SMSOFTWARE
Laravel / PHP on Windows: What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)Running Laravel or PHP applications on Windows sounds easy—until you actually do it.After years of trial and error, here’s a practical breakdown of the most common options and why most of them fail in real-world development.❌ XAMPP, Laragon, WampServer: Convenient but FragileThese tools are often recommended to beginners, but on Windows they quickly become a problem:Random Apache/MySQL startup failuresPort conflicts (especially 80, 443, 3306)PHP extension mismatchesUpdates that break existing projectsThey may work at first, but over time you’ll spend more time fixing the environment than writing code.Verdict: Not suitable for serious or long-term Laravel development.⚠️ Laravel Sail + Docker (WSL 2): Good, but LimitedLaravel Sail is great on Linux and macOS. On Windows, however, it depends entirely on WSL 2.Problems appear when:You need to access the app over a LANYou work with mobile devices, other PCs, or teammatesIP addresses change due to WSL’s virtual networkingSail is fine for local-only development, but it’s not reliable when networking matters.Verdict: Acceptable for solo local work, weak for LAN or team setups.✅ The Best Option: Docker Desktop (Official Installer)The most stable and predictable solution on Windows is:Docker Desktop installed directly from the official Docker websiteWhy this works best:Stable container networkingReliable LAN accessEnvironment parity with productionNo broken Windows PHP servicesNo fighting Apache/MySQL on the host machine⚠️ Important:Avoid the Microsoft Store version of Docker Desktop. It introduces unnecessary issues and inconsistencies.Verdict: This is the closest you’ll get to a Linux-like development experience on Windows.🏁 Final RecommendationIf you are serious about Laravel development on Windows:❌ Avoid XAMPP / Laragon / WAMP⚠️ Use Laravel Sail only for local-only work✅ Use Docker Desktop (official installer) for stability, LAN access, and sanityYour development environment should support your work, not fight against it.
6 days ago | [YT] | 3
SMSOFTWARE
Laravel / PHP on Windows: What Actually Works (and What Doesn’t)
Running Laravel or PHP applications on Windows sounds easy—until you actually do it.
After years of trial and error, here’s a practical breakdown of the most common options and why most of them fail in real-world development.
❌ XAMPP, Laragon, WampServer: Convenient but Fragile
These tools are often recommended to beginners, but on Windows they quickly become a problem:
Random Apache/MySQL startup failures
Port conflicts (especially 80, 443, 3306)
PHP extension mismatches
Updates that break existing projects
They may work at first, but over time you’ll spend more time fixing the environment than writing code.
Verdict: Not suitable for serious or long-term Laravel development.
⚠️ Laravel Sail + Docker (WSL 2): Good, but Limited
Laravel Sail is great on Linux and macOS. On Windows, however, it depends entirely on WSL 2.
Problems appear when:
You need to access the app over a LAN
You work with mobile devices, other PCs, or teammates
IP addresses change due to WSL’s virtual networking
Sail is fine for local-only development, but it’s not reliable when networking matters.
Verdict: Acceptable for solo local work, weak for LAN or team setups.
✅ The Best Option: Docker Desktop (Official Installer)
The most stable and predictable solution on Windows is:
Docker Desktop installed directly from the official Docker website
Why this works best:
Stable container networking
Reliable LAN access
Environment parity with production
No broken Windows PHP services
No fighting Apache/MySQL on the host machine
⚠️ Important:
Avoid the Microsoft Store version of Docker Desktop. It introduces unnecessary issues and inconsistencies.
Verdict: This is the closest you’ll get to a Linux-like development experience on Windows.
🏁 Final Recommendation
If you are serious about Laravel development on Windows:
❌ Avoid XAMPP / Laragon / WAMP
⚠️ Use Laravel Sail only for local-only work
✅ Use Docker Desktop (official installer) for stability, LAN access, and sanity
Your development environment should support your work, not fight against it.
6 days ago | [YT] | 3