Laravel 12 is set to be released on February 24, 2025, as announced at Laracon EU. This upcoming version promises to enhance the developer experience with new features and improvements. Laravel 12 introduces new starter kits, offering options for a blank slate or selecting your preferred tech stack, such as React, Vue, or Livewire. These kits include Shadcn components, and for the Livewire stack, there’s an option for a free version of Flux components. Each starter kit is pulled from separate GitHub repositories and installed directly into your application, providing complete control over the code.
π‘Why Bother Upgrading?
Upgrading to Laravel 12 ensures you stay current with the latest features and improvements, enhancing performance, security, and developer productivity. Notably, Laravel 12 is the first major version with zero-breaking changes, making the upgrade process smoother. However, if you’re not yet on Laravel 11, it’s recommended to upgrade to be ready for this release. Tools like Laravel Shift can assist in automating the upgrade process.
How to Install Laravel 12 (Beta) π»
To get started with Laravel 12, follow these steps:
- Make Sure Composer is Up-to-DateEnsure that Composer, the dependency manager for PHP, is updated to the latest version to handle Laravel 12’s requirements.
- Install Laravel 12 via Composer. Run the following command to create a new Laravel 12 project:
- Run the Development Server. Navigate to your project directory and start the development server:
- Explore the New Features. Dive into the new starter kits and components to familiarize yourself with the enhancements in Laravel 12.
- Give Feedback & Contribute. Engage with the Laravel community by providing feedback or contributing to the project repositories.
With the release date approaching, it’s advisable to plan for the upgrade by reviewing the official upgrade guide once available. Testing your applications in a staging environment before deploying to production will help ensure a smooth transition.
Laravel 12 aims to provide a seamless upgrade experience with zero-breaking changes and introduces valuable features to enhance web development. Staying updated with the latest version ensures your applications remain robust, secure, and efficient.
Happy codingπππ
