🚀 Laravel 12: Step-by-Step Setup Guide for 2025

Whether you’re a seasoned Laravel developer or just getting started, setting up a Laravel 12 project the right way is crucial. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the complete process step-by-step — from installation to frontend setup.

🛠 Prerequisites

Before getting started, ensure your system has the following:
- ✅ PHP 8.2+
- ✅ Composer
- ✅ MySQL or PostgreSQL
- ✅ Node.js & NPM (for frontend assets)
- ✅ Optional: Laravel Valet, XAMPP, Docker, or Homestead

✅ Step 1: Install Laravel via Composer

Open your terminal and run:

    composer create-project laravel/laravel my-laravel-app

Replace `my-laravel-app` with your preferred project folder name.

✅ Step 2: Set File Permissions (Linux/Mac)

Navigate into your project and update permissions:

    cd my-laravel-app
    chmod -R 775 storage bootstrap/cache

✅ Step 3: Configure Environment

Copy the example environment file:

    cp .env.example .env

Generate the app key:

    php artisan key:generate

Update your `.env` file with database credentials:

    DB_CONNECTION=mysql
    DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
    DB_PORT=3306
    DB_DATABASE=laravel_db
    DB_USERNAME=root
    DB_PASSWORD=secret

✅ Step 4: Run Laravel’s Built-In Server

Start the development server:

    php artisan serve

Visit your app in the browser:
http://127.0.0.1:8000

✅ Step 5: Set Up Database & Migrations

Create your database manually or via CLI, then run:

    php artisan migrate

✅ Step 6: Install Frontend Dependencies (Optional)

Laravel 12 uses Vite by default for frontend assets. To install:

    npm install
    npm run dev

For production:

    npm run build

✅ Step 7: Git Ignore & Version Control

Initialize Git and commit your setup:

    git init
    git add .
    git commit -m "Initial Laravel 12 setup"

Ensure the following are in your `.gitignore`:

    /vendor
    /node_modules
    .env

✅ Step 8: Serve Using Valet (Optional for macOS)

If using Laravel Valet:

    valet link
    valet secure

Access your app via:
https://my-laravel-app.test

🧪 Step 9: Testing the Setup

Add this test route in `routes/web.php`:

    Route::get('/test', fn () => 'Laravel 12 is working!');

Visit http://localhost:8000/test to verify it works.

🎯 Final Thoughts

You now have a fully functioning Laravel 12 project ready for development! From here, you can extend your setup with:
- 🔐 Authentication: Jetstream, Breeze
- 🔑 API tokens: Laravel Sanctum or Passport
- 🐳 Docker environment: Laravel Sail

📝 Conclusion

Setting up Laravel 12 doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Follow these steps to build a clean, maintainable foundation for your next web application.

If you found this helpful, leave a 💚 or comment below.

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