Setting Up Laravel 12 on Your Local Machine

Introduction to Laravel 12

Laravel 12 is the latest iteration of the popular PHP framework, designed to simplify and accelerate web application development. With new features, enhanced performance, and improved developer experience, Laravel 12 builds upon its predecessors by introducing powerful tools and functionalities. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of installing Laravel 12 on your local machine, enabling you to start building web applications efficiently.

As we covered in Part 1 of our "Laravel 12 Complete Guide: Beginner to Advanced" series, understanding the fundamentals of Laravel is crucial before diving into installation. In this post, we will focus on the practical aspects of setting up your local environment for Laravel 12 development.

System Requirements for Laravel 12 Installation

Before you begin the installation process, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

1. PHP Version: Laravel 12 requires PHP 8.1 or higher.
2. Composer: Dependency management tool for PHP, which is crucial for installing Laravel and managing its packages.
3. Database: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, or SQL Server.
4. Web Server: Apache or Nginx is recommended. Alternatively, you can use the built-in PHP server.
5. Operating System: Laravel 12 can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Laravel 12

Step 1: Installing Composer

Composer is a dependency manager for PHP that allows you to manage your Laravel libraries and packages easily. Follow these steps to install Composer:

1. Download Composer Installer:

Open your terminal and run the following command to download the Composer installer:

1. Verify Installer:

Next, verify the installer’s SHA-384:

Replace yourexpectedhash_here with the latest hash from Composer's download page.

1. Install Composer:

Run the installer with the following command:

1. Remove the Installer:

Finally, remove the setup file:

1. Verify Installation:

To verify that Composer is installed correctly, run:

You should see the installed version of Composer.

Step 2: Setting Up a Local Development Environment

You have several options for setting up a local development environment for Laravel 12. Here, we will discuss XAMPP, Laravel Homestead, and Laravel Valet:

#### Option A: Using XAMPP

1. Download XAMPP: Download XAMPP from Apache Friends and install it.

1. Start Services: Open XAMPP Control Panel and start Apache and MySQL services.

1. Check Status: Visit http://localhost in your web browser to confirm that XAMPP is running.

#### Option B: Using Laravel Homestead

Laravel Homestead is an official, pre-packaged Vagrant box that provides a robust development environment:

1. Install Vagrant: Download and install Vagrant from Vagrant's website.

1. Install VirtualBox: Download and install VirtualBox, which is necessary for Vagrant.

1. Install Homestead: Run the following command in your terminal:

1. Initialize Homestead: Run:

1. Configure Homestead: Edit the Homestead.yaml file to configure your sites and databases.

1. Start Homestead: Navigate to your Homestead directory and run:

#### Option C: Using Laravel Valet

If you are using macOS, Laravel Valet is an excellent option for a simple development setup:

1. Install Valet: Run the following command:

1. Run Valet Install: Execute:

1. Park Your Directory: Move to your projects directory and run:

This will serve your projects automatically.

Step 3: Creating a New Laravel 12 Project

Now that your environment is set up, let's create your first Laravel 12 project.

1. Open Terminal: Navigate to your web root directory (for XAMPP, it's usually C:\xampp\htdocs, for Homestead, it's your designated folder).

1. Install Laravel via Composer: Run the following command:

Replace your-project-name with your desired project name.

1. Navigate to Your Project:

1. Verify Installation: Start the Laravel development server:

You should see the following output:

Open your web browser and go to http://127.0.0.1:8000 to see your new Laravel application.

Step 4: Configuring Environment Variables (.env file)

Laravel uses an .env file for environment configuration. This file is critical for database connections and other settings.

1. Locate the .env File: In your project root, find the .env file.

1. Edit Database Configuration: Update the database settings:

Ensure that you create the specified database in your database server (e.g., using phpMyAdmin).

1. Clear Configuration Cache: After updating the .env file, run the following command to clear the configuration cache:

Step 5: Running the Laravel Development Server

As mentioned, you can start the Laravel development server with:

This command will run a local server that you can access at http://127.0.0.1:8000. Make sure your terminal is still running this command while you work on your application.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting During Installation

1. Composer Installation Issues

Common Error: "php not found"

• Solution: Ensure PHP is installed and added to your system's PATH.

2. Database Connection Issues

Common Error: "SQLSTATE[HY000] [1045] Access denied for user"

• Solution: Double-check the credentials in your .env file and ensure the database exists.

3. Laravel Installation Errors

Common Error: "Failed to create the directory"

• Solution: Ensure you have write permissions in your project directory.

Best Practices for Developing with Laravel 12

1. Use Version Control: Utilize Git to manage your code versions.
2. Follow PSR Standards: Adhere to PHP-FIG standards for code quality.
3. Use Environment Configuration: Keep sensitive data out of your codebase using the .env file.
4. Regularly Update Dependencies: Keep your Laravel and package versions up to date to utilize the latest security features.

Additional Resources and Documentation for Laravel 12

• Laravel Documentation
• Laravel GitHub Repository
• Laracasts - Learn Laravel through video tutorials.

Conclusion and Next Steps After Installation

Congratulations! You have successfully set up Laravel 12 on your local machine. This setup will allow you to explore the powerful features of Laravel and start building your applications.

In the next part of our series, we will dive deeper into Laravel's routing and middleware features. Be sure to check back for more insights and practical guidance on mastering Laravel 12. Happy coding!