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Run and test CodeIgniter 4 web apps locally with the free version of Laravel Herd, MySQL Community Server, and Sequel Ace.

published 2 weeks ago in PHPWeb DevelopmentCodeIgniter

Run CodeIgniter Wizard Projects Locally with Laravel Herd

A clean, fast local setup — plus the one folder naming rule you cannot ignore

There’s a certain kind of joy in local development when everything is just… quiet. No fragile MAMP stacks, no mysterious port collisions, no “why is Apache refusing to start today?” drama. You open your browser, type a friendly .test domain, and your app just loads.

That’s exactly the experience Laravel Herd aims for. Even though Herd is built by the Laravel team, it works beautifully for CodeIgniter projects too — including projects generated with CodeIgniter Wizard.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to set up a CodeIgniter Wizard project locally using Herd, configure your database using MySQL Community Server, and manage everything comfortably with Sequel Ace.

And before we do anything else, there’s one rule worth highlighting in neon:

⚠ The Herd Folder Name Rule (Must Follow)

When CodeIgniter Wizard creates a project, its folder name must contain no delimiters.

  • ❌ No spaces
  • ❌ No underscores _
  • ❌ No hyphens -
  • ✅ Use only lowercase letters and numbers

If you name your project Customer Order Fulfillment, your folder must be something like:

  • customerorderfulfillment
  • customerorders

Once it’s parked correctly, your project becomes accessible at:

http://customerorderfulfillment.test (or https:// if SSL is enabled)

1) Install Laravel Herd

Download and install Herd from the official website:

https://herd.laravel.com/

After installing, you should see the Herd icon in your menu bar (macOS) or system tray (Windows).

2) Make Sure Your Terminal Uses Herd’s PHP and Composer

Open Terminal and run:

which php
which composer

Both should point to a directory that includes Herd. If they don’t, it usually means your system is using another PHP installation (often Homebrew).

3) Use a Herd Path (Parked Folder) for Your Project

Herd automatically serves sites from its configured Herd Paths (sometimes called parked folders).

  1. Click the Herd icon
  2. Go to Settings
  3. Under General, find Herd Paths

Anything inside a Herd Path gets a convenient domain like:

foldername.test

Most installs create a default folder like:

~/Herd

4) Create Your CodeIgniter Project (The Safe Way)

If you’re using CodeIgniter Wizard, just make sure your project folder is created inside your Herd path and follows the delimiter-free folder name rule.

If you’re creating a fresh CodeIgniter install manually via Composer:

cd ~/Herd
composer create-project codeigniter4/appstarter example

This creates a project folder named example, and Herd will automatically pick it up.

5) Open Herd → Sites and Load Your App

Click the Herd icon → Sites. You should see your new project listed.

If you don’t see it immediately, click Refresh. Then open the site in your browser.

If all is well, you’ll see the CodeIgniter welcome page at:

http://example.test

Database Setup (Recommended)

Herd doesn’t bundle MySQL in the free version — but that’s not a problem. You’ll get a cleaner setup by installing MySQL yourself and using a lightweight client.

6) Install MySQL Community Server (Free)

Download MySQL Community Server from Oracle:

https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/

If you prefer searching instead, use this search term:

MySQL Community Server download

7) Install Sequel Ace (Free)

Sequel Ace is a fast, reliable database client for macOS. You can get it from the Mac App Store or via direct download:

8) Create a Database for Your App

Open Sequel Ace and connect using:

  • Host: 127.0.0.1
  • Username: root (depending on your setup)
  • Password: (whatever you set during installation)
  • Port: 3306

Create a new database, for example: example.

9) Use the "Database Records" editor in CodeIgniter Wizard to Use Your Database

Open CI Wizard and edit:

Database Connection Definitions

Update the default database settings

10) Test the Connection

Run this inside your project folder:

php spark migrate

If that runs without errors, you’re connected successfully.

Final Thoughts

Once you’ve done this once, it becomes your go-to workflow: fast setup, clean domains, predictable PHP versions, and minimal overhead.

But if you only remember one thing from this post, make it this:

Delimiter-free folder names are non-negotiable for Herd. If your Wizard project folder includes underscores, hyphens, or spaces, Herd won’t reliably support it.

Stick to simple folder names, and you’ll get a local development experience that feels effortless.

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