Launching Your Laravel App: A Guide to Ubuntu Server Deployment

Deploying a Laravel application on an Ubuntu server is a common task for web developers. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to get your application up and running.

Prerequisites

• An Ubuntu server instance

• SSH access to the server

• A Laravel application ready for deployment

Installation and Configuration

Update the System: Ensure your system is up-to-date with the latest packages:

Bash

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Install Required Packages: Install PHP and essential extensions:
Bash
sudo apt install apache2 php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-mbstring php-gd libzip-php php-curl php-json php-xml php-bcmath -y
Install Composer: Download and install Composer, the PHP dependency manager:
Bash
php -r "copy('https://getcomposer.org/installer', 'composer-setup.php');"
php composer-setup.php
sudo mv composer.phar /usr/local/bin/composer
 1.  gist.github.com 
gist.github.com
Database Setup: Create a MySQL database and user for your Laravel application.
Deploy Laravel Application: Transfer your Laravel project files to the server using FTP or SSH.
Install Dependencies: Run composer install --no-dev to install required packages.
Configure Environment: Create a .env file with necessary database credentials and other configurations.
Generate Application Key: Run php artisan key:generate to generate a Laravel application key.
Setting Up the Web Server
Configure Apache: Create a virtual host configuration file for your Laravel application. Ensure proper document root and index file settings.
Test the Application: Access your Laravel application through a web browser to verify the deployment.
Additional Considerations
Security: Implement security measures like firewall rules, SSH key-based authentication, and regular updates.
Performance Optimization: Optimize database queries, use caching, and leverage content delivery networks (CDNs).
Deployment Automation: Consider using tools like Git and deployment scripts for efficient deployments.
Error Handling: Implement proper error handling and logging mechanisms.
Monitoring: Monitor your application's performance and resource usage.


By following these steps and considering the additional factors, you can successfully deploy your Laravel application on an Ubuntu server and ensure optimal performance.