Using a VirtualBox development environments is a une of the best choice. but it's not easy to configure.
Few tips
1. Installing Guest Additions (Debian guest)
- Login as root;
- Update your APT database with apt-get update;
- Install the latest security updates with apt-get upgrade;
- Install required packages with apt-get install build-essential module-assistant;
- Configure your system for building kernel modules by running m-a prepare;
- Click on Install Guest Additions… from the Devices menu, then run mount /media/cdrom.
- Run sh /media/cdrom/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run, and follow the instructions on screen.
Mount a VirtualBox shared folder.
After installing VB Guest Additions,
sudo mount -t vboxsf [FOLDER_NAME] [PATH_TO_MOUNT]
Example : sudo mount -t vboxsf drupal /home/drupal/public_html/www
Create symlinks in virtualbox shared folders.
If you have problems while creating symlinks inside of shared folder of the VM, try to update virtualbox and try following steps.
On Linux : VBoxManage setextradata VM_NAME VBoxInternal2/SharedFoldersEnableSymlinksCreate/SHARE_NAME 1
Or on Windows :VBoxManage.exe setextradata VM_NAME VBoxInternal2/SharedFoldersEnableSymlinksCreate/SHARE_NAME 1
Example: VBoxManage.exe setextradata DEB8 VBoxInternal2/SharedFoldersEnableSymlinksCreate/drupal8 1
Note : SHARE_NAME is like /media/sf_drupal8 (Without sf_)
Then restart VM.