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Valet Laravel Package
laravel/valet
Laravel Valet is a lightweight macOS development environment for Laravel and PHP. It runs Nginx automatically, uses DnsMasq to route *.test domains to local sites, avoids Vagrant and /etc/hosts edits, and can share sites via tunnels.
A more enjoyable local development experience for Mac.
Frequently asked questions about Valet
- How do I install Laravel Valet on macOS and start using it for Laravel projects?
- Install Valet via Homebrew (`brew install laravel/valet/valet`), then run `valet install`. Link your Laravel project with `cd /path/to/project && valet link`, then access it at `project.test`. Valet automatically configures Nginx and DnsMasq, so no manual host file edits are needed.
- Does Laravel Valet support multiple PHP versions (e.g., PHP 8.2, 7.4) for different Laravel projects?
- Yes, Valet supports multiple PHP versions via `valet use php@version`. For example, `valet use php@8.2` sets PHP 8.2 as the default. You can switch versions per project or globally. Check available versions with `valet php`.
- Can I use Laravel Valet for non-Laravel PHP projects like Symfony or WordPress?
- Valet is optimized for Laravel and assumes Laravel’s directory structure (e.g., `public/` folder). For non-Laravel PHP apps, you’ll need to manually configure Nginx or use `valet secure` to proxy custom paths. It’s not as seamless as for Laravel projects.
- How does Valet handle HTTPS for local development? Does it work with Laravel’s built-in HTTPS features?
- Valet automatically enables HTTPS for all `*.test` domains using Let’s Encrypt certificates. Laravel’s HTTPS features (e.g., `APP_URL=https://project.test`) work out of the box. No additional configuration is required for local HTTPS in Laravel.
- Is Laravel Valet compatible with Laravel 10 and the latest PHP versions?
- Valet is regularly updated to support the latest Laravel versions and PHP releases. As of now, it works with Laravel 10 and PHP 8.0+. Always check the [official documentation](https://laravel.com/docs/valet) for version-specific requirements before upgrading.
- Can I share my Laravel Valet site publicly (e.g., for testing or client demos)?
- Yes, use `valet share` to generate a secure, temporary public URL via a local tunnel. This is useful for quick demos but avoid sharing sensitive data. Note that public sharing may violate internal security policies—always check compliance guidelines first.
- What are the system requirements for Laravel Valet? Will it work on older Macs or low-RAM machines?
- Valet is lightweight, running on ~7MB RAM, and works on modern macOS (Ventura, Sonoma) with minimal resources. It requires macOS 10.15+ and Homebrew for installation. Older Macs or very low-RAM machines (e.g., <4GB) may struggle with concurrent projects or heavy Laravel apps.
- How do I troubleshoot Valet issues like DNS resolution failures or Nginx errors?
- Start with `valet logs` to check for errors. Common fixes include restarting Valet (`valet restart`), flushing DNS (`valet flush-dns`), or reinstalling (`valet reinstall`). For Nginx issues, ensure no other web servers (e.g., Apache) are running. Check the [Valet docs](https://laravel.com/docs/valet#troubleshooting) for project-specific fixes.
- Does Laravel Valet support Laravel Forge or Envoyer deployments? Can I use it for staging environments?
- Valet is designed for local development only and doesn’t replace Forge/Envoyer for staging/production. However, you can use Valet locally to mirror your Forge/Envoyer environment by syncing `.env` files and dependencies. For staging, consider Docker or Valet’s public sharing feature cautiously.
- What alternatives to Laravel Valet exist for macOS Laravel development? When should I choose them?
- Alternatives include **Laradock** (Docker-based, cross-platform), **Homestead** (Vagrant/VM), or **MAMP/XAMPP** (manual setup). Choose Valet for speed and simplicity on macOS; opt for Laradock/Homestead if you need cross-platform consistency, databases (MySQL/PostgreSQL), or non-PHP services. Valet lacks built-in databases, so pair it with tools like **Laravel Sail** if needed.
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