Provision, Deploy, and Maintain Production Laravel Apps: Ways and Considerations

In the ever-evolving landscape of web development, Laravel stands out as a robust and versatile PHP framework, empowering developers to code efficient and scalable applications with ease. However, the journey from conceptualization, code, to a fully-functional production-ready Laravel application involves a series of crucial steps, from provisioning the necessary infrastructure to deploying the codebase and ensuring its smooth operation and maintenance over time. In this article, we delve into the intricate process of provisioning, deploying, and maintaining production Laravel applications, exploring various methods, best practices, and essential considerations along the way. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a newcomer, understanding these aspects is crucial for building resilient, high-performance web applications that thrive in the digital realm.

Choosing Where to Host your Laravel Application

Few options based on your needs, this will affect how users can access the app depending on the network access:

• Local
• Office Network
• Private Corporate Network
• Public Use

Configurations of application that is hosted locally or privately can be done on that internal network that is hosted, this includes setting up the internal corporate machine that would be used to host the app (if there isn’t any yet). However, the problem of apps that are hosted on a private network comes from the maintenance. Accessing privately hosted application can only be done only on that private network, the solution can be to setup a private tunnel or a VPN, or maybe a remote desktop client. This part will be explained further in the next few chapters. Now, focus on choosing the right technology that will be used to host the production-ready Laravel Application.

Publicly hosted Laravel Application might utilize few of the public hosting services that are already available. One of the few benefits of hosting a PHP application, including Laravel, is that based on your client needs, hosting plans are relatively cheaper and maintenance are relatively easier (assuming you don’t use any other stacks other than Laravel). This is because PHP apps can be hosted on a Web Hosting service that is relatively cheaper than the VPS counterpart.

Few of the Web Hosting Services available in Indonesia that you can consider include:

• Rumahweb
• Hostinger
• Domainesia
• IDWebhost

Be careful to choose the packages that come with cPanel (most of the web hosting services already include this in their packages). cPanel might help a lot for newcomers to navigate the functions as it comes with GUI control over your web application.

Operating System

Choosing the right operating system (OS) is critical for the performance and reliability of your Laravel application. While Laravel is compatible with various OSs, the most commonly used ones are:

• Linux (Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian): Linux is the preferred OS for hosting web applications due to its stability, security, and performance. Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian are popular distributions that offer extensive community support and a plethora of tools for web development.
• Windows: While less common for Laravel, Windows servers can be used if your development team is more comfortable with the Windows ecosystem. Windows Server editions provide the necessary features and security updates.
• macOS: Typically used for local development rather than production, macOS provides a Unix-based environment similar to Linux.

Database Management

Laravel supports various database management systems (DBMS), allowing flexibility based on your application needs. Key considerations for choosing a DBMS include performance, scalability, and ease of use.

• MySQL/MariaDB: MySQL is a widely-used, open-source relational database known for its reliability and performance. MariaDB, a fork of MySQL, offers similar features with additional performance enhancements.
• PostgreSQL: Known for its advanced features and standards compliance, PostgreSQL is an excellent choice for applications requiring complex queries and robust data integrity.
• SQLite: A lightweight, serverless database that is ideal for small to medium-sized applications or development environments.
• SQL Server: Microsoft’s relational database solution, suitable for applications already leveraging the Microsoft ecosystem.

Web Servers

The web server plays a crucial role in serving your Laravel application to users. Commonly used web servers include:

• Apache: A versatile and widely-used web server known for its flexibility and extensive module support. Apache is compatible with a range of operating systems and integrates well with PHP.
• Nginx: Known for its high performance, low resource consumption, and ability to handle many concurrent connections, Nginx is an excellent choice for high-traffic applications.
• LiteSpeed: A high-performance, secure web server that can handle thousands of connections with minimal resource usage. It offers built-in support for popular control panels and caching solutions.

PHP and Composer

To run a Laravel application, you need to ensure that PHP and Composer are correctly installed and configured.

• PHP: Ensure you have a compatible version of PHP installed (Laravel 8 requires PHP 7.3 or higher). PHP-FPM (FastCGI Process Manager) is recommended for improved performance and better management of PHP processes.
• Composer: Composer is a dependency manager for PHP, essential for managing Laravel packages and dependencies. Install Composer globally on your server and use it to install and update your Laravel project’s dependencies.

Deploying a Laravel application involves transferring your codebase from the development environment to the production server. Various strategies can be employed:

Manual Deployment:

• Upload your codebase via FTP/SFTP.
• Run composer install to install dependencies.
• Set up environment variables by copying .env.example to .env and configuring it.
• Run migrations using php artisan migrate.

Automated Deployment with CI/CD:

• Use tools like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Jenkins to automate the deployment process.
• Configure pipelines to pull code, install dependencies, run tests, and deploy to the server.
• Ensure rollback mechanisms are in place to revert to previous versions in case of deployment failures.

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS):

• Leverage PaaS providers like Heroku, Laravel Vapor, or AWS Elastic Beanstalk for streamlined deployment and scaling.
• Configure your Laravel application for the chosen PaaS platform and deploy via their CLI or web interface.

Ensuring the smooth operation of your production Laravel application requires ongoing maintenance and monitoring.

• Backups: Implement regular backups for your database and codebase. Use tools like Laravel Backup or database-specific backup solutions.
• Monitoring: Use monitoring tools like New Relic, Datadog, or Laravel Telescope to keep track of application performance, errors, and user interactions.
• Security: Regularly update your Laravel application, dependencies, and server software to patch security vulnerabilities. Use HTTPS, secure environment variables, and proper authentication and authorization mechanisms.
• Scaling: Monitor resource usage and scale your application horizontally (adding more servers) or vertically (upgrading server resources) as needed to handle increased traffic.

Provisioning, deploying, and maintaining a production Laravel application involves a series of strategic decisions and best practices. By understanding the infrastructure requirements, choosing the right tools, and implementing robust deployment and maintenance strategies, you can ensure that your Laravel applications are resilient, high-performing, and capable of thriving in the digital realm. Whether you opt for manual deployment, automated CI/CD pipelines, or PaaS solutions, the key lies in meticulous planning and continuous improvement.

Originally published at http://github.com.