Configure PHP and Laravel Framework

In this guide we configure PHP and Laravel Framework to build web applications and REST APIs. As a result, you can prepare the environment to start the development process in a Laravel Project.

After this process, you will get installed the following components:

• PHP (PHP 7 or newer)
• MySQL/MariaDB server engine and client
• PEAR (PHP repository of common reusable components)
• Composer (PHP package and dependency manager)
• XDebug (PHP debugger used by unit tests tools like PHPUnit)
• Laravel command line tools (laravel and php artisan)

Install PHP, Database and required components

PHP and the Laravel Framework need some basic components prior to run a Laravel application. The following steps will help you complete all the Laravel software and component requirements.

Install or update php

If you don’t have a PHP 7.1 or newer installation, see the article Installation of PHP in Windows, MacOS and Linux to review the installation steps of PHP for your specific OS.

Initialize a php.ini