How To Get Started with Laravel Framework : Tutorial for Beginners

A friend of mine who read my article blog about Laravel installation is asking if I could write at least on how to get started with Laravel Framework. I am not that confident with Laravel since I have more exposure to Code Igniter than Laravel but I can at least walk you through on how to get started with Laravel.

First of all, you need to create a new project.

To create a new project, open your Git bash and go to your working directory... In my end, I go to "cd C:/xampp/htdocs".

Create a project by running the following command:

composer create-project laravel/laravel ProjectName --prefer-dist

Your ProjectName is actually what you want to name to your folder. If your project is about a simple dashboard where you can add, edit and remove items.. You can just name it ItemDashboard or any name of your choice. It doesn't matter for the whole coding concept but it's still a good practice to name your project after its content.

After a couple of minutes of waiting, you now have your new Laravel project! ☺

Let's preview if we really have installed Laravel framework successfully.

In your Git bash, type in the path to your project. So in my end, it's cd C:/xampp/htdocs/ProjectName. Then run - php artisan serve. Check by going to http://localhost:8000/. You should see Laravel's "You have arrived." message.

Congratulations! You are ready.. ☺

 

How to install Laravel Framework

Are you a PHP web developer and interested in using laravel framework? You go to the laravel website - http://laravel.com/ - but don't understand what he is talking about?

No worries, you are not alone.

I am interested in using laravel framework as well. I went to the website and I read ... and read  .... and read ... then leave. I do not understand the whole process. I am using windows 7 OS in case you want to know. =)

Here's what I did:

1. First, make sure you have PHP 5.3.7 version or greater. This is one of the main requirements so you can install Laravel.

2. Next, Download Laravel from: https://github.com/laravel/laravel/archive/master.zip

3. Extract Laravel into the htdocs folder for XAMPP or www for WAMP

4. Download Composer from: https://getcomposer.org/Composer-Setup.exe

5. Enable openssl from all php.ini files. In case you can't locate your php.ini file, open folder where your XAMPP or WAMP is located. use the search bar and type "php.ini" without quote.

6. Install Composer into the same directory php.exe is located. PHP.exe in my end is located in /../XAMPP/PHP/php.exe

7. Now, using your command prompt, go to the folder where you put your extracted laravel folder. (Refer to number 3)

8. AFter that, type in command - composer install

9. Now you can install Laravel by issuing the following command from your terminal:

composer create-project laravel/laravel your-project-name --prefer-dist

Wait a couple of minutes... Patience is a virtue. hehehe... and you're set. You may now go to http://laravel.com/docs/quick#installation and follow the instructions under "Via Composer". 

I hope it helps =)