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First-time setup

When you launch LaraEnv for the first time, you land on the Dashboard. This page walks you through getting a working stack up and running.

On first launch, a Bootstrap modal appears offering a curated starter stack — for example Nginx + MySQL + a recent PHP + Mailpit — that you can install in one click.

tip

The recommended stack is a great starting point. You can always add or remove components later from the Dashboard.

Visual C++ Redistributables​

PHP and MySQL depend on the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables. LaraEnv detects when these are missing and prompts you to install them. Accept the prompt so your services can run correctly.

Start your services​

Fresh installs use a Start All / Stop All gate: nothing is running until you start it.

After the bootstrap finishes, click Start All on the Dashboard to bring your services up. When you're done for the day, Stop All shuts everything down.

Pick your active versions​

LaraEnv lets you run multiple PHP and Node.js versions side by side. From the Dashboard, choose which PHP and Node versions are currently active. Switching is instant and applies to your projects.

Create your first project​

With services running, you're ready to build. Continue to Creating a project to set up your first site.

Next steps​

Want to understand where everything lives on disk? See Folder layout.