Laravel error in /bootstrap/start.php: \Illuminate\Foundation\Application not found

Question

So, I installed Laravel on a dev server (php5.5.3, standard installation, mcrypt installed), and I get the following error message:

Fatal error: Class 'Illuminate\Foundation\Application' not found in /[path_to_laravel_app]/bootstrap/start.php on line 14

Quite odd, and I haven't seen a solution to this file, although I've seen plenty of similar errors. Any advice welcome. Thanks!

Answer 1

/bootstrap/start.php is created after composer install by running Laravel's php artisan optimize. I've had a lot of issues on this during upgrades of Laravel, but removing /bootstrap/start.php, composer.lock, and the vendor directory and re-running composer install should fix this issue.

Answer 2

Run this command:

composer update --no-scripts

In my case I have added another required package(Guzzle) in the compser.json file separately(in the last line but it should be after the laravel package line) and updated the compsoser and came across this issue.

I have checked and my vendor/laravel folder has gone. That was preventing me to run any artisian command.

So "--no-scripts" worked for me as it prevents any scripts to be included before executing artisan.

You can use another method in case you are having issues.

1. Install another raw laravel and copy all the files from the vendor file to your old repostory.
2. Change permission of storage and bootstrap folder to 775 or 777.
3. Delete everything in the session and view folder of storage/framework

Answer 3

Just Run the command

composer install --no-scripts

Or,

composer update --no-scripts