Observed arrival · 2026-11-10
Benbow: a Mac workbench for local PHP sites
Benbow is a free, open-source Mac app for running PHP projects locally with separate PHP versions, trusted HTTPS, databases, and tools for reviewing AI-agent changes.
○Open
⊠Login
$Paid
†Ads
✦Pretty
●Pro
◎Niche
◉Human
⚑Risk
ƒJS
- For
- Mac developers maintaining multiple PHP projects
- Worth noticing
- The page says agent sessions save both files and databases, then show changed files and tables for a keep-or-undo decision.
Field notes
Each PHP version runs in its own PHP-FPM process, with per-version and per-site configuration; the page says Xdebug can be enabled per site on trigger. It also describes code-compatibility checks before upgrading older projects, while noting PHP 5.6–7.4 require Apple Silicon and macOS 15. During agent sessions, listed inspection tools include page requests with PHP-error reporting, caught-mail reading, and read-only database queries.
Observed signals
Read the marks
Editorial observations of this landing page, not a rating.
○OpenPublic substance visible
✦PrettyNotable craft visible
●ProPolished or operationally mature
◎NicheUnusually specific use
One card from the complete issue