How to install CodeIgniter 4 on Windows and Mac

CodeIgniter 4 requires PHP version 7.2 or higher. The earlier version requires a minimum PHP 5.3 version or higher.

There is now a public directory like in other frameworks. You can now separate the application from the resources (like CSS, JS, files.).

It is much more difficult for attackers.

In this tutorial, I show how you can install the Codeigniter 4 project on Windows and Mac.

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Contents

1. Enable extensions
2. Manual Installation
3. Using composer
4. Run
5. Conclusion

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1. Enable extensions

• Open php.ini file to enable intl and mbstring extension.
• Search extension in the file.

extension=intl.dll
extension=mbstring.dll

OR

extension=php_intl.dll
extension=php_mbstring.dll

• Remove semicolon (;) if exists to enable the extension.
• Restart the server.

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2. Manual Installation

• Download CodeIgniter 4 zip file from here.
• Copy in the htdocs/ folder and extract it.
• Rename the folder (e.g. codeigniter4).

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3. Using composer

• Navigate to htdocs/ using Command Prompt if you are on Windows and use the terminal if you are on Mac.
• Run the following command –

composer create-project codeigniter4/appstarter project-root

• Replace project-root with your project name like – codeigniter4.
• If you are getting the following message on the Command prompt while running –

• It means intl extension is not been enabled.
• To enable the extension follow the step 1.
• Re-run the composer create-project codeigniter4/appstarter project-root.
• A new codeigniter4 folder will be created.

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4. Run

• Run the project public/ folder.

http://localhost/codeigniter4/public/

• On Mac in case, you are not viewing the above page instead following page display –

• Then need to change the permission of the writable folder.
• Navigate to the project directory using the terminal and execute the following command and refresh the page.

chmod -R 777 writable

Local Development Server

• You can also run the project by starting a local development server.
• Run the following command in the Command Prompt if you are on Windows or on the terminal if you are on Mac.

php spark serve

• Development URL display after starting.
• Run – http://localhost:8080/ in the browser.

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5. Conclusion

You can either install it using a composer or manually. Before installing make sure that the PHP version is 7.2 or higher.

If you found this tutorial helpful then don't forget to share.

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