Installing Laravel 8 on Windows 10 is a straightforward process if you have the right tools and follow the steps closely. You’ll need to install Composer, set up a Laravel project, and ensure your environment is correctly configured. By the end of this guide, you’ll have Laravel 8 running smoothly on your Windows 10 machine.
How to Install Laravel 8 on Windows 10
In the steps below, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to get Laravel 8 up and running on your Windows 10 computer. This will include installing Composer, creating a new Laravel project, and configuring your development environment properly.
Step 1: Install XAMPP
First, download and install XAMPP from the official website.
XAMPP is a free and open-source cross-platform web server solution stack package developed by Apache Friends, consisting mainly of the Apache HTTP Server, MariaDB database, and interpreters for scripts written in the PHP and Perl programming languages. This will provide you with a local server environment for Laravel.
Step 2: Install Composer
Second, go to the Composer website and download the installer.
Composer is a dependency manager for PHP, which Laravel uses to manage its components. Follow the installation instructions carefully. Make sure to add Composer to your PATH variables, so you can use it from any command line window.
Step 3: Open Command Line
Third, open the command line interface (CLI) by pressing Windows + R, typing ‘cmd’, and hitting Enter.
You’ll use the command line to execute Composer commands and create your Laravel project. The command line will be your main tool for interacting with Laravel’s framework.
Step 4: Create Laravel Project
Fourth, run the command composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel blog.
This Composer command will download and set up a new Laravel project in a directory named ‘blog’. You can replace ‘blog’ with any name you prefer for your project directory.
Step 5: Navigate to Project Directory
Fifth, navigate to your project directory by typing cd blog (or your project’s name) in the command line.
This ensures you’re working within your newly created Laravel project folder. From here, you’ll be able to manage your Laravel application.
Step 6: Start Laravel Development Server
Sixth, start the Laravel development server by running php artisan serve.
This command will launch a development server at http://localhost:8000. Open this URL in your web browser to see your fresh Laravel 8 application in action.
Congratulations! Once you’ve completed these steps, you should have Laravel 8 successfully installed and running on Windows 10. Your local development environment is set up, and you’re ready to start building your application.
Tips for Installing Laravel 8 on Windows 10
- Check PHP Version: Ensure your PHP version is compatible with Laravel 8. Generally, PHP 7.3 and above is required.
- Update Composer: Always keep Composer updated to avoid compatibility issues.
- Use Command Line Efficiently: Familiarize yourself with basic command line operations to streamline the process.
- Backup Configurations: Keep backups of your configuration settings in case something goes wrong.
- Use Laravel Documentation: The official Laravel documentation is an excellent resource for troubleshooting and advanced configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I encounter an error during installation?
Check the error message for clues. Often, it’s related to missing dependencies or incorrect PATH settings. You can also refer to Laravel’s official documentation.
Can I use WAMP instead of XAMPP?
Yes, WAMP can also be used to create a local server environment for Laravel. The steps are quite similar.
Do I need prior PHP knowledge to install Laravel?
Basic PHP knowledge is helpful but not necessary for the installation process. However, to develop applications, understanding PHP is essential.
How can I check my PHP version?
Open your command line and type php -v. This will display the installed PHP version.
Can I install Laravel globally?
Yes, you can use the command composer global require laravel/installer to install Laravel globally. This lets you create new Laravel projects using the laravel new project-name command.
Summary of Steps
- Install XAMPP
- Install Composer
- Open Command Line
- Create Laravel Project
- Navigate to Project Directory
- Start Laravel Development Server
Conclusion
Installing Laravel 8 on Windows 10 is fairly straightforward if you follow the steps outlined in this guide. By ensuring you have XAMPP and Composer properly installed and configured, you’ll be able to set up a new Laravel project in no time. This process provides a solid foundation for developing robust web applications using Laravel, one of the most popular PHP frameworks available today.
If you encounter any issues, the Laravel community and documentation are excellent resources. For further reading, consider delving into Laravel’s extensive documentation or exploring communities and forums where you can ask questions and share your experiences. Now that you have Laravel 8 up and running, it’s time to start building something amazing!
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.