A laravel project
Laravel 12, the current stable release, requires PHP 8.2 or higher and continues to receive security fixes into 2027, so any laravel project you build today stays relevant for interviews well into next year. Companies building SaaS products, admin dashboards, and content-heavy platforms lean on Laravel specifically because Artisan and Eloquent cut boilerplate that other PHP setups require by hand.
How to Create Laravel Project From Scratch (Laravel Create Project Command)
There are two standard ways to start a new laravel project, and both work the same way whether you’re on macOS, Windows, or Linux, as long as PHP 8.2+ and Composer are already installed.
- Using Composer directly: run composer create-project laravel/laravel app-name in your terminal. This is the laravel create project command that works everywhere without extra setup.
- Using the Laravel installer: run composer global require laravel/installer once, then use laravel new app-name for every project after that, a slightly faster workflow if you build often.
- Once either command finishes, cd into the new folder and copy .env.example to .env, then run php artisan key: generate to set your application encryption key.
- Add your database name, username, and password to the .env file, then run php artisan migrate to create the default tables.
# Method 1, Composer
composer create-project laravel/laravel app-name
# Method 2, Laravel Installer
composer global require laravel/installer
laravel new app-name
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How to Run Laravel Project Locally
Once a laravel project is created and migrated, running it locally takes one command. This is also how to run laravel project builds you’ve cloned from GitHub, the steps are identical.
- Navigate into the project folder in your terminal.
- Run composer install to pull in all PHP dependencies listed in composer.json.
- Run npm install && npm run build if the project uses Vite for front-end assets (most Laravel starter kits do).
- Run php artisan serve, Laravel’s built-in development server starts at http://127.0.0.1:8000 by default.
For a project that also needs background jobs or real-time features, run php artisan queue: work and php artisan reverb: start in separate terminal tabs alongside the main server.
Why Laravel Projects With Source Code Matter for Your Portfolio
Tutorials teach syntax; a finished laravel project teaches you what breaks when real data, real users, and real edge cases show up. Hiring managers reviewing laravel projects with source code are checking whether you can structure a database schema, secure an API, and ship something a non-technical person could actually use, not whether you memorized Blade syntax.
A portfolio also travels further than a resume line. A live demo link plus a well-organized repository lets a recruiter form an opinion in under two minutes, which is usually all the attention a first-pass application gets.
Build Beyond Laravel Projects
A strong Laravel portfolio is a good starting point, but backend careers require skills in APIs, databases, system design, testing, and deployment. Scaler’s Full Stack Developer Course combines these fundamentals with real-world projects to help you build production-ready software skills.
15 Laravel Projects With Source Code to Build a Portfolio
These 15 laravel projects with source code are grouped by skill level. Start with one or two beginner builds to lock in the fundamentals of any laravel project, then move up as your confidence with Eloquent, authentication, and APIs grows.
Beginner Laravel Projects (1–5)
- To-Do List / Task Manager
The classic first laravel project. Build CRUD operations for tasks with due dates and status flags using Eloquent models, migrations, and Blade views, no packages required beyond Laravel core.
- Blog With Authentication
Add Laravel Breeze for login and registration scaffolding, then build post creation, editing, and comments. Teaches route protection with middleware and one-to-many Eloquent relationships.
- URL Shortener
Generate short, unique codes for long URLs, store click counts, and redirect visitors through a single catch-all route. A compact project that still touches routing, validation, and basic analytics.
- Personal Portfolio Site With PDF Resume Export
A Blade-based portfolio page that pulls project data from the database and generates a downloadable PDF resume using the barryvdh/laravel-dompdf package.
- Expense Tracker
Track income and expenses by category, then chart monthly totals with Chart.js fed by an Eloquent aggregate query. Introduces grouping, date filtering, and simple data visualization.
Intermediate Laravel Projects (6–10)
- REST API for a Mobile App
Build a token-authenticated API using Laravel Sanctum, versioned routes, and API Resources to shape JSON responses. Demonstrates the backend skills most mobile and frontend teams actually hire for.
- Job Portal / Job Board
A two-role laravel project, employers post listings, candidates apply with uploaded resumes. Covers file storage, role-based middleware, and search/filter queries with Eloquent scopes.
- E-Commerce Store With Checkout
Product catalog, cart, and order flow, with Laravel Cashier handling Stripe subscriptions or one-time payments. Shows you can integrate a real payment gateway safely.
- Learning Management System (LMS)
Courses, lessons, and quizzes with progress tracking, gated behind roles managed by the spatie/laravel-permission package. A strong pick if you’re targeting edtech or SaaS roles.
- Inventory / Warehouse Management System
Stock in/out tracking, low-stock alerts, and reporting dashboards. Tests your ability to model relational data (products, warehouses, transactions) cleanly.
Advanced Laravel Projects (11–15)
- Real-Time Chat Application
Use Laravel Reverb (Laravel’s first-party WebSocket server) with broadcasting and presence channels to show who’s online and push messages instantly, no page refresh required.
- Multi-Vendor Marketplace
Multiple sellers manage their own storefronts under one platform, with commission logic and split order handling. A genuinely complex laravel project that signals marketplace/SaaS readiness.
- Hotel or Property Booking System
Calendar-based availability, conflict checks so no two guests book the same dates, and dynamic pricing rules. Tests date-range logic and transaction safety under Eloquent.
- Admin Dashboard / CRM With Filament
Use the Filament PHP admin panel package to spin up a full CRUD dashboard with resource management, roles, and permissions in a fraction of the time custom Blade views would take.
- Social Media Mini-Clone
Posts, likes, follows, and notifications with a real-time updating feed. The most feature-dense project on this list, and the strongest single proof point for a backend or full-stack role.
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How to Structure Your Laravel Portfolio on GitHub
How you present a laravel project on GitHub matters almost as much as the code itself. A reviewer decides whether to keep reading within seconds of opening the README.
- Lead the README with a one-paragraph problem statement, a screenshot or GIF, and a live demo link if you have one.
- Commit a .env.example file (never the real .env) so anyone can clone and configure the project in minutes.
- Keep migrations and seeders up to date so php artisan migrate –seed reliably builds a working demo database.
- Add at least a few Pest or PHPUnit tests, even basic feature tests signal you think about reliability, not just features.
app-name/
├── app/
│ ├── Http/Controllers/
│ └── Models/
├── database/
│ ├── migrations/
│ └── seeders/
├── routes/web.php
├── tests/
├── .env.example
└── README.md
Turning Laravel Projects Into a Backend Development Career
A well-built laravel project gets you the interview; backend fundamentals, database design, API architecture, and system design are what get you through it. If you’re looking to build production-grade backend engineering skills with 1:1 mentorship instead of piecing it together from scattered tutorials, Scaler’s Software & AI Engineering Programme covers the architecture and API design skills these projects are meant to demonstrate. If you’d rather focus specifically on shipping full applications end to end, the Full Stack Developer Course is a more targeted alternative. Either path pairs well with hands-on software engineering fundamentals and a look at the full SDE roadmap, turning a handful of GitHub repos into a coherent story a hiring manager can follow in one pass.
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Conclusion
The strongest laravel project portfolios trade quantity for range: a CRUD build, an authenticated API, one payments or multi-role system, and one real-time project, each documented well enough to explain itself. Pick two or three laravel projects with source code from this list, build them properly with tests and a clean README, and you’ll have a portfolio that says more than any bullet point on a resume.
Also Explore These Projects to Build Your Portfolio
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good beginner laravel project?
A to-do list or CRUD blog is the easiest beginner laravel project, since both teach routing, Eloquent, and Blade in one small build.
How do I create a Laravel project from scratch?
Run composer create-project laravel/laravel app-name, or install the Laravel installer and use laravel new, the standard laravel create project command either way.
How do I run a Laravel project locally?
Copy .env.example to .env, run php artisan migrate, then start php artisan serve; these are the core steps for how to run laravel project builds on localhost.
Where can I find laravel projects with source code?
GitHub hosts thousands of laravel projects with source code, but official packages like Breeze, Cashier, and Filament are the safest, best-documented starting points.
How many Laravel projects should be in a portfolio?
Four to six well-documented laravel project builds spanning CRUD, API, and real-time categories prove more range than twenty unfinished repos.
Is Laravel good for beginners in 2026?
Yes, Laravel’s Artisan CLI, clear documentation, and Blade templating make it one of the more approachable frameworks for a first laravel project.
