPU on macOS (Docker vs Native Stratos)
Why Docker Desktop consumes excessive CPU and drains MacBook battery on Apple Silicon, and how a native Swift environment eliminates VM overhead.
How to Run Multiple PHP Versions Simultaneously on macOS
Run concurrent PHP 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, and 8.5 FPM pools side-by-side on macOS without port conflicts, crashes, or 502 Bad Gateway errors.
Fixing Local Self-Signed SSL Certificate Warnings in Chrome & Safari on Mac
How to eliminate NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID in Chrome, Safari, and Brave using a trusted 4096-bit Local Development Root Certificate Authority.
Stratos vs Laravel Herd Pro vs MAMP Pro vs Docker Desktop Comparison
A side-by-side technical and cost comparison of macOS local development environments for PHP, Laravel, and Node developers.
Troubleshooting & Fixes
How to Fix 502 Bad Gateway Nginx (Valet & Herd) on macOS
Instant copy-paste terminal commands to fix broken PHP-FPM Unix domain sockets, crashed daemons, and Nginx upstream errors on macOS.
Fix Brew PHP "dyld: Library not loaded" on Apple Silicon macOS
Immediate terminal fix for dyld missing library errors (libicuuc, libssl, libxml2) after Homebrew upgrades on M1–M4 Macs.
Why Laravel Sail & Docker Are Slow on macOS (And the Native Fix)
Fix slow page loads, high CPU usage, and VirtioFS file sync latency with Laravel Sail on Apple Silicon MacBooks.
Free Ngrok & Expose Alternative for Laravel Webhook Testing
How to share local macOS sites with free public HTTPS URLs for Stripe webhooks and client reviews using Cloudflare Tunnels.