PHP Configuration Guide

This guide explains how PHP configuration works in Launchpad and how the smart auto-detection system works.

Overview

Launchpad uses a smart auto-detection system for PHP installation:

1. Project Analysis: Automatically analyzes your project structure
2. Framework Detection: Identifies Laravel, WordPress, Symfony, etc.
3. Database Detection: Determines which databases you're using
4. Optimal Configuration: Selects the best precompiled binary for your needs

Configuration Strategies

Launchpad supports two strategies for PHP installation:

1. Auto-Detect (Recommended)

services: {
  php: {
    enabled: true,
    strategy: 'auto-detect',
    version: '8.4.11',
    autoDetect: {
      enabled: true,
      includeAllDatabases: false,
      includeEnterprise: false,
    },
  },
}

How it works:

• Analyzes your project structure
• Detects framework and database usage
• Automatically selects the optimal configuration
• Provides clear explanation of the choice

2. Manual Configuration

services: {
  php: {
    enabled: true,
    strategy: 'precompiled-binary',
    version: '8.4.11',
    manual: {
      configuration: 'laravel-mysql', // Choose specific configuration
    },
  },
}

When to use:

• You know exactly which configuration you need
• Auto-detection doesn't work for your project
• You want to override the automatic choice

Environment Variables

You can configure PHP behavior using environment variables:

# Strategy selection
export LAUNCHPAD_PHP_STRATEGY=auto-detect          # Default: auto-detect
export LAUNCHPAD_PHP_STRATEGY=precompiled-binary   # Manual configuration

# Auto-detection settings
export LAUNCHPAD_PHP_AUTO_DETECT=true              # Enable auto-detection
export LAUNCHPAD_PREFERRED_DATABASE=postgres       # Preferred database
export LAUNCHPAD_PHP_ALL_DATABASES=true            # Force all database support
export LAUNCHPAD_PHP_ENTERPRISE=true               # Force enterprise features

# Manual configuration
export LAUNCHPAD_PHP_CONFIGURATION=laravel-postgres # Specific configuration
export LAUNCHPAD_PHP_VERSION=8.4.11                # PHP version

Available Configurations

Configuration	Description	Use Case	Database Support
laravel-mysql	Laravel with MySQL/MariaDB	Laravel applications using MySQL or MariaDB	MySQL, MariaDB
laravel-postgres	Laravel with PostgreSQL	Laravel applications using PostgreSQL	PostgreSQL
laravel-sqlite	Laravel with SQLite	Laravel applications using SQLite (development)	SQLite
api-only	API-only applications	Minimal footprint for API-only applications	MySQL
enterprise	Enterprise applications	Full-featured configuration for enterprise applications	MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite
wordpress	WordPress applications	WordPress optimized build	MySQL
full-stack	Complete PHP build	Complete PHP build with major extensions and database drivers	MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite

Smart Auto-Detection

How It Works

Launchpad analyzes your project to determine the optimal PHP configuration:

// Launchpad automatically detects:
const analysis = {
  framework: 'laravel',           // Laravel, WordPress, Symfony, etc.
  databases: ['mysql', 'sqlite'], // MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite
  hasApi: true,                   // API endpoints detected
  hasWebInterface: true,          // Web interface detected
  hasImageProcessing: false,      // Image processing needed
  hasEnterpriseFeatures: false,   // Enterprise features detected
  recommendedConfig: 'laravel-mysql'
}

Detection Logic

Framework Detection

• Laravel: Detects artisan + composer.json with laravel/framework
• WordPress: Detects wp-config.php or wp-config-sample.php
• Symfony: Detects symfony.lock or config/bundles.php

Database Detection

• Laravel: Reads .env file for DB_CONNECTION setting
• WordPress: Checks wp-config.php for database settings
• SQLite: Looks for database.sqlite files
• User Preference: Respects LAUNCHPAD_PREFERRED_DATABASE environment variable

Feature Detection

• API: Checks for routes/api.php or app/Http/Controllers/Api
• Web Interface: Checks for routes/web.php or resources/views
• Image Processing: Checks for image directories
• Enterprise: Checks for Services, Jobs, Events, Listeners

Configuration Examples

Auto-Detection (Recommended)

// Let Launchpad figure it out
services: {
  php: {
    enabled: true,
    strategy: 'auto-detect',
    autoDetect: {
      enabled: true,
      includeAllDatabases: false,
      includeEnterprise: false,
    },
  },
}

Manual Configuration

// Choose specific configuration
services: {
  php: {
    enabled: true,
    strategy: 'precompiled-binary',
    manual: {
      configuration: 'laravel-postgres',
    },
  },
}

Environment Variables Only

# No config file needed - use environment variables
export LAUNCHPAD_PHP_STRATEGY=auto-detect
export LAUNCHPAD_PHP_AUTO_DETECT=true
export LAUNCHPAD_PREFERRED_DATABASE=postgres

Best Practices

For Development

1. Use auto-detection: Let Launchpad analyze your project
2. Check the explanation: Launchpad explains why it chose each configuration
3. Use environment variables: Simple way to influence the choice

For Production

1. Use specific configurations: laravel-mysql is smaller than full-stack
2. Test with same config: Ensure dev and prod use same PHP configuration
3. Monitor performance: Enterprise config has more extensions but larger binary

Troubleshooting

"No precompiled binary found"

This means no binary is available for your platform/architecture.

Solutions:

1. Check platform support: Linux x86_64, macOS ARM64, macOS Intel
2. Use fallback: Launchpad will try alternative configurations
3. Request support: Open an issue for your platform

"Auto-detection failed"

The smart detection couldn't analyze your project.

Solutions:

1. Check project structure: Ensure framework files are present
2. Check file permissions: Launchpad needs to read project files
3. Use manual configuration: Set LAUNCHPAD_PHP_STRATEGY=precompiled-binary

"Configuration not found"

The manual configuration you specified doesn't exist.

Solutions:

1. Check available configurations: See the table above
2. Use auto-detection: Set LAUNCHPAD_PHP_STRATEGY=auto-detect
3. Use environment variable: Set LAUNCHPAD_PHP_CONFIGURATION=laravel-mysql

Migration from Old Configuration

If you were using the old extension-based configuration:

Before (Deprecated)

// This no longer works
services: {
  php: {
    extensions: {
      core: ['cli', 'fpm', 'mbstring'],
      database: ['pdo-mysql', 'pdo-pgsql'],
      web: ['curl', 'openssl'],
    },
  },
}

After (Recommended)

// Use auto-detection
services: {
  php: {
    strategy: 'auto-detect',
    autoDetect: {
      enabled: true,
    },
  },
}

After (Manual)

// Or choose specific configuration
services: {
  php: {
    strategy: 'precompiled-binary',
    manual: {
      configuration: 'full-stack', // Includes all databases
    },
  },
}

Future Improvements

1. More Framework Support: Symfony, CodeIgniter, etc.
2. Custom Configurations: User-defined configuration profiles
3. Performance Optimization: Smaller binaries for specific use cases
4. Platform Expansion: Windows, ARM Linux support