Developing an Airbnb Clone using Laravel Framework
Tags: laravel, webdev, javascript, programming
Published: 2023-12-08 02:01:19

Building a complex property booking application requires strong planning and development. In this blog, we'll discuss how to create an [Airbnb clone script](https://zipprr.com/airbnb-clone/) from scratch using Laravel PHP framework. Laravel provides robust MVC architecture and features required for such projects.

We'll go through setting up the environment, creating the database schema, building authentication/authorization, developing the backend API, creating frontend views, implementing core features like listings, searches, payments etc. We'll also explain additional modules, performance optimization, security and deployment.

## Setting Up Laravel Environment

Ensure PHP 7.2+, PDO, openssl etc extensions are installed. Install Composer globally:

`curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | php`

Create a Laravel project:

`composer create-project laravel/laravel airbnb-clone`

Configure database credentials in .env:

`DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=airbnb
DB_USERNAME=homestead
DB_PASSWORD=secret`

Generate app key:
`php artisan key:generate`

Add HomeController and route:

`// HomeController.php

public function index() {
  return view('home'); 
}`

## Database Schema

Define database tables for core functionality using migrations:
`// create_listings_table.php

Schema::create('listings', function (Blueprint $table) {

  $table->id();
  $table->string('title');
  $table->text('description');
  // other fields 
  $table->timestamps();

});`

Define relationships:
`// Listing.php

public function reservations() {
  return $this->hasMany(Reservation::class);
}`

`// Reservation.php

public function listing() {
  return $this->belongsTo(Listing::class);
}`

Seed tables with seeders:

`// ListingTableSeeder.php

public function run() {

  Listing::create([
    'title' => 'Cozy Cottage',
    // other fields
  ]);

  // other listings

}`

## Authentication System

Add authentication routes:
`// web.php

Auth::routes();`

Generate controllers:
`php artisan make:controller AuthController
php artisan make:controller RegisterController`

Define routes:
`// web.php

Route::get('register', 'RegisterController@create');
Route::post('register', 'RegisterController@store');

Route::get('login', 'AuthController@showLoginForm');  
Route::post('login', 'AuthController@login');`

Create form views:
`<!-- resources/views/auth/register.blade.php -->

<form method="POST" action="{{ route('register') }}">

  @csrf

  <input 
    type="text" 
    name="name"
    value="{{ old('name') }}"
  >

  <button type="submit">Register</button>

</form>`

## Backend API
Generate Api controllers:
`php artisan make:controller Api/ListingController
php artisan make:controller Api/BookingController`

Define routes:
`// api.php

Route::get('/listings', 'Api\ListingController@index');
Route::post('/listings', 'Api\ListingController@store'); 

Route::get('/bookings', 'Api\BookingController@index');`

Get all listings:
`// ListingController.php

public function index() {

  return Listing::all();

}`

Create booking:

`// BookingController.php

public function store() {

  $booking = Booking::create([
    'listing_id' => request('listing_id'),
    'guest_id' => auth()->id()
  ]);

  return response()->json($booking);

}`

## Frontend Views

Create a layout blade:
`// resources/views/layouts/app.blade.php`

Include Navbar, footer etc.

Display listings on homepage:

`// HomeController@index

$listings = Listing::all();

return view('home', ['listings' => $listings]);`

`<!-- home.blade.php -->

@foreach($listings as $listing)
  
  <div class="listing">
    <h3>{{ $listing->title }}</h3>
  </div>

@endforeach`

Show listing details:

`// ListingController@show

$listing = Listing::find($id);

return view('listings.show')->withListing($listing);`

`<!-- listings/show.blade.php -->

<h1>{{ $listing->title }}</h1>

<p>{{ $listing->description }}</p>`

## User Profile & Listings
Generate profile controller:

`php artisan make:controller ProfileController`

Display profile:
`// ProfileController@show

$user = Auth::user(); 

return view('profile.show')->withUser($user);`

`<!-- profile/show.blade.php -->

<h1>My Profile</h1>

<p>Name: {{ $user->name }}</p>`

`<!-- profile/show.blade.php -->

<h2>My Listings</h2>

@foreach($user->listings as $listing)

  <p><a href="{{ route('listings.show', $listing) }}">
    {{ $listing->title }}
  </a></p>

@endforeach`

## Payments Integration
Install Cashier package:
`composer require laravel/cashier`

Migrate Cashier tables:
`php artisan migrate`

Define Billable trait on User model:
`// User.php

use Billable; 

//...

protected $guarded = [];`

Generate charges:
`// BookingController@store

$charge = Auth::user()->charge(100); 

// create booking`

Display Stripe Elements for payment:

`<!-- bookings/create.blade.php -->

<div id="card-element"></div>

<button id="submit">
  Pay {{ $total }}
</button>

@include('stripe')`

## Additional Features
Create messaging system:

`// MessageController methods

public function index() {
  // get thread
}

public function store() {
  // save message 
}`

## Reviews System
Generate reviews and ratings functionality:
`php artisan make:request ReviewRequest
php artisan make:controller ReviewController`

Add review form:
`<!-- listings/show.blade.php -->

<form action="/reviews" method="POST">

  @csrf

  <textarea name="comment"></textarea>

  <select name="rating">
    <option value="1">1</option>
    <!-- etc --> 
  </select>

  <button>Submit Review</button>

</form>`

## Admin Panel
Generate admin dashboard blade:

`php artisan make:view dashboard`

Restrict access:
`// AdminController@index

if(!Auth::user()->isAdmin()) {
  abort(403);
}

return view('admin.dashboard');`

Show listings, bookings tables:
`<!-- dashboard.blade.php -->

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Title</th>
    <th>Guest</th>
    <th>Date</th>
  </tr>

  @foreach(Bookings::all() as $booking)

    <tr>
      <!-- display fields --> 
    </tr>

  @endforeach
</table>`

## Deployment
Setup staging/production servers on Forge/AWS:
`forge project:create myproject.com`

Configure databases, queues, mail services.

Configure deployment via Git:
`forge git:receive myproject.com`

Set up continuous integration using Github Actions:

`# .github/workflows/deploy.yml

name: Deploy

on:
  push:
    branches: 
      - main

jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - run: git pull origin main
      - run: composer install --no-dev --optimize-autoloader
      - run: php artisan migrate --force
      - run: php artisan queue:restart
      - run: vendor/bin/phpunit`

## Conclusion

In conclusion, we discussed how to develop a full-fledged Airbnb clone application from scratch using the Laravel PHP framework. Laravel provides robust tools for building large scale database-driven apps like property booking platforms. You can also checkout prebuilt script like [https://zipprr.com/vacation-rental-script/](https://zipprr.com/vacation-rental-script/) 

With careful planning of architecture and usage of core Laravel features like Eloquent ORM, we built out crucial components around user authentication, API backend, frontend views, payments integration and more. This covers the steps to develop and deploy a commercial-grade clone app for a SaaS business.