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Getting Started with Laravel

Laravel is an open-source PHP web application framework that provides a robust set of tools and libraries for building web applications.

Getting started with Laravel is a rewarding experience, as Laravel is known for its developer-friendly features and robust toolset for building web applications.

What IS Laravel - Tutorial provided by AppSeed.

To get started with Laravel, follow these steps:

✅ Prerequisites​

Before you begin, ensure you have the following prerequisites installed on your development environment:

  • PHP: Laravel requires PHP 7.3.0 or higher.
  • Composer: A PHP package manager used for Laravel and its dependencies.
  • A web server (e.g., Apache, Nginx) with PHP support.
  • MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, or another compatible database system.

✅ Install Laravel​

  • Open your terminal or command prompt.
  • Use Composer to create a new Laravel project. Run the following command, replacing mylaravelapp with your desired project name:
    composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel mylaravelapp
  • Composer will download Laravel and set up a new project in a directory named mylaravelapp.

✅ Configure Environment​

  • Navigate to the project directory using the cd command:
    cd mylaravelapp
  • In the project root, you'll find a .env.example file. Duplicate this file and name the copy .env. Modify the .env file to configure your database and other settings.

✅ Generate an Application Key​

  • In your terminal, run the following command to generate an application key for your Laravel project:
    php artisan key:generate

✅ Database Configuration​

Configure your database connection by modifying the DB_* variables in the .env file to match your database setup (e.g., database name, username, password).

✅ Migrate the Database​

  • Laravel provides a migration system for managing database schemas. To run the initial migrations, execute the following command:
php artisan migrate

✅ Start the Development Server​

  • Start the Laravel development server by running the following command:
    php artisan serve
  • This will start a local development server at http://localhost:8000.

✅ Access Your Application​

Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:8000. You should see the default Laravel welcome page.

✅ Explore Laravel's Documentation​

Laravel has extensive documentation available at https://laravel.com/docs. It covers all aspects of Laravel, from routing and views to authentication and testing.

✅ Learn the Basics​

Begin with the basics of Laravel, such as routing, views, controllers, and models. The documentation provides step-by-step tutorials and examples for each topic.

✅ Build Your First Application​

Start building your web application by creating routes, controllers, and views. Follow Laravel's conventions to organize your code effectively.

✅ Explore Laravel Ecosystem​

Laravel has a rich ecosystem of packages and extensions available via Composer. You can use Composer to install additional packages to enhance your Laravel application's functionality.

✅ Join the Community​

Laravel has a thriving community of developers. Consider participating in forums, attending meetups, and following Laravel-related blogs and tutorials to learn from others and seek help when needed.

✅ Laravel Samples​

👉 Soft UI Dashboard Laravel Livewire​

Soft UI Dashboard Laravel Livewire comes with dozens of handcrafted UI elements tailored for Bootstrap 5 and an out of the box Laravel backend. The Livewire integration allows you to build dynamic interfaces easier without leaving the comfort of your favourite framework.

If you combine this even further with Alpine.js, you get the perfect combo for kickstarting your next project.

Soft UI Dashboard Laravel Livewire, crafted by Creative-Tim.

👉 Material Dashboard PRO Laravel​

The dashboard's look & feel is based on Material Design 2, Google's new approach to designing components and interfaces.

Add in ready-made CRUDs and you've got a full stack tool for building awesome-looking Laravel apps.

Material Dashboard PRO Laravel, crafted by Creative-Tim.

✅ In Summary​

Getting started with Laravel is just the beginning. As you become more familiar with the framework, you can explore more advanced features like authentication, middleware, and database interactions.

Laravel's elegant syntax and extensive toolset make it a powerful choice for building modern web applications.

✅ Resources​