Laravel Herd is a tool that helps you have a very easy time developing your Laravel applications on a Mac. It is actually similar to Valet, which is another popular Mac tool, but with a focus on speed, convenience, and performance.

Herd uses static binaries for PHP, Nginx, and DNSmasq. This means that everything is optimized, and your web requests and tests will be fast.

Herd is not a complex platform. Rather, it is a tool that helps developers focus on coding while Herd takes care of the messy configuration and server setup in the background.

Key Features of Laravel Herd

 1. Speed With Static Binaries

Herd’s static binaries allow you to use PHP, Nginx, and DNSmasq right away. No more waiting for the server to boot up or using slow local development environments.

2. Automatic Project Management

All PHP projects in your Herd directory are automatically detected, and you can access them in your browser. No more settings are needed. Just drop your project and it’s ready to go.

3. Simple PHP Version Switching 

Herd menu bar app enables you to switch PHP versions with a single click, without needing any other terminal commands.

4.  Developer Tools

Herd has many tools like Laravel Installer, Composer, and Expose as static binaries. This means you don’t have to install all these separately.

 5. Migration from Valet

If you are already using Valet, Herd will help to automate settings and projects. It’s very easy, and you can upgrade without any issues.

6. Easily Share Projects With Your Team

Herd combines with Expose to easily share your local projects. You can control sharing tokens right from the menu bar.

How Laravel Herd Work

  •  Install Herd on your macOS.
  •  It is always a good practice to stop valet first so there are no conflicts
  •  Herd will automatically detect your existing projects in the Herd directory.
  •  Use the menu bar app to manage PHP versions, services, and shared sites.

Why Developers Love Laravel Herd

  • Laravel Herd has gained popularity so quickly because it takes away so much friction from your daily work. Everything just feels faster, from running tests to loading pages, so you get to code more and wait less.
  • There is no manual setup. projects are automatically detected. It is easy to switch between PHP versions. Common tools such as Composer and Laravel Installer are already included. It is easy to transition from Valet.
  • On top of that, it is easy to share your local site for demos or testing.

When Should You Use Laravel Herd?

  • Laravel Herd is a good choice if you are working on Laravel projects using a Mac, and you want your local environment to fast. You have to install it, and then you have to open your project, and everything will work easily.
  • If you are working on multiple projects that require different versions of PHP. Rather than using commands, you can switch versions in seconds and then get on with your tasks.
  • Herd is also a good if you do not like spending time setting up environments. There is very little setup required, and this makes everything easy. Additionally, if you want to share your work with a colleague or a client, then sharing your local site is stress-free.

When You Might Not Need Laravel Herd

  • Laravel Herd is not for everyone. It is only compatible with macOS. Therefore, if you are using Windows or Linux, you cannot use Laravel Herd.
  • If you are working on a small project or just one website, you may not need Herd. This is also true for developers who already have a good Valet setup and are satisfied with how it works.
  • If you are concerned about speed, ease of use, and a smooth workflow, Herd is still a good upgrade.

Conclusion

Laravel Herd is a faster, smarter, and simpler Laravel development environment for macOS. Herd makes the setup process faster, and project management becomes easier. Herd comes with features such as tools, PHP version switching, and project sharing. This is very useful for developers who want to spend less time on setup and more time on coding. Herd is like Valet but is much faster and more powerful. If you are developing Laravel applications on a Mac, Herd will make the development process smoother and more productive.

FAQs

1. What is Laravel Herd?

Laravel Herd is a macOS development environment for Laravel projects that provides faster performance, automatic project detection version management, and tool integration.

2. Can I use Laravel Herd on Windows or Linux?

No, Herd is only available for macOS.

3. Do I need to stop Valet before using Herd?

Yes, you need to stop Valet from avoiding issues. 

4. Can I switch PHP versions with Herd?

Yes, Herd enables you to install and switch between multiple PHP versions via the menu bar app. 

5. Does Herd improve performance?

Yes, Herd uses static binaries for PHP, Nginx, and DNSmasq, which leads to faster test runs and web page loads as compared to other development environments like Valet. 

6. Can I share my local sites with teammates?

Yes, Herd supports Expose to share projects.