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Start Your Laravel Project- Easy Setup with Forge

Start Your Laravel Project- Easy Setup with Forge
February 21, 2025
Written By Sumeet Shroff

Laravel project setup, how to use Laravel Forge, beginners guide to Laravel Forge

Start Your Laravel Project – Easy Setup with Forge

Setting up a Laravel project for deployment can feel overwhelming, especially if you're new to server management. From configuring your server to ensuring security and smooth deployments, there’s a lot to handle. But don’t worry—Laravel Forge simplifies this entire process, making it easy to get your project up and running in no time.

Whether you're a beginner looking to set up a Laravel environment or a developer wanting to streamline deployments, this Laravel Forge tutorial will walk you through the entire process. By the end, you'll have a fully functional Laravel application deployed on a Forge-managed server.

What is Laravel Forge?

Before jumping into the Laravel project setup, let’s understand what Laravel Forge is.

Laravel Forge is a server management tool designed specifically for Laravel applications. It allows developers to provision, configure, and manage cloud servers effortlessly. With Forge, you can:

  • Deploy Laravel applications with minimal effort
  • Automate server configurations (Nginx, PHP, MySQL, Redis, etc.)
  • Enable SSL certificates in one click
  • Manage databases and background jobs
  • Secure your server with built-in firewall settings

Essentially, Laravel Forge removes the complexity of hosting Laravel with Forge, making it accessible even for beginners.

Step 1: Sign Up for Laravel Forge

To start, head over to the Laravel Forge website and create an account. Forge offers a free trial, so you can explore its features before subscribing to a paid plan.

Once signed in, you'll see an intuitive dashboard where you can manage your servers, deployments, and settings.

Step 2: Connect Your Cloud Hosting Provider

Laravel Forge doesn’t provide hosting; instead, it manages your servers on platforms like:

✅ DigitalOcean
✅ Linode
✅ AWS
✅ Vultr

To connect your preferred cloud provider:

  1. Navigate to Servers in the Forge dashboard.
  2. Click Create Server and select your provider.
  3. Authorize Forge to access your hosting account.

Now, Laravel Forge can create and configure your server for Laravel development.

Step 3: Create a New Server

Once your hosting provider is linked, it's time to provision a new server.

  1. Click Create Server and choose:

    • Server provider (DigitalOcean, Linode, AWS, etc.)
    • Server size (choose based on your project needs)
    • Server location (pick a region close to your users)

  2. Set a database name for your Laravel project.

  3. Click Provision—Forge will handle the rest!

It will take a few minutes, but once it's done, your server will be fully configured with Nginx, PHP, MySQL, and Redis—everything needed for Laravel deployment.

Step 4: Deploy Your Laravel Application

Now that your server is ready, let’s deploy your Laravel project.

1. Link Your Git Repository

Laravel Forge makes deploying PHP applications with Forge easy by allowing automatic deployments from:

  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Bitbucket

To connect your Laravel project:

  1. Go to the Sites section and click Create Site.
  2. Enter your domain or subdomain.
  3. Select your Git repository where your Laravel project is stored.

Now, every time you push updates to your repository, Forge will deploy the latest changes automatically!

2. Configure Environment Variables

After deployment, you need to set up your Laravel environment.

  1. In the Forge dashboard, navigate to your site and click Environment.
  2. Edit the .env file to match your database and application settings.

Example settings for a MySQL database:

DB_CONNECTION=mysql  
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1  
DB_PORT=3306  
DB_DATABASE=your_db_name  
DB_USERNAME=your_db_user  
DB_PASSWORD=your_db_password

Click Save Changes, and your Laravel project will now use these settings.

3. Run Database Migrations

If your Laravel app uses a database, run migrations using SSH:

  1. Open a terminal and SSH into your server: 
    ssh forge@your-server-ip
  2. Navigate to your Laravel project directory: 
    cd /home/forge/your-site.com
  3. Run migrations: 
    php artisan migrate

Now, your database is set up and ready to go!

Step 5: Secure Your Laravel Application

Security is crucial when starting a project with Laravel. Fortunately, Forge makes it easy to protect your application.

1. Enable SSL with Let’s Encrypt

To enable HTTPS for your Laravel app:

  1. Navigate to your Site Settings in Forge.
  2. Click SSL Certificates → Let’s Encrypt → Install Certificate.

Your Laravel project is now secured with SSL!

2. Configure Firewall Settings

Laravel Forge automatically sets up a firewall, blocking unauthorized access. You can manage firewall rules in the Security section.

3. Disable Root Login

For added security, disable root SSH login and use Forge’s default SSH key for authentication.

Step 6: Optimize Your Laravel Application

To keep your Laravel app fast and efficient, follow these optimization tips:

1. Enable Caching

Run the following commands to cache configurations and routes:

php artisan config:cache  
php artisan route:cache

2. Use Redis for Caching and Queues

If your app requires background jobs, Redis is a great choice. Enable Redis in the Forge Services section and update your .env file:

CACHE_DRIVER=redis  
QUEUE_CONNECTION=redis

3. Schedule Tasks Efficiently

Use Laravel’s task scheduler instead of setting up multiple cron jobs. In Forge, enable queue workers to run background tasks smoothly.

Step 7: Automate Deployments with Forge

One of the biggest advantages of managed hosting for Laravel projects with Forge is easy deployment.

  1. Enable auto-deploy in Forge.
  2. Push changes to your GitHub repository.
  3. Forge will automatically deploy your updates!

No need to manually upload files—just push your code and let Forge handle everything.

Why Use Laravel Forge?

Laravel Forge is a powerful tool for developers looking for easy deployment with Laravel Forge. Here’s why it’s worth using:

✅ No need for complex server setup – Forge automates everything.
✅ Secure deployments – Firewall, SSL, and SSH key management.
✅ Seamless Git integration – Auto-deploys code updates.
✅ Scales easily – Manage multiple servers from one dashboard.
✅ Beginner-friendly – No DevOps experience required.

Whether you're launching your first Laravel project or managing multiple sites, Forge simplifies Laravel development workflow from start to finish.

Final Thoughts

Laravel Forge takes the headache out of Laravel project setup and deployment. Instead of worrying about server configurations, security, and database management, you can focus on writing code while Forge handles the rest.

If you’re looking for the easiest way to host and manage Laravel applications, Laravel Forge is the perfect solution.

🚀 Ready to get started? Sign up for Laravel Forge today and experience hassle-free Laravel hosting!

Sumeet Shroff
Sumeet Shroff
Sumeet Shroff is a Laravel expert dedicated to guiding beginners through the Laravel project setup process, specializing in how to use Laravel Forge for easy deployment. His comprehensive Laravel Forge tutorial covers everything from creating a new Laravel app to optimizing your Laravel application and effective hosting of Laravel projects with Forge, making him the go-to resource for anyone looking to streamline their Laravel development workflow.
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