- How do I install the Symfony AI Gemini bridge in a Laravel 10+ project?
- Use Composer to install the package with `composer require symfony/ai-gemini-platform`. Laravel’s autoloader will handle dependencies like Symfony’s HTTP client and Messenger. Configure the API key in `.env` and bind the `ClientInterface` in a service provider for dependency injection.
- Does this package support Laravel’s service container for dependency injection?
- Yes, the package integrates natively with Laravel’s container. Bind the `ClientInterface` or `ModelClient` in your `AppServiceProvider` or a dedicated service provider. Laravel’s DI will resolve dependencies like configuration and HTTP clients automatically.
- Can I use Google Gemini’s streaming responses in Laravel for real-time chatbots?
- Absolutely. The package supports streaming via `DeltaInterface`, which you can pair with Laravel Echo or WebSockets (e.g., Pusher) to handle chunked responses in real time. Process each chunk asynchronously using Laravel’s queues for scalability.
- What Laravel versions are officially supported by this package?
- The package targets Symfony 7+, which aligns with Laravel 10+. For Laravel 9, you may encounter version conflicts with Symfony components. Mitigate this by using standalone Symfony packages or upgrading Laravel to a supported version.
- How do I handle file uploads (images, PDFs) for Gemini’s multimodal API in Laravel?
- Use Laravel’s `Storage` facade to preprocess files (e.g., convert to base64 or stream directly) before passing them to Gemini’s `generateContent()` or `batchEmbedContents()`. The package supports binary media, but Laravel’s file handling may require adaptation for `MultiPartResult` compatibility.
- Are there built-in tools for error handling and retries in Laravel?
- Yes, leverage Symfony’s `RetryMiddleware` and `StreamingMiddleware`, which can be adapted for Laravel’s HTTP client stack. The package also provides uniform error handling, allowing Laravel’s exception system to display user-friendly messages for API failures or rate limits.
- Can I use this package for background processing, like batch embeddings?
- Yes, wrap Gemini’s async operations (e.g., `batchEmbedContents()`) in Laravel’s queues. Dispatch a job to process embeddings in the background, then retrieve results later. This is ideal for performance-critical applications like semantic search or document analysis.
- What are the alternatives to this package for Laravel?
- For Laravel-specific solutions, consider Spatie’s AI packages or direct Google API client libraries (e.g., `google/cloud-ai`). However, this Symfony bridge offers deeper integration with Laravel’s ecosystem (e.g., service container, Messenger) and multimodal support out of the box.
- How do I test the package with the provided fixtures?
- The package includes licensed media fixtures (images, audio, PDFs) in `Tests/Fixtures/`. Use them in your tests by loading files via Laravel’s `Storage` or `public_path()` helper. Ensure your test environment has access to these files for multimodal API validation.
- What should I do if Google’s Gemini preview models (e.g., gemini-3.1-pro-preview) change or deprecate?
- Monitor Google’s [Gemini API changelog](https://ai.google.dev/) for updates. The package’s `Provider` abstraction allows dynamic model routing, so you can configure fallbacks to stable models (e.g., `gemini-3-flash-preview`) in Laravel’s config or service providers.