How to Deploy a Laravel and React/Vue.js Project to Hostinger: A Complete Guide

Introduction to Deployment

Deploying Laravel projects is a crucial phase in the software development lifecycle, bridging the gap between development and production. It involves transferring a developed application from a local environment to a server, making it accessible to users on the internet, you can build your website by looking at the tutorial at https://technolympus.com/index.php/2024/06/08/creating-a-laravel-11-with-react-js-web-page-easy-tutorial/ or you can request a freelancer to create it with https://www.toptal.com/laravel.

Effective deployment ensures the application runs smoothly, securely, and efficiently in a live environment, significantly impacting user experience and business operations.

In this guide, we will walk you through deploying a Laravel and React/Vue.js project to Hostinger, covering all the necessary steps and considerations to ensure a successful deployment. By the end, you will be equipped with the knowledge to bring your web applications online efficiently and effectively.

Preparing Your Laravel Project for Deployment

Deploying a Laravel project to Hostinger requires meticulous preparation to ensure a seamless and secure transition to the production environment. The initial step involves configuring environment variables in the .env file. This file should include essential settings such as database connections, mail server credentials, and application keys. Ensure the APP_ENV is set to production and the APP_DEBUG is set to false to prevent the display of debugging information to end-users.

Next, focus on configuring your database connections. Update the DB_CONNECTION, DB_HOST, DB_PORT, DB_DATABASE, DB_USERNAME, and DB_PASSWORD fields in the .env file with the details of your production database. It’s crucial to test these connections locally before proceeding to deployment.

Another critical aspect is optimizing your production application. Run the php artisan config:cache, php artisan route:cache, and php artisan view:cache commands to cache configuration files, routes, and views, respectively. This improves the application’s performance by dynamically reducing the overhead of loading these files.

Security is paramount when deploying a Laravel project. Ensure sensitive information, such as API keys and database passwords, is not hardcoded and is properly secured in the .env file. Moreover, set appropriate file permissions for your project files. The storage and bootstrap/cache directories should be writable by the web server, while other files should have stricter permissions to prevent unauthorized access.

Finally, consider setting up a robust error logging system. Laravel provides built-in support for various logging channels. Configure the LOG_CHANNEL in your .env file to a suitable logging service or storage, ensuring you can monitor and address issues promptly in the production environment.

By following these steps, you ensure that your Laravel project is well-prepared for deployment to Hostinger, establishing a foundation for a secure, efficient, and high-performing application.

Setting Up Your React/Vue.js Frontend

You can use the `npm run build` command for React applications, which creates a `build` directory containing optimized files. Similarly, for Vue.js, running `npm run build` will generate a `dist` directory with production-ready files.

It is also crucial to ensure all dependencies are correctly installed. Use a package manager like npm or yarn to install the necessary dependencies listed in your `package.json` file. Running `npm install` or `yarn install` will download and set up the required packages. Check for any potential conflicts or deprecated packages that might affect the stability of your application.

Finally, run your build scripts to create production-ready files. This step compiles your code into a format suitable for deployment, incorporating all the optimizations and configurations you’ve set up. Make sure to test the build locally to catch any issues before deploying to Hostinger.

Clearing Settings Before Running ‘npm run build’

Before executing the ‘npm run build’ command for your React or Vue.js frontend application, it is crucial to ensure that certain settings are cleared or properly configured. This step is essential to avoid any unforeseen issues during production deployment on Hostinger. One fundamental aspect to address is the configuration of API endpoints. Ensure that your frontend is pointing to the correct backend URLs. Hardcoded development URLs should be replaced with production-ready API endpoints to facilitate seamless communication between the front end and the back end.

Laravel cleaning and optimization

Node cleaning and optimization

Environment variables play a pivotal role in both development and production environments. It is imperative to review the .env files and confirm that all variables are set appropriately. Variables such as NODE_ENV should be set to ‘production’ to optimize the build for performance. Additionally, secure keys, tokens, and other sensitive information should be handled.

Deploying to Hostinger: Initial Setup

The initial setup involves creating a Hostinger account, setting up your domain, and selecting the appropriate hosting plan tailored to your project needs.

Visit the Hostinger website and click on the “Get Started” button. You will be prompted to create an account. You can sign up using your email address or log in through other platforms like Google or Facebook. Once your account is created, you will be directed to the dashboard, where you can manage your hosting services.

Next, navigate to the “Domains” section. If you own a domain, you can transfer it to Hostinger by following the prompted instructions. If you don’t have a domain, you can register a new one directly through Hostinger. Type in your desired domain name, and if it is available, proceed to purchase it. Hostinger offers a variety of domain extensions, so you have flexibility in choosing one that best suits your project.

After securing your domain, it’s time to choose a hosting plan. Hostinger provides several hosting options, including Shared Hosting, Cloud Hosting, and VPS Hosting. For a Laravel and React/Vue.js project, we recommend starting with Cloud Hosting for its balance of cost and performance. Cloud Hosting offers scalability, and better performance, and is well-suited for modern web applications. Select a plan that fits your needs and budget, then purchase.

With these initial steps completed, you are now ready to proceed with deploying your Laravel and React/Vue.js project to Hostinger. The following sections will guide you through the detailed process of setting up your server environment, uploading your project files, and configuring your application for a successful deployment.

Uploading Your Project to Hostinger

Deploying your Laravel backend to Hostinger is a crucial step that involves several key actions, starting with setting up an SSH connection with Hostinger, going to advanced settings, and selecting SSH Access you can connect with the cmd or any shell.

Upload your repository in Gitlab/Github go to the folder of your domain/subdomain, and run git clone your_project_path

If your PHP version is lower than 7.0.0 then run composer install otherwise, run composer2 install you can also select a higher version like 8.3.0 in PHP by going to PHP settings and selecting the right one for your project

Deploying Your React/Vue.js Frontend on Hostinger

After this, you will only need to upload the build bolder from npm run build in the public folder of your repository, ensure that the hot.txt file is not present or configured correctly, this is the one that redirects the traffic of your website to access its assets.

Deploying your React or Vue.js frontend to Hostinger involves several crucial steps to ensure seamless integration with your Laravel backend. Initially, you need to create a production build of your front-end application. For React, you can generate the production build by running the command npm run build, and for Vue.js, you can use npm run build as well. This command will create a dist or build folder containing the optimized static files that need to be uploaded to the server.

Once the production build is ready, you will need to upload these files to the appropriate directory on your Hostinger server. You can achieve this by using Hostinger’s File Manager or an FTP client like FileZilla. Typically, you will upload the contents of the build or dist folder to the public_html directory on your server. This directory serves as the root for your domain and will host your static files.

After uploading the files, the next step involves configuring the server settings to serve these static files correctly. In Hostinger’s control panel, navigate to the ‘File Manager’ and ensure that the public_html directory contains the uploaded files. You may also need to modify the server configuration files, such as the .htaccess file, to ensure the server properly routes requests to your static files. A typical .htaccess configuration for a React or Vue.js application might include rules to handle routing and fallback to the index.html file for client-side routing.

.htaccess

By following these steps, you can successfully deploy your React or Vue.js frontend on Hostinger, ensuring a smooth and integrated user experience with your Laravel backend.

Post-Deployment Steps and Testing

Once you have successfully deployed your Laravel and React/Vue.js project to Hostinger, it is critical to carry out several post-deployment steps to ensure your application is functioning correctly.

First, start by testing the application comprehensively. Navigate through the various pages and functionalities of your web application to ensure that both the front end and backend are operating as expected. Pay close attention to user interactions, data submissions, and API calls to verify that everything is running smoothly.

By following these post-deployment steps and conducting thorough testing, you can ensure that your Laravel and React/Vue.js project deployed to Hostinger operates efficiently and provides a seamless experience for your users.