Setting Up a New Symphony Application on Ubuntu

In the world of web development, Symphony stands out as a robust, open-source PHP framework, known for its flexibility and efficiency. This article aims to guide you through the process of setting up a Symphony application on an Ubuntu system, making it an invaluable resource for both beginners and seasoned developers looking to leverage Symphony’s capabilities.

Prerequisites

• A computer running Ubuntu (version 18.04 or later recommended)
• Basic knowledge of the command line interface
• Familiarity with PHP and web development concepts

Step 1: Installing PHP and Dependencies

Before diving into Symphony, ensure that your Ubuntu system is equipped with PHP and the necessary dependencies. Open your terminal and execute the following commands:

1. Update the package manager:

   sudo apt-get update 
   

2. Install PHP and its extensions:

   sudo apt-get install php php-cli php-fpm php-json php-common php-mysql php-zip php-gd php-mbstring php-curl php-xml php-pear php-bcmath 
   

Step 2: Installing Composer

Composer is a dependency manager for PHP, essential for managing Symphony’s components. Install Composer by using the following steps:

1. Download the Composer installer:

   php -r "copy('https://getcomposer.org/installer', 'composer-setup.php');" 
   

2. Run the installer:

   php composer-setup.php 
   

3. Move Composer to a global directory:

   sudo mv composer.phar /usr/local/bin/composer 
   

Step 3: Installing Symfony CLI

The Symfony CLI simplifies Symfony operations. Install it by:

1. Download the Symfony CLI installer:

   wget https://get.symfony.com/cli/installer -O - | bash 
   

2. Move the Symfony binary to a global directory:

   sudo mv /root/.symfony/bin/symfony /usr/local/bin/symfony 
   

Step 4: Creating a New Symfony Project

Now, use the Symfony CLI to create a new project:

1. Generate a new Symfony project:

   symfony new my_project_name --webapp 
   

2. Change to your project directory:

   cd my_project_name 
   

Step 5: Running the Web Server

Symfony CLI comes with a built-in web server. Start it by:

symfony server:start 

Access your new Symfony project at http://localhost:8000.

Step 6: Configuring Your Symfony Application

Customize your application settings in the .env file located at your project’s root. This includes database connections and environment-specific configurations.

Step 7: Database Configuration

If your application requires a database:

1. Update the .env file with your database details.
2. Create the database:

   symfony console doctrine:database:create 
   

3. Generate the database schema:

   symfony console doctrine:schema:create 
   

Conclusion

Congratulations, you’ve successfully set up a Symfony application using Symfony CLI on Ubuntu. This streamlined process paves the way for robust web application development. For further exploration, turn to Symfony’s comprehensive documentation and its active community for continued learning and support.

Additional Resources:

Symfony Documentation: Official Symfony Docs
PHP Official Website: PHP.net

Your journey into Symfony development on Ubuntu promises to be exciting and rewarding. Happy coding!