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Ligonsker's avatar

Is it possible to update from Laravel 6 to Laravel 9 by replacing the vendor folder?

Hello! Assuming I have a Laravel 6 project that uses additional packages that are compatible with Laravel 9. Will it be possible to: Install a clean Laravel 9 and replace the vendor folder of the Laravel 6 project?

Of course the rest of the changes will be done including PHP version upgrade, syntax update and all the other changes that are required.

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6 replies
Tray2's avatar

Possible yes, good idea no. There has been many changes in Laravel since version 6, and some of those might be breaking changes in your application. Either you check the upgrade guides for each new major version and do the upgrade manually, or you use a service like Laravel Shift,

https://laravelshift.com/

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Ligonsker's avatar

@Tray2 Nice, didn't know about Shift! I guess you already know me from previous posts and the annoying security team that probably won't allow that. But I will still try that.

Ligonsker's avatar

@tray2 Update: I just made an empty Laravel 6, and copied the vendor from an empty Laravel 9 project. Followed the upgrading guides and it worked! :D

Ligonsker's avatar

Guys I have an update: Of course where I work I can't use Shift... So I am going to have to try to upgrade manually.

In my previous comment I mentioned that I managed to upgrade directly from 6 to 9. But that was an empty project.

The real project I need to upgrade is a messy one

What should I consider when jumping so many versions? I am going to read the upgrade guides thoroughly all the way from 6 > 7 > 8 > 9 and implement the changes that persist from 6 to 9. But is there anything else I need to make sure I do and not miss?

Sinnbeck's avatar

@Ligonsker Any chance you have lots of tests to make sure it works?

And yes, go 1 version at a time, and read each upgrade doc in detail, and you should be mostly good :)

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