Laravel installation with Composer - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - Laravel installation with Composer

Open Terminal

↓

Check Composer Installed?

No→Install Composer

Yes↓

Run: composer create-project laravel/laravel project-name

↓

Composer Downloads Laravel Files

↓

Laravel Project Folder Created

↓

Navigate to Project Folder

↓

Run: php artisan serve

↓

Laravel App Runs on Local Server

This flow shows the steps to install Laravel using Composer, from checking Composer to running the Laravel app locally.

Execution Sample

Laravel

composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp
cd myapp
php artisan serve

This code installs Laravel in a folder named 'myapp', moves into it, and starts the local server.

Execution Table

Step	Command	Action	Result
1	composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp	Composer downloads Laravel files	Laravel project folder 'myapp' created with all files
2	cd myapp	Change directory to project folder	Current folder is now 'myapp'
3	php artisan serve	Start Laravel development server	Server runs at http://127.0.0.1:8000
4	Access http://127.0.0.1:8000 in browser	Browser loads Laravel welcome page	Laravel app is running and visible
5	Exit	Stop server or close terminal	Laravel app stops running

💡 Laravel app runs until server is stopped or terminal closed

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 1	After Step 2	After Step 3	Final
Current Folder	User home or terminal start	User home or terminal start	'myapp' folder	'myapp' folder	'myapp' folder
Laravel Files	None	Downloaded in 'myapp'	Available in 'myapp'	Available in 'myapp'	Available in 'myapp'
Server Status	Stopped	Stopped	Stopped	Running at 127.0.0.1:8000	Stopped after exit

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why do we need to check if Composer is installed before running the create-project command?

Composer is the tool that downloads Laravel files. If it's not installed, the command will fail. See Step 1 in execution_table where Composer downloads files.

What happens if you run 'php artisan serve' outside the Laravel project folder?

The command won't find the Laravel files and will give an error. Step 2 shows changing into the project folder before running the server in Step 3.

Why do we use 'composer create-project' instead of just downloading Laravel manually?

Composer handles downloading all Laravel files and dependencies automatically, ensuring the project is set up correctly as shown in Step 1.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what is the result after running 'composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp'?

A Laravel project folder 'myapp' created with all files

B Server runs at http://127.0.0.1:8000

C Current folder is now 'myapp'

D Laravel app stops running

💡 Hint

Check Step 1 in the execution_table for the result of the create-project command

At which step does the Laravel development server start running?

A Step 1

B Step 3

C Step 2

D Step 4

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Action' and 'Result' columns in execution_table for when the server starts

If you forget to change directory into 'myapp' before running 'php artisan serve', what will happen?

A Laravel app will run normally

B Composer will download Laravel files again

C The server command will fail because Laravel files are not found

D The terminal will automatically change directory

💡 Hint

Refer to key_moments about running 'php artisan serve' outside the project folder

Concept Snapshot

Laravel installation with Composer:
1. Ensure Composer is installed.
2. Run 'composer create-project laravel/laravel project-name' to download Laravel.
3. Change directory to the new project folder.
4. Start the server with 'php artisan serve'.
5. Access the app at http://127.0.0.1:8000.
Composer automates setup and dependencies.

Full Transcript

To install Laravel using Composer, first open your terminal and check if Composer is installed. If not, install Composer. Then run the command 'composer create-project laravel/laravel myapp' to download Laravel files into a folder named 'myapp'. Next, change your directory to 'myapp' using 'cd myapp'. Start the Laravel development server by running 'php artisan serve'. This will launch the app locally at http://127.0.0.1:8000. You can open this address in your browser to see the Laravel welcome page. The server will keep running until you stop it or close the terminal.

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