When the app runs locally it is configured to use the database configuration defined in the .env file. The configuration should be a local database so the production database is not affected during development.
First, install MySQL. You will need the community server as well as a MySQL client. MySQL Workbench (GUI) is optional. The installation process for a MySQL client varies depending on your operating system (see below). For Windows, use the MySQL Installer for Windows. Note that the MySQL shell is different and will not work for the following backup and restore commands.
# MySQL Client
# Mac (Homebrew)
brew install mysql-client
# Linux (yum)
yum install mysql
# Then run this to get Requirements.txt:
pip install -r requirements.txt