LARAVEL-WINDOWS

LARAVEL INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS7/8

1. Go to https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html and download XAMPP for Windows[latest version].

2. Install the downloaded XAMPP server.
  a. Antivirus warning ignore. Click yes.
  b. Advisable to set User access control to Never Notify.
  [Windows+R -> msconfig -> Tools -> Changes UAC Settings -> Never Notify] 
  A restart is required.
  c. APACHE + MYSQL + PERL + PHP + PHPMYADMIN Minimum components should be selected for installation.
  d. Appropriate Folder Path should be mentioned. Avoid the C Drive if possible.

3. OPENSSL should be enabled.
    Open XAMPP folder path. e.g. C:\XAMPP\php\php.ini and the semi-comma infront of the line extension=php_openssl.dll should be       removed, which enables openssl package. XAMPP Apache Server should be restarted.
  Note: In recent version the extension is enabled by default. Always better to do a check for the same.
4. Install COMPOSER
  a. Go to https://getcomposer.org/Composer-Setup.exe for downloading composer.
  b. Install shell menus selection is optional.
  c. Set the path of the php exe file to your xampp php installation. e.g C:\xampp\php\php.exe 
  d. composer.phar file will installed and required path settings would be setup auto by the installer.
5. Enable Virtual Hosts.
  a. Open httpd.conf xammp apache file. e.g.C:\xampp\apache\conf\httpd.conf
  the line Include conf/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf should not be commented.

6. Create a folder under htdocs. e.g. C:\xampp\htdocs\laravel
   a. Go to the command line-> cd C:\xampp\htdocs\laravel
   b. Composer create-project laravel/laravel --prefer-dist
   c. Take some time. Once done run go into laravel folder  C:\xampp\htdocs\laravel\laravel\ 
   d. run php artisan serve [Web server runs on localhost:8000, laravel logo will be displayed.]

7. Configure Virtual Hosts
  a. Go to extra\httpd-vhosts.conf
  b.  Paste the below configuration adjusting the path based on your settings as required.
      NameVirtualHost *:80
      <VirtualHost *:80>
      	DocumentRoot "C:/xampp/htdocs/laravel/laravel/public
      	ServerName avatar.dev
      </VirtualHost>
  c. Run command prompot as administrator and then notepad C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
      127.0.0.1 avatar.dev [The IP of the machine can also be binded to test from other pc if required.]
  d. http://avatar.dev/ open this link in your browser and surely laravel and xammp is setup properly.
  
  Also install git from git-scm.org. It would be needed in further tutorials.