**Course Title:** Mastering Zend Framework (Laminas): Building Robust Web Applications **Section Title:** Introduction to Zend Framework (Laminas) and Development Setup **Topic:** Setting up a development environment (Composer, PHP, Laminas components) ### Overview In this topic, we will set up a development environment for building robust web applications using Laminas. This includes installing and configuring Composer, PHP, and essential Laminas components. ### Prerequisites Before we begin, ensure you have: 1. A computer with a compatible operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux) 2. Basic knowledge of PHP and web development 3. A code editor or IDE (Integrated Development Environment) of your choice (e.g., Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or PHPStorm) ### Step 1: Install PHP To run Laminas applications, you need to have PHP installed on your system. Follow these steps to install PHP: 1. Visit the [PHP download page](https://www.php.net/downloads) and download the latest version of PHP. 2. For Windows users, follow the installation instructions provided on the download page. 3. For macOS users, use Homebrew to install PHP: `brew install php` 4. For Linux users, use the package manager to install PHP, e.g., `sudo apt install php` (Ubuntu-based systems) Verify PHP installation by running the command `php -v` in your terminal. ### Step 2: Install Composer Composer is a dependency manager for PHP that allows you to easily manage and install dependencies, including Laminas components. 1. Visit the [Composer download page](https://getcomposer.org/download/) and download the installation script. 2. Run the installation script by executing the command `php -r "copy('https://getcomposer.org/installer', 'composer-setup.php');"` 3. Once installed, verify Composer by running `composer --version` ### Step 3: Install Essential Laminas Components Using Composer, install the following essential Laminas components: ```bash composer require laminas/laminas-component-installer composer require laminas/laminas-mvc composer require laminas/laminas-view composer require laminas/laminas-config composer require laminas/laminas-router composer require laminas/laminas-http composer require laminas/laminas-uri ``` These components provide the core functionality for building robust web applications with Laminas. ### Step 4: Set up the Development Environment Create a new directory for your project and initialize a new Composer project: ```bash mkdir my-laminas-project cd my-laminas-project composer init ``` Answer the installation prompts to set up the project. Once complete, verify the installation by running `composer update`. ### Key Concepts and Practical Takeaways * Install PHP using the official download page or a package manager * Install Composer using the installation script or package manager * Install essential Laminas components using Composer * Initialize a new Composer project for your Laminas application * Use `composer require` to install additional dependencies and components * Keep your development environment up-to-date using `composer update` ### Example Directory Structure After completing the installation process, your project directory should have the following structure: ```markdown my-laminas-project vendor/ laminas/ composer/ autoload.php composer.json composer.lock README.md ``` **Next Steps:** In the next topic, we will cover 'Understanding the MVC Architecture in Laminas'. This topic will help you grasp the fundamental concepts of the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture and its application in Laminas. **Do you have any questions or comments? Please leave a comment below.**