Yii2 is a PHP framework that streamlines the development process, offering a comprehensive set of tools for building applications of any size. In this blog entry, I'll guide you through Yii2. With this framework, you can kickstart projects swiftly, and today, I'll demonstrate how to install the advanced version, which I like for its pre-built user management system and organized code structure. The advanced version neatly segregates the frontend and backend, along with a common folder for shared files, ensuring a cleaner project architecture. Let's dive into the steps for setting up Yii2 on Windows:
Install Composer: Composer, a package management system for PHP, is essential for utilizing Yii2. Download Composer from getcomposer.org, following the straightforward installation steps provided for Windows.
Create Project Folder: Create a folder for your project within the htdocs directory of Xampp (if installed). Xampp serves as a convenient tool for setting up an Apache web server locally, along with managing MySQL databases. Download Xampp from apachefriends.org and ensure Apache and MySQL are activated for smooth functioning.
Run Composer Command: Open Command Prompt in the project folder and execute the following command to install the Yii2 advanced project:
composer create-project --prefer-dist yiisoft/yii2-app-advanced project_name
Use Command Prompt to navigate to the project directory created in the previous step by right-clicking the folder while holding Shift and selecting "Open PowerShell window here" or manually navigating using the cd command.
Initialize Project: Navigate into the project directory and run the php init command. Select the development environment when prompted by entering "yes" after selecting "development."
Database Setup: Create a MySQL schema, which can be done through localhost/phpmyadmin provided by Xampp. Update the database connection configuration in common/config/main-local.php with the database name, username, and password.
Run Migrations: Execute the php yii migrate command in Command Prompt to create the necessary database tables. Confirm by entering "yes" to apply the migrations.
Update Dependencies: Lastly, run composer update --prefer-dist in Command Prompt to update and install any extensions added to the composer.json file.
Following these steps ensures a smooth setup of Yii2 on Windows, providing a solid foundation for developing robust web applications. Remember to refer to Yii2's extensive documentation for further exploration and troubleshooting.