Best 7 Open-Source Free Laravel App Deployment Solutions

Deploying Laravel applications efficiently and reliably is crucial for developers. Thankfully, there are numerous open-source solutions that streamline the deployment process, ensuring your applications run smoothly.

Here’s a look at some of the best open-source, free Laravel deployment solutions available.

1. Deployer

Deployer is a PHP-based deployment tool that supports Laravel among other PHP frameworks. It is known for its simplicity and flexibility, making it a favorite among many Laravel developers.

Features:

• Easy Configuration: Simple configuration using a deploy.php file.
• Multiple Environments: Supports deployment to multiple environments.
• Rollback: Easy rollback to previous releases if something goes wrong.
• Zero Downtime Deployments: Ensures that your application remains online during the deployment process.

Example Configuration:

namespace Deployer;

require 'recipe/laravel.php';

host('example.com')
    ->set('deploy_path', '~/{{application}}');

set('repository', 'git@github.com:username/repository.git');

task('deploy', [
    'deploy:prepare',
    'deploy:vendors',
    'deploy:publish',
]);

after('deploy:failed', 'deploy:unlock');

GitHub - deployphp/deployer: The PHP deployment tool with support for popular frameworks out of the box

The PHP deployment tool with support for popular frameworks out of the box - deployphp/deployer

GitHubdeployphp

2. Envoyer

Envoyer is a zero-downtime deployment tool specifically designed for Laravel applications. Although it has premium features, the open-source version still provides robust deployment capabilities.

Features:

• Zero Downtime: Deploy without interrupting your users.
• Health Checks: Monitor your application health during deployment.
• Notifications: Get notifications via Slack, SMS, or email.
• Automation: Automatically deploy new commits to your server.
• Works seamlessly on macOS and Linux
• Works with many frameworks including Laravel
• Developer friendly

GitHub - deployphp/deployer: The PHP deployment tool with support for popular frameworks out of the box

The PHP deployment tool with support for popular frameworks out of the box - deployphp/deployer

GitHubdeployphp

3. GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions is a powerful CI/CD tool integrated into GitHub. It allows you to automate the deployment of your Laravel application directly from your repository.

Features:

• Automation: Automated workflows for building, testing, and deploying.
• Integration: Seamlessly integrates with your GitHub repository.
• Custom Workflows: Create custom workflows tailored to your deployment needs.
• Community Support: Large community and plenty of reusable workflows.

Example Workflow:

name: Laravel Deployment

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
    - name: Checkout code
      uses: actions/checkout@v2

    - name: Set up PHP
      uses: shivammathur/setup-php@v2
      with:
        php-version: '7.4'

    - name: Install dependencies
      run: composer install --no-dev --prefer-dist --optimize-autoloader

    - name: Deploy
      run: |
        rsync -avz --delete . user@example.com:/path/to/your/project
        ssh user@example.com 'cd /path/to/your/project && php artisan migrate'

4. GitLab CI/CD

GitLab CI/CD offers a comprehensive solution for deploying Laravel applications. With its built-in CI/CD capabilities, you can automate the entire deployment pipeline.

Features:

• Integrated CI/CD: Built directly into GitLab.
• Custom Pipelines: Define custom pipelines using the .gitlab-ci.yml file.
• Security: Provides robust security features for your deployments.
• Scalability: Scalable to accommodate projects of any size.

Example Pipeline:

stages:
  - build
  - deploy

build:
  stage: build
  script:
    - composer install --no-dev --prefer-dist --optimize-autoloader

deploy:
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - rsync -avz --delete . user@example.com:/path/to/your/project
    - ssh user@example.com 'cd /path/to/your/project && php artisan migrate'

5. Capistrano

Capistrano is a remote server automation tool primarily for Ruby, but it has excellent support for PHP and Laravel with the help of plugins.

Features:

• Remote Execution: Run commands on remote servers.
• Rollback: Easily roll back to previous versions.
• Multi-stage Deployment: Deploy to different environments like staging and production.
• Extensible: Extend its capabilities with various plugins.

Example Configuration:

# Capfile
require 'capistrano/setup'
require 'capistrano/deploy'

install_plugin Capistrano::Laravel

# config/deploy.rb
set :application, 'my_app_name'
set :repo_url, 'git@example.com:me/my_repo.git'

# Define server(s)
server 'example.com', user: 'deploy', roles: %w{app db web}

# Default deploy_to directory
set :deploy_to, '/var/www/my_app_name'

GitHub - capistrano/capistrano: A deployment automation tool built on Ruby, Rake, and SSH.

A deployment automation tool built on Ruby, Rake, and SSH. - capistrano/capistrano

GitHubcapistrano

6- VitoDeploy

VitoDeploy is a user-friendly deployment platform designed to make deploying applications a breeze. Whether you’re a developer, freelancer, or part of a small to medium-sized enterprise, VitoDeploy has got you covered. Here’s why:

Key Features:

• Easy Setup: Get started quickly with a straightforward setup process.
• Automated Deployments: Save time with automated deployment workflows.
• Scalability: Easily scale your applications as your business grows.
• Real-Time Monitoring: Keep track of your deployments with real-time monitoring.
• Rollback Capabilities: Quickly revert to previous versions if needed.
• Secure: Ensure your deployments are safe with robust security features.
• Cost-Effective: Affordable pricing plans to suit your budget.

VitoDeploy: Free Deployment and Server Management System Built with Laravel

VitoDeploy is a user-friendly deployment platform designed to streamline and simplify the process of deploying applications. It’s built to cater to the needs of developers, freelancers, and small to medium-sized enterprises looking for an efficient way to manage deployments without the hassle. Deploy PHP apps easy as WordPress, Laravel apps

MEDevel.com: Open-source for Healthcare, and EducationHazem Abbas

7- Docker

Deploying a Laravel Application Using Docker and Docker Compose

Docker is a platform that enables developers to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of applications within containerized environments. Containers package an application with its dependencies and environment, ensuring consistent performance across different development, testing, and production stages.

Docker Compose is a tool specifically designed to define and manage multi-container Docker applications. Using a simple YAML file, Docker Compose allows developers to configure and link multiple services together, making it an ideal solution for complex applications that require various components such as databases, cache, and web servers.

Benefits of Using Docker and Docker Compose

1. Consistency: Ensures the application runs identically in different environments.
2. Scalability: Easily scale applications by adding or removing containers.
3. Isolation: Each container runs in its isolated environment, preventing conflicts between dependencies.
4. Portability: Containers can run on any system that supports Docker.
5. Simplified Deployment: Automate deployment processes using Docker Compose.

Example Code: Deploying a Laravel Application

Create a Dockerfile

A Dockerfile is a script that contains a series of instructions on how to build a Docker image for the Laravel application.

# Use the official PHP image as the base
FROM php:8.1-fpm

# Set the working directory
WORKDIR /var/www

# Install dependencies
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
    build-essential \
    libpng-dev \
    libjpeg62-turbo-dev \
    libfreetype6-dev \
    locales \
    zip \
    jpegoptim optipng pngquant gifsicle \
    vim \
    unzip \
    git \
    curl

# Install PHP extensions
RUN docker-php-ext-install pdo pdo_mysql mbstring exif pcntl bcmath gd

# Install Composer
COPY --from=composer:latest /usr/bin/composer /usr/bin/composer

# Copy existing application directory contents
COPY . /var/www

# Copy existing application directory permissions
COPY --chown=www-data:www-data . /var/www

# Expose port 9000 and start php-fpm server
EXPOSE 9000
CMD ["php-fpm"]

Create a docker-compose.yml File

The docker-compose.yml file is used to define and run multi-container Docker applications. It helps link the Laravel application container with other necessary services such as MySQL.

version: '3.8'
services:
  app:
    build:
      context: .
      dockerfile: Dockerfile
    image: laravel-app
    container_name: laravel-app
    restart: unless-stopped
    tty: true
    environment:
      SERVICE_NAME: app
      SERVICE_TAGS: dev
    working_dir: /var/www
    volumes:
      - .:/var/www
      - ./docker/php/local.ini:/usr/local/etc/php/conf.d/local.ini
    networks:
      - app-network

  webserver:
    image: nginx:alpine
    container_name: nginx
    restart: unless-stopped
    tty: true
    ports:
      - "8000:80"
    volumes:
      - .:/var/www
      - ./docker/nginx/conf.d:/etc/nginx/conf.d
    networks:
      - app-network

  db:
    image: mysql:5.7.22
    container_name: mysql
    restart: unless-stopped
    tty: true
    ports:
      - "3306:3306"
    environment:
      MYSQL_DATABASE: laravel
      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: root
      SERVICE_TAGS: dev
      SERVICE_NAME: mysql
    volumes:
      - dbdata:/var/lib/mysql
    networks:
      - app-network

networks:
  app-network:
    driver: bridge

volumes:
  dbdata:
    driver: local

Configure Nginx

Create the Nginx configuration file in docker/nginx/conf.d/app.conf to link with the Laravel application.

server {
    listen 80;
    index index.php index.html;
    server_name localhost;
    root /var/www/public;

    location / {
        try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$query_string;
    }

    location ~ \.php$ {
        include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
        fastcgi_pass app:9000;
        fastcgi_index index.php;
        fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
        include fastcgi_params;
    }
}

Build and Run Containers

Navigate to the directory containing the docker-compose.yml file and run the following commands to build and start the containers:

# Build the Docker images
docker-compose build

# Start the Docker containers
docker-compose up -d

Conclusion

Choosing the right deployment solution for your Laravel application can significantly impact your workflow and productivity. Each tool has its own set of features and advantages, so consider your specific needs and environment when selecting the best deployment solution for your project.

By leveraging these open-source tools, Laravel developers can ensure smooth, efficient, and reliable deployments, ultimately enhancing the performance and reliability of their applications.