EnvKit is a free desktop app that bundles nginx or Apache, multiple PHP versions, databases, and trusted .test HTTPS into one control panel.

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EnvKit is a free desktop application (currently in beta) that bundles a full local PHP/Laravel development stack into a single control panel for Windows and macOS. It includes a choice of Nginx or Apache, PHP versions 7.4 through latest with per-project isolation, MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Mailpit, Node.js dev servers, trusted HTTPS .test domains, and admin UIs. Laravel-specific extras include Reverb for WebSockets, cron management, and live dump/query/job inspection. A built-in MCP server lets AI editor assistants read stack state and run diagnostics. EnvKit is positioned as a free alternative to Laravel Herd and Laragon/XAMPP, though it runs on Electron and is still in beta at v0.31.0-beta.39.

EnvKit: A Local Development Stack for Laravel on Windows and macOS

The built-in MCP server exposing stack state to the editor assistant is the part I hadn’t seen in this class of tool — letting the AI read live query/job/dump state and run diagnostics beats it squinting at logs blind. The open question is how far past read it goes: if it can restart a service or fire an artisan command through MCP, that’s where a local-stack integration stops being a viewer and actually starts saving round-trips. Read-only diagnostics are useful, but the write side is what makes it feel native to the workflow.

Interesting I’ll give it a try.

I think I know where which app they copied it from.

Great, absolutely needed for local development.