Upgrading Laravel from Version 5.8 to 8.x – A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Laravel remains a dominant PHP framework, offering an expressive syntax, robust security, and high performance. However, staying updated with the latest versions is crucial for security patches, performance enhancements, and access to modern features. This guide provides a structured, step-by-step approach to upgrading from version 5.8 to 8.x incrementally, mitigating breaking changes and ensuring a smooth transition.

Understanding the Upgrade Process

A direct upgrade from Laravel 5.8 to 8.x is not recommended due to significant architectural and feature changes introduced in each version. The best approach is to upgrade incrementally—first from 5.8 to 6.x (which is an LTS release), then to 7.x, and finally to 8.x. Skipping intermediate versions can introduce breaking changes that make debugging and compatibility resolution more complex.

Key Challenges and Technical Considerations in Laravel

1. Breaking Changes Across Versions

Each version introduces modifications that affect core functionalities:

• Routing & Namespace Changes: Laravel 8 removes the default controller namespace prefix, requiring explicit namespace declarations.
• Authentication & Middleware Updates: The TrustProxies middleware behavior is modified, impacting how proxies and headers are handled.
• Queue System Enhancements: Job queue handling introduces changes affecting custom implementations.

2. Dependency Conflicts & Composer Updates

• Many third-party packages built for Version 5.8 may not support Version 8.x.
• Running composer update without constraints can introduce dependency mismatches, requiring explicit version upgrades for compatibility.
• Laravel 7.x introduces composer.json modifications, such as the required upgrade of guzzlehttp/guzzle.

3. Eloquent Model Factory Overhaul

• Laravel 8 replaces the traditional model factories with class-based factories using the Factory class.
• Migration from array-based syntax to factory classes requires refactoring existing test suites and seeding logic.

4. Blade Component & View Enhancements

• Laravel 7+ introduces Blade components, replacing older inline component structures.
• The new tag-based Blade syntax (<x-component />) requires rewriting some existing views.

5. Configuration & Environment Variable Adjustments

• Default .env configurations are updated in Laravel 6.x and beyond, affecting session, cache, and queue configurations.
• Running php artisan config:clear and php artisan cache:clear is necessary to avoid conflicts after upgrading.

This is How We’ve Fixed the Issue in Laravel

Step 1: Upgrade from Laravel 5.8 to 6.x

1. Update Dependencies: Modify `composer.json` to require Laravel 6.x:

  “`json
  “require”: {
    “laravel/framework”: “^6.0”
    }
    “`
2. Run Composer Update:

    “`sh
    composer update
    “`
3. Check Breaking Changes: Review the [Laravel 6.x Upgrade Guide]

(https://laravel.com/docs/6.x/upgrade) for changes.

4. Test Application Thoroughly.

Step 2: Upgrade from Laravel 6.x to 7.x

1. Modify `composer.json` to require Laravel 7.x:

  “`json
  “require”: {
    “laravel/framework”: “^7.0”
    }
    “`
2. Run Composer Update:

    “`sh
    composer update
    “`
3. Address Breaking Changes: See [Laravel 7.x Upgrade Guide](https://laravel.com/docs/7.x/upgrade).

4. Test and Debug.

Step 3: Upgrade from Laravel 7.x to 8.x

1. Modify `composer.json` to require Laravel 8.x:

  “`json
  “require”: {
    “laravel/framework”: “^8.0”
    }
    “`
2. Run Composer Update:

    “`sh
    composer update
    “`
3. Check for Breaking Changes: Review the [Laravel 8.x Upgrade Guide](https://laravel.com/docs/8.x/upgrade).

4. Test the Entire Application.

Best Practices & Preventative Measures

Upgrading requires a well-structured approach to avoid compatibility issues, downtime, or data loss. Following these best practices ensures a smooth transition while minimizing risks:

1. Backup Your Application & Database

• Always create a full backup of your application files, .env configuration, and database before starting the upgrade process.
• Use tools like mysqldump for MySQL databases or database backup packages such as spatie/laravel-backup.

2. Upgrade Incrementally to Prevent Issues

• Laravel upgrades should follow a stepwise approach: 5.8 → 6.x (LTS) → 7.x → 8.x.
• Skipping intermediate versions may introduce breaking changes that are harder to debug.
  Use composer update with version constraints to control dependency upgrades.

3. Use Git for Version Control & Rollbacks

• Maintain a separate Git branch for the upgrade process to avoid disrupting the production environment.
• Commit changes incrementally to track modifications.
• In case of failure, easily rollback using Git with git reset –hard or git checkout to revert changes.

4. Test in a Staging Environment Before Deployment

• Never upgrade directly on a live production server.
• Use Docker or a separate staging environment that mirrors production settings.
• Run php artisan config:clear and php artisan cache:clear after upgrading to avoid old cached settings causing issues.

5. Review Laravel Release Notes & Upgrade Guide

• Each Laravel version introduces framework-level changes that may impact application functionality.
• Always check the upgrade guide and official release notes for breaking changes, deprecated methods, and migration strategies.

6. Verify Package & Dependency Compatibility

• Run composer outdated to check for outdated dependencies before upgrading.
• If third-party packages are incompatible, look for alternative solutions or upgrade their versions.
• Replace deprecated or abandoned packages that no longer receive updates.

7. Validate Application Functionality with Testing

• Run php artisan test to execute unit tests and integration tests after upgrading.
• Check log files (storage/logs/laravel.log) for error traces.
• Use PHPUnit or Laravel Dusk for automated testing of critical application features.