Client: Can you have a look at this website template for me?
Me: Sure, what's the address?
Client: You'll need to modify your hosts file to see it...
Me: 😡😷

But at least it's a tidier way to keep their stuff off the internet...

Am I misunderstanding something, but couldn't you have a site up on a server that you didn't point your registrars dns records at, but you modify your hosts file so it works as expected with a URL? Hell, I'm pretty sure I've done that myself.

A client that knows what hosts file means? Is he jesus or what??

@LMCodes oh yes, you can. But don't then ask someone else to visit www.domain.com and expect rainbows.

@fiskolin it's an IT services company 😆