Laravel Debugging & Troubleshooting

Cache Clearing Commands

Configuration Cache

# Clear configuration cache
php artisan config:clear
 
# Create configuration cache
php artisan config:cache
 
# Note: Always clear before caching to avoid conflicts
php artisan config:clear && php artisan config:cache

Route Cache

# Clear route cache
php artisan route:clear
 
# Create route cache
php artisan route:cache
 
# List all routes
php artisan route:list
 
# Filter routes by name
php artisan route:list --name=user
 
# Filter routes by URI
php artisan route:list --path=api
 
# Filter routes by method
php artisan route:list --method=POST

View Cache

# Clear compiled views
php artisan view:clear
 
# Cache views
php artisan view:cache

Application Cache

# Clear application cache
php artisan cache:clear
 
# Clear specific cache store
php artisan cache:clear --store=redis
 
# Clear cache and forget all keys
php artisan cache:forget <key>

Event & Queue Cache

# Clear event cache
php artisan event:clear
 
# Cache events
php artisan event:cache
 
# Clear queue failed jobs
php artisan queue:clear

Complete Cache Clear

# Run all cache clearing commands
php artisan config:clear
php artisan cache:clear
php artisan route:clear
php artisan view:clear
php artisan event:clear
 
# One-liner
php artisan config:clear && php artisan cache:clear && php artisan route:clear && php artisan view:clear

---

Composer Commands

Autoload Issues

# Regenerate autoload files
composer dump-autoload
 
# Optimize autoload (faster)
composer dump-autoload -o
 
# Optimize for production
composer dump-autoload --optimize --no-dev

Dependency Management

# Install dependencies
composer install
 
# Install without dev dependencies
composer install --no-dev
 
# Update all dependencies
composer update
 
# Update specific package
composer update vendor/package
 
# Remove package
composer remove vendor/package
 
# Require new package
composer require vendor/package
 
# Require dev package
composer require --dev vendor/package

---

PHP Configuration Issues

Memory Limit Error

Error:

Allowed memory size of 536870912 bytes exhausted

Solution 1: Edit php.ini

memory_limit = 1024M
# or
memory_limit = 2048M
# or unlimited (not recommended)
memory_limit = -1

Find php.ini location:

php --ini
 
# Or
php -i | grep php.ini
 
# On Ubuntu/Debian
sudo nano /etc/php/8.2/cli/php.ini
sudo nano /etc/php/8.2/fpm/php.ini
sudo nano /etc/php/8.2/apache2/php.ini

Solution 2: Runtime (temporary)

// In your PHP script
ini_set('memory_limit', '1024M');
 
// In Laravel AppServiceProvider
public function register()
{
    ini_set('memory_limit', '1024M');
}

Solution 3: Composer memory limit

# For single command
COMPOSER_MEMORY_LIMIT=-1 composer update
 
# Or set permanently
export COMPOSER_MEMORY_LIMIT=-1

---

Maximum Execution Time Error

Error:

Maximum execution time of 60 seconds exceeded

Solution 1: Edit php.ini

max_execution_time = 300
# or unlimited (not recommended)
max_execution_time = 0

Solution 2: Runtime in Laravel

// In AppServiceProvider.php
use Illuminate\Support\ServiceProvider;
 
class AppServiceProvider extends ServiceProvider
{
    public function register()
    {
        ini_set('max_execution_time', 300);
    }
 
    public function boot()
    {
        //
    }
}

Solution 3: For specific routes/controllers

// In controller method
public function longRunningTask()
{
    set_time_limit(300); // 5 minutes
    
    // Your code here
}
 
// Or unlimited (use with caution)
public function veryLongTask()
{
    set_time_limit(0);
    
    // Your code here
}

Solution 4: For Artisan commands

// In your command class
public function handle()
{
    set_time_limit(0);
    
    // Your command logic
}

---

Database Issues

Migration Errors

# Rollback last migration
php artisan migrate:rollback
 
# Rollback all migrations
php artisan migrate:reset
 
# Rollback and re-run all migrations
php artisan migrate:refresh
 
# Refresh and seed
php artisan migrate:refresh --seed
 
# Drop all tables and migrate
php artisan migrate:fresh
 
# Fresh migrate with seed
php artisan migrate:fresh --seed
 
# Check migration status
php artisan migrate:status

Database Schema

# Dump database schema (for version control)
php artisan schema:dump
 
# Dump schema and prune old migrations
php artisan schema:dump --prune

Database Connection Issues

# Test database connection
php artisan db:show
 
# Show database tables
php artisan db:table <table_name>
 
# Monitor database
php artisan db:monitor

---

Queue & Job Issues

Queue Commands

# Process queue jobs
php artisan queue:work
 
# Process specific queue
php artisan queue:work --queue=high,default
 
# Process one job
php artisan queue:work --once
 
# Stop gracefully after current job
php artisan queue:work --stop-when-empty
 
# Restart queue workers
php artisan queue:restart
 
# View failed jobs
php artisan queue:failed
 
# Retry failed job
php artisan queue:retry <job_id>
 
# Retry all failed jobs
php artisan queue:retry all
 
# Forget failed job
php artisan queue:forget <job_id>
 
# Clear all failed jobs
php artisan queue:flush

---

Permission Issues

Storage & Cache Permissions

# Fix storage and cache permissions
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data storage bootstrap/cache
 
# Or with your user
sudo chown -R $USER:www-data storage bootstrap/cache
 
# Set proper permissions
sudo chmod -R 775 storage bootstrap/cache
 
# On development
chmod -R 777 storage bootstrap/cache  # Not recommended for production!

---

Performance Optimization

Optimize for Production

# Clear all caches first
php artisan optimize:clear
 
# Then optimize
php artisan optimize
 
# This runs:
# - config:cache
# - route:cache
# - view:cache
# - event:cache

Individual Optimizations

# Cache config
php artisan config:cache
 
# Cache routes
php artisan route:cache
 
# Cache views
php artisan view:cache
 
# Cache events
php artisan event:cache
 
# Optimize composer
composer install --optimize-autoloader --no-dev

---

Debug Mode & Logging

Enable Debug Mode

# .env file
APP_DEBUG=true
APP_ENV=local
LOG_CHANNEL=stack
LOG_LEVEL=debug

View Logs

# View real-time logs
tail -f storage/logs/laravel.log
 
# View last 100 lines
tail -n 100 storage/logs/laravel.log
 
# Clear logs
truncate -s 0 storage/logs/laravel.log
 
# Or
> storage/logs/laravel.log

Laravel Telescope (Development)

# Install Telescope
composer require laravel/telescope --dev
 
# Publish assets
php artisan telescope:install
 
# Migrate
php artisan migrate
 
# Clear Telescope data
php artisan telescope:clear
 
# Prune old records
php artisan telescope:prune

Debug pretty dump die

dd($data->toJson(JSON_PRETTY_PRINT))
or
dd(json_encode($data, JSON_PRETTY_PRINT));

---

Common Errors & Solutions

”Class not found” Error

# Solution:
composer dump-autoload
php artisan clear-compiled
php artisan cache:clear

”No application encryption key"

# Solution:
php artisan key:generate

"419 Page Expired” (CSRF)

# Clear cache and sessions
php artisan cache:clear
php artisan session:flush
php artisan config:clear

“Symfony\Component\Debug\Exception\FatalErrorException”

# Check:
# 1. PHP version compatibility
php -v
 
# 2. Required extensions
php -m
 
# 3. Composer dependencies
composer install
 
# 4. Clear caches
php artisan optimize:clear

Database Connection Refused

# Check .env file
DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=your_database
DB_USERNAME=your_username
DB_PASSWORD=your_password
 
# Clear config cache
php artisan config:clear
 
# Test connection
php artisan db:show

Storage Link Missing

# Create storage symlink
php artisan storage:link
 
# Verify link
ls -la public/storage

---

Useful Artisan Commands

Application Info

# Show application info
php artisan about
 
# List all commands
php artisan list
 
# Get help for command
php artisan help <command>
 
# Run in maintenance mode
php artisan down
 
# Bring back up
php artisan up
 
# Custom maintenance mode message
php artisan down --message="Upgrading database" --retry=60

Code Generation

# Make model with migration, factory, seeder, controller
php artisan make:model Product -mfsc
 
# Make model with all resources
php artisan make:model Product -a
 
# Make controller with resource methods
php artisan make:controller ProductController --resource
 
# Make API controller
php artisan make:controller API/ProductController --api
 
# Make request
php artisan make:request StoreProductRequest
 
# Make middleware
php artisan make:middleware CheckAge
 
# Make migration
php artisan make:migration create_products_table
 
# Make seeder
php artisan make:seeder ProductSeeder
 
# Make factory
php artisan make:factory ProductFactory
 
# Make policy
php artisan make:policy ProductPolicy
 
# Make observer
php artisan make:observer ProductObserver --model=Product

---

Testing

Run Tests

# Run all tests
php artisan test
 
# Run specific test
php artisan test --filter=UserTest
 
# Run with coverage
php artisan test --coverage
 
# Parallel testing
php artisan test --parallel
 
# Create test
php artisan make:test UserTest
 
# Create unit test
php artisan make:test UserTest --unit

---

Additional Issues

WiFi Intel 201 Fix (Ubuntu/Linux)

Issue: WiFi not working after sleep/hibernate

Solution:

# Option 1: Restart laptop
shutdown now
# Then press power button to start
 
# Option 2: Through BIOS
shutdown now
# Press appropriate key to enter BIOS during boot
# Exit BIOS and continue boot
 
# Option 3: Reload WiFi driver
sudo modprobe -r iwlwifi
sudo modprobe iwlwifi
 
# Option 4: Restart NetworkManager
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

---

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

When things go wrong:

# 1. Clear all caches
php artisan optimize:clear
 
# 2. Regenerate autoload
composer dump-autoload
 
# 3. Check .env file
cat .env
 
# 4. Check logs
tail -f storage/logs/laravel.log
 
# 5. Fix permissions
chmod -R 775 storage bootstrap/cache
 
# 6. Restart services
sudo systemctl restart apache2
# or
sudo systemctl restart nginx
sudo systemctl restart php8.2-fpm
 
# 7. Check PHP version
php -v
 
# 8. Check database connection
php artisan db:show

---

Production Deployment Checklist

# 1. Enable production mode
# .env
APP_ENV=production
APP_DEBUG=false
 
# 2. Clear development caches
php artisan optimize:clear
 
# 3. Install dependencies (no dev)
composer install --optimize-autoloader --no-dev
 
# 4. Run migrations
php artisan migrate --force
 
# 5. Optimize for production
php artisan optimize
 
# 6. Create storage link
php artisan storage:link
 
# 7. Set proper permissions
chown -R www-data:www-data .
chmod -R 755 .
chmod -R 775 storage bootstrap/cache
 
# 8. Restart services
sudo systemctl restart php8.2-fpm
sudo systemctl restart nginx