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Community challenge · Lara Academy

Build your own mini Laravel

The challenge announced in the new episode: rebuild the core pieces of a PHP framework to understand what happens behind Laravel, then share your project so the whole community learns with you.

Submit my projectSee the projects

Challenge status

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The journey

Three steps, at your own pace

  1. 1
    Understand

    Read the challenge and choose the pieces you will rebuild.

  2. 2
    Submit

    Share your GitHub repository, its setup README and a demo.

  3. 3
    Discover

    Explore accepted projects and learn from other people’s choices.

Understand the challenge

What your mini Laravel should do

The goal is not to copy Laravel, but to understand its ideas by coding them yourself, in PHP.

  • CoreRouter

    Map a URL and an HTTP method to an action.

  • CoreControllers

    Group a page’s logic in a class.

  • CoreViews

    Render a page from a template and data.

  • CoreData access

    Read and write to a database through your own small layer (PDO).

  • BonusMiddleware, validation or a CLI command

    One more piece to go further, if you want.

What we expect in your submission

  • A public GitHub repository with your code.
  • A README explaining setup: requirements, commands and how to run it.
  • A demo: a short video or a link to your live app.
  • A few lines about what you learned.

Take part

Submit my project

Every submission is reviewed before it is shown. Only your name, the project name, your links and your description become public, and only if the project is accepted.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know Laravel?

No. Basic PHP and object-oriented programming are enough. The challenge is precisely about discovering how a framework works.

Can I use AI?

Yes, as an assistant. Make sure you understand and can explain every part of your code.

Can I edit my submission?

Yes, while it is in review or when changes are requested.

Is there a deadline?

Yes: submissions are open until Friday 6 November 2026, and the community vote opens that same Friday, 6 November. The status of submissions, of the vote and of the leaderboard is always shown at the top of this page.

What can I win?

The top 3 of the leaderboard each receive 1 month of ChatGPT Plus, offered by Lara Academy. OpenAI does not organise or sponsor this challenge.

How is the leaderboard computed?

Each favourite vote from a confirmed member is worth 1 point, and each « understanding » star given by the team (clear README, demo, what you learned) is worth 2 points, up to 3 stars. The leaderboard only appears when the team makes it visible, and results are final only once the vote is closed.