How do I build a custom Laravel Homestead box with my own software?

Clone Laravel Settler and chef/bento repositories, link them with the provided script, then use Packer to build the Ubuntu template while modifying provisioning scripts to add custom packages. This process requires familiarity with Packer and shell scripting.

Laravel Homestead vs Docker: which is better for Laravel development?

Laravel Homestead, built with Settler, offers a full virtual machine with a pre-configured Laravel stack, ideal for team consistency and production-like setups. Docker is more lightweight and modular, better for resource-constrained environments or microservices architectures.

What software comes pre-installed with Laravel Settler?

The provisioning scripts install PHP with extensions, Nginx, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis, Node.js, Composer, and other tools like Git and npm, all configured to work together seamlessly for Laravel development on Ubuntu.

Can I use Laravel Settler to build boxes for other PHP frameworks?

While possible, Laravel Settler is tightly optimized for Laravel's stack; adapting it for other frameworks would require significant script modifications, and it's not documented or supported out of the box.

How to update Laravel Settler for a newer Ubuntu version?

Modify the Packer template in the linked chef/bento repository to reference a newer Ubuntu base image, then test the build process. This may require adjustments to provisioning scripts for compatibility with updated packages.

Is Laravel Settler suitable for creating production server images?

No, Laravel Settler is designed for development environments and includes tools like debuggers and default settings not ideal for production. For production, use dedicated provisioning tools like Ansible or cloud-specific image builders.

Laravel Homestead Build Scripts — Laravel Vagrant Box Build Scripts

What is Laravel Homestead Build Scripts?

Laravel Settler is a set of provisioning scripts that build the official Laravel Homestead Vagrant box. It creates a pre-configured, virtualized development environment containing all the necessary software (PHP, Nginx, databases, etc.) for Laravel application development. The project solves the problem of inconsistent local development setups by providing a standardized, reproducible environment.

Target Audience

Laravel developers and teams who want a consistent, production-like local development environment without manual configuration. It's also for DevOps engineers or system administrators responsible for maintaining development infrastructure.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Laravel Settler because it provides the official, battle-tested build process for the Laravel Homestead box, ensuring perfect compatibility with the Laravel ecosystem. Its integration with Packer and Vagrant offers a reliable, automated way to create and share identical development environments across teams.

Overview

Laravel Settler is a collection of scripts used to construct the official Laravel Homestead Vagrant box. It automates the provisioning of a standardized, pre-configured development environment for Laravel applications, ensuring consistency across development teams.

Key Features

Vagrant Box Builder — Scripts to build a ready-to-use Vagrant box image for Laravel development.
Development Environment Provisioning — Automates the installation and configuration of PHP, Nginx, MySQL, Redis, and other Laravel stack components.
Integration with Packer — Leverages Packer to create reproducible virtual machine images from base Ubuntu templates.
Consistent Development Setup — Provides a uniform environment that matches Laravel's recommended production-like setup.

Philosophy

Laravel Settler follows the philosophy of "convention over configuration" for development environments, aiming to eliminate setup friction and ensure all developers work in an identical, production-simulating workspace.

Laravel Homestead Build Scripts

What is Laravel Homestead Build Scripts?

Overview

Key Features

Philosophy

Related Projects

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Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

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Frequently Asked Questions