How to set up an environment to run Joomla for testing and development on your local computer? You need a webserver, a database, and PHP. If you use Apache webserver, MySql database, and PHP, then you have a so called AMP stack. Here you have a tutorial for setting each of them up separately in Linux. But there are several packages that install all of these and some things more in one go. 

Here are some of those packages:

• Laragon (on Windows)
• FlyEnv
• Bearsampp
• WAMP (on Windows)
• Laravel Herd + MySql

Don't use XAMPP anymore: that stopped at PHP 8.2, is not maintained since, and is not suitable for newer Joomla.

After having installed your AMP stack (or alternative webserver like nginx) you can install Joomla. Just unpack the installation zip in a folder of your localhost and run the index.php. We also have a more elaborate setup for testing and developing purposes.

You can also install your AMP stack and Joomla in a Docker container. 
DDEV is another container setup.

René Kreijveld made a script to easily install a PHP development environment on macOS. It is freely available  on github.com/renekreijveld/macOS_PHP_local_development.

We are working on a complete set of tutorials for different methods to set this up and will provide some tips & tricks.