Laravel Software Install Script Template/Process

Many developers find it kinda confusing at first on how to go about creating install scripts for clients or users of open source projects. This is a simple template/step-by-step process to help you accomplish that. You can fork, contribute to it or just copy the template/process into your app and improve on it based on your specific need.

It has to do with creating a custom artisan command. If you are not sure how to go about that, please check this comprehensive blog post

Stey by Step Process

Open your Terminal and Run the command:

    php artisan make:console Install

This creates a file called Install.php in the app/Console/Commands directory.

Open the file Install.php and dump this:

<?php

namespace App\Console\Commands;

use DB;
use Exception;
use Illuminate\Console\Command;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Artisan;

class Install extends Command
{
    /**
     * The name and signature of the console command.
     *
     * @var string
     */
    protected $signature = 'software:install';

    /**
     * The console command description.
     *
     * @var string
     */
    protected $description = 'Install this software without issues, Thanks!';

    /**
     * Create a new command instance.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function __construct()
    {
        parent::__construct();
    }

    /**
     * Execute the console command.
     *
     * @return mixed
     */
    public function handle()
    {

        try {
            DB::connection();
        } catch (Exception $e) {
            $this->error('Unable to connect to database.');
            $this->error('Please fill valid database credentials into .env and rerun this command.');
            return;
        }

        $this->comment('Attempting to install Software - 1.0.0');

        if (! env('APP_KEY')) {
            $this->info('Generating app key');
            Artisan::call('key:generate');
        } else {
            $this->comment('App key exists -- skipping...');
        }

        $this->info('Migrating database...');

        Artisan::call('migrate', ['--force' => true]);

        $this->comment('Database Migrated Successfully...');

        $this->info('Seeding DB data...');

        Artisan::call('db:seed', ['--force' => true]);

        $this->comment('Database Seeded Successfully...');
        $this->comment('Successfully Installed! You can now run the software');
    }
}

By adding this, a user can now run php artisan software:install from the terminal.

The code goes from:

ensuring the user has a database on standby with valid database credentials
to generating app key
to Migrating the database scripts ( migration files)
to seeding the database with data ( ensure you have the seeder classes all set up, an example is in this repo)

This process captures the basic install process every user usually goes through in just one script, you can definitely add/improve on it.

Example User Install Instruction to be given by Developer

Clone the repo e.g git clone https://github.com/unicodeveloper/laravel-software-install
Run Composer Install
Fill the right database credentials in the .env file
Run php artisan software:install

unicodeveloper/laravel-software-install

Laravel Software Install Script Template/Process

Stey by Step Process

Example User Install Instruction to be given by Developer