Laravel installation with Composer - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Laravel installation with Composer

📖 Scenario: You want to start a new web project using Laravel, a popular PHP framework. To do this, you need to install Laravel using Composer, a tool that manages PHP packages.

🎯 Goal: Set up a new Laravel project by installing it with Composer and prepare the basic project structure.

📋 What You'll Learn

Use Composer to create a new Laravel project named myLaravelApp

Set the Laravel version to 10.*

Navigate into the project directory myLaravelApp

Run the Laravel development server

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Laravel is widely used to build modern web applications quickly and efficiently. Installing it correctly is the first step to creating websites and APIs.

💼 Career

Knowing how to set up Laravel projects is essential for PHP developers working in web development roles, especially in companies using Laravel for backend services.

1

Create a new Laravel project using Composer

Run the command composer create-project laravel/laravel myLaravelApp "10.*" in your terminal to create a new Laravel project named myLaravelApp with Laravel version 10.*.

Laravel

# Run the composer command to create the Laravel project
# Your code here

Hint

Use Composer's create-project command with the package laravel/laravel, the project folder myLaravelApp, and version 10.*.

2

Navigate into the Laravel project directory

Run the command cd myLaravelApp to change your current directory to the newly created Laravel project folder myLaravelApp.

Laravel

composer create-project laravel/laravel myLaravelApp "10.*"
# Change directory to myLaravelApp
# Your code here

Hint

Use the cd command followed by the folder name myLaravelApp.

3

Start the Laravel development server

Run the command php artisan serve inside the myLaravelApp directory to start the Laravel development server.

Laravel

composer create-project laravel/laravel myLaravelApp "10.*"
cd myLaravelApp
# Start the Laravel development server
# Your code here

Hint

Use the php artisan serve command to launch the built-in Laravel server.

4

Verify the Laravel welcome page

Open your web browser and go to http://localhost:8000 to see the Laravel welcome page confirming the installation.

Laravel

composer create-project laravel/laravel myLaravelApp "10.*"
cd myLaravelApp
php artisan serve
# Open the browser at http://localhost:8000 to verify
# Your code here

Hint

After running the server, open http://localhost:8000 in your browser to check the Laravel welcome page.

Practice

1. What is the main tool used to install Laravel easily with a single command?

easy

A. Composer

B. NPM

C. Git

D. Docker

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Laravel installation tools

   Laravel uses Composer, a PHP package manager, to install its files easily.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct tool

   Composer is the official and recommended tool for Laravel installation, unlike NPM, Git, or Docker.

3. Final Answer:

   Composer -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Laravel installation tool = Composer [OK]

Hint: Remember Laravel uses Composer for PHP packages [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing Composer with NPM (JavaScript tool)
• Thinking Git installs Laravel automatically
• Assuming Docker installs Laravel by itself

2. Which of the following is the correct Composer command to create a new Laravel project named myapp?

easy

A. composer install laravel myapp

B. composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp

C. composer new laravel myapp

D. composer laravel create myapp

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Composer command syntax for Laravel

   The correct command uses create-project followed by the package and project folder name.

2. Step 2: Match the command to options

   composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp matches the correct syntax: composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp.

3. Final Answer:

   composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Correct Composer command = create-project [OK]

Hint: Use 'create-project' with package and folder name [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'install' instead of 'create-project'
• Wrong command order or missing package name
• Using 'new' or 'laravel create' which are invalid

3. After running composer create-project laravel/laravel blog, what folder will contain the Laravel app?

medium

A. laravel

B. public

C. vendor

D. blog

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the command structure

   The last argument in the command is the folder name where Laravel installs the app.

2. Step 2: Identify the folder name

   Since the command ends with blog, the Laravel app is installed inside the blog folder.

3. Final Answer:

   blog -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Project folder = last argument 'blog' [OK]

Hint: Last word in command is your app folder name [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming 'laravel' is the folder name
• Confusing 'vendor' as the app folder
• Thinking 'public' is the main app folder

4. You ran composer create-project laravel/laravel without specifying a folder name. What will happen?

medium

A. Laravel installs in the current directory

B. Composer throws an error for missing folder name

C. Laravel installs in a folder named 'laravel'

D. Composer installs Laravel globally

Solution

1. Step 1: Check default behavior of create-project

   If no folder name is given, Composer uses the package name as the folder.

2. Step 2: Apply to Laravel package

   Since the package is laravel/laravel, it creates a folder named laravel.

3. Final Answer:

   Laravel installs in a folder named 'laravel' -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   No folder name defaults to package name folder [OK]

Hint: No folder name? Uses package name as folder [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting an error for missing folder
• Thinking it installs in current folder
• Assuming global installation happens

5. After installing Laravel with Composer, which command starts the built-in Laravel development server inside your project folder?

hard

A. php artisan serve

B. composer start

C. php start server

D. laravel serve

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Laravel's built-in server command

   Laravel uses the Artisan CLI tool, and the command to start the server is php artisan serve.

2. Step 2: Verify other options

   Options like composer start, php start server, and laravel serve are invalid commands.

3. Final Answer:

   php artisan serve -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Start server command = php artisan serve [OK]

Hint: Use 'php artisan serve' to start Laravel server [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying 'composer start' which doesn't start Laravel server
• Using 'laravel serve' which is not a valid command
• Typing 'php start server' which is incorrect syntax