**Course Title:** Mastering CodeIgniter Framework: Fast, Lightweight Web Development **Section Title:** Introduction to CodeIgniter and Development Setup **Topic:** Install CodeIgniter, set up a project, and configure the environment. (Lab topic) **Objective:** By the end of this lab topic, you will be able to: 1. Install CodeIgniter using Composer or manual download 2. Set up a new CodeIgniter project 3. Configure the environment and base URL 4. Understand the importance of renaming the system folder (if needed) 5. Create a basic controller and view to test your setup **Step 1: Installing CodeIgniter using Composer** To install CodeIgniter using Composer, follow these steps: * Open your terminal or command prompt and navigate to the directory where you want to create your new project. * Run the following command to install CodeIgniter: ```bash composer create-project codeigniter4/appstarter ``` This command will download the CodeIgniter 4 framework and set up a new project in the current directory. **Step 2: Installing CodeIgniter using Manual Download** Alternatively, you can download the CodeIgniter framework manually from the official website: <https://codeigniter.com/download> * Extract the downloaded zip file to a new directory on your local machine. * Create a new directory for your project and copy the extracted files into it. **Step 3: Setting up a New CodeIgniter Project** After installing CodeIgniter, you need to set up a new project. Follow these steps: * Rename the `app` directory to whatever you like (e.g., `myapp`). This directory contains your application files. * Rename the `public` directory to whatever you like (e.g., `web`). This directory contains your public files (e.g., index.php). * Create a new directory for your project files (e.g., `src`). **Step 4: Configuring the Environment and Base URL** To configure the environment and base URL, follow these steps: * Open the `app/Config/App.php` file and update the following settings: ```php public $baseURL = 'http://example.com'; public $indexPage = 'index.php'; ``` Update the `baseURL` setting to your project's base URL. * Save the file and close it. **Step 5: Renaming the System Folder (Optional)** If you want to rename the `system` folder, you can do so by updating the following setting in the `app/Config/App.php` file: ```php public $systemPath = 'path/to/system'; ``` Update the `systemPath` setting to the new path of the `system` folder. **Step 6: Creating a Basic Controller and View** To test your setup, create a basic controller and view: * Create a new file called `HelloWorld.php` in the `app/Controllers` directory: ```php namespace App\Controllers; use CodeIgniter\Controller; class HelloWorld extends Controller { public function index() { echo 'Hello, World!'; } } ``` * Create a new file called `HelloWorld.php` in the `app/Views` directory: ```php <h1>Hello, World!</h1> ``` * Open the `routes.php` file in the `app/Config` directory and update the following setting: ```php $routes->get('/', 'HelloWorld::index'); ``` Update the route setting to point to the `HelloWorld` controller. **Conclusion:** You have now successfully installed CodeIgniter, set up a new project, and configured the environment and base URL. You have also created a basic controller and view to test your setup. **Practical Takeaways:** * You can install CodeIgniter using Composer or manual download. * You need to set up a new project by renaming the `app` directory and creating a new directory for your project files. * You need to configure the environment and base URL by updating the `App.php` file. * You can rename the `system` folder if you want. * You can create a basic controller and view to test your setup. **Leave a Comment/Ask for Help:** If you have any questions or need help with this lab topic, please leave a comment below. We will respond to your comments and provide assistance as needed. **What's Next:** In the next topic, we will explore CodeIgniter's routing system. You will learn how to create routes, use route names, and handle HTTP methods. **External Resources:** * CodeIgniter 4 Documentation: <https://codeigniter.com/userguide4> * Composer Documentation: <https://getcomposer.org/doc/>