To install the Yii framework using Composer, first ensure you have PHP 7.1 and Composer installed globally. On Linux/macOS, run curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | php then mv composer.phar /usr/local/bin/composer; on Windows, use the Composer-Setup.exe. Next, create a new Yii project by running composer create-project --prefer-dist yiisoft/yii2-app-basic basic for the basic template or yii2-app-advanced for the advanced version. After installation, navigate to the project directory with cd basic, start the server via php yii serve, and visit http://localhost:8080 to confirm the Yii welcome page is displayed. If using the advanced template, run php init and select your environment before starting the server. Common issues include missing PHP extensions like mbstring, openssl, and intl, which should be enabled in php.ini, file permission errors that may require adjusting folder permissions, and incorrect PHP versions—verify your PHP version with php -v. Always check Composer error messages for troubleshooting guidance.

To install the Yii framework using Composer, you'll need to have Composer installed on your system first. Once that's set up, installing Yii is straightforward and follows a standard PHP package installation process.

1. Check System Requirements and Install Composer

Before installing Yii, make sure your system meets the basic requirements:

• PHP version 7.1 or higher
• Composer installed globally (you can check by running composer --version in your terminal or command prompt)

If Composer isn't installed yet:

• On Windows, download and run the Composer-Setup.exe

• On Linux/macOS, use this command in your terminal:

  curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | php
  mv composer.phar /usr/local/bin/composer

Once installed, verify it works with:

composer --version

2. Create a New Yii Project Using Composer

Now that Composer is ready, you can create a new Yii application. Yii provides project templates to help you get started quickly.

Run the following command in your terminal:

composer create-project --prefer-dist yiisoft/yii2-app-basic basic

This installs the basic Yii application template into a directory named basic. If you prefer the advanced template instead (which includes separate frontend and backend), use:

composer create-project --prefer-dist yiisoft/yii2-app-advanced advanced

After running the command, Composer will download and set up all required files and dependencies automatically.

3. Verify the Installation

Once the installation completes, navigate to the project folder:

cd basic

Then start the built-in PHP development server:

php yii serve

Open your browser and go to:

http://localhost:8080

You should see the Yii welcome page, which confirms that the installation was successful.

Note: If you're using the advanced template, you’ll need to run the initialization script first:

php init

Then select the environment (development or production) before starting the server.

4. Common Issues You Might Encounter

Sometimes things don’t go smoothly — here are a few common issues and how to fix them:

• PHP extensions missing: Yii requires certain PHP extensions like mbstring, openssl, and intl. Make sure they’re enabled in your php.ini.
• File permissions: On some systems, especially shared hosting, you may encounter permission issues when writing logs or cache files. Adjust folder permissions accordingly.
• Wrong PHP version: Double-check your PHP version with php -v. Yii 2.x needs at least PHP 7.1.

If you're stuck, Composer usually gives a clear error message — read it carefully and search for the specific problem online. Chances are someone else has already solved it.

---

That’s basically it. The process is pretty simple once Composer is working properly. Just remember to keep your environment clean and your PHP settings up to date.

The above is the detailed content of How do I install the Yii framework using Composer?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!