---
title: Using PHP Frameworks
description: "ExeOutput for PHP is designed to work seamlessly with PHP frameworks. Since these frameworks typically involve numerous PHP `include` statements, ExeOutput for PHP intercepts all file requests from the PHP runtime and makes the files available (see [Accessing Files in…"
url: "https://www.exeoutput.com/help/phpframeworks"
updated: "2025-10-01"
category: Getting Started
---

# Using PHP Frameworks

ExeOutput for PHP is designed to work seamlessly with PHP frameworks. Since these frameworks typically involve numerous PHP `include` statements, ExeOutput for PHP intercepts all file requests from the PHP runtime and makes the files available (see [Accessing Files in PHP](accessingfiles)).

However, this interception process can slow down your application. To address this, ExeOutput for PHP offers the [External Files](externalfiles.md) feature, which allows you to keep the framework's PHP files outside the application (usually in a `vendor` subdirectory). This ensures your application remains responsive, even if it requires tens of thousands of files.

If your preferred PHP framework does not function correctly, please refer to the [Advice for Getting Started with PHP Applications](advicegetstarted) section. For example, if PHP displays "missing file" errors or warnings like "**php failed to open stream**", you can try marking files in the [File Manager](file-manager) (select your files, click [File Properties](fileproperties), and enable the **Unpack the file(s) to virtual memory at startup** option) or, preferably, [keep them external](externalfiles.md).

## Redirecting Directory Requests to the Router Script

Some PHP frameworks support pretty URLs, similar to Apache's `mod_rewrite` in certain cases.

Note

Ensure that you enable the [option to redirect all non-file requests](phpmainsettings) to your framework's `index.php` router script.

## Using Custom Redirection Rules

If you prefer to define your own redirection rules, you can use the [Redirection Rules](redirection-rules) feature.

## Setting the Initial Page / Base URL

If your `index.php` homepage should not be the first URL displayed, you can specify a custom URL for the application bootstrap. Refer to the [Application Startup URL](phpmainsettings) settings.

Base URLs should start with `https://heserver/` for the CEF engine, or `https://heserver.example/` for the WebView2 engine (see [Accessing Files in Compiled PHP Applications](accessingfiles)).

## Compatible PHP Frameworks

The following PHP frameworks have been successfully tested with ExeOutput for PHP:

### Laravel

Tip

[Check out our Laravel sample with step-by-step instructions](https://www.exeoutput.com/samples/laravel).

To use Laravel, you must configure the `storage` and `bootstrap/cache` folders to remain outside the EXE so that files can be written to them. We also recommend keeping the `laravel` (and `vendor`, if applicable) subdirectories external.

In ExeOutput for PHP, navigate to the [File Manager](file-manager), select each of the folders mentioned above, click [Properties](fileproperties), and enable the option: **Keep the selected file(s) external and copy them to the "Data" subfolder**.

For more details, refer to the [External Files](externalfiles) topic.

### CodeIgniter

Tip

[Check out our CodeIgniter sample with step-by-step instructions](https://www.exeoutput.com/samples/codeigniter).

To use CodeIgniter, you need to configure the `application/cache` and `application/logs` folders to remain outside the EXE so that files can be written to them.

In ExeOutput for PHP, navigate to the [File Manager](file-manager), select each of the folders, click [Properties](fileproperties), and enable the option: **Keep the selected file(s) external and copy them to the "Data" subfolder**.

### CakePHP

To use CakePHP, you need to configure the `logs` and `tmp` folders to remain outside the EXE so that files can be written to them.

In ExeOutput for PHP, navigate to the [File Manager](file-manager), select each of the folders, click [Properties](fileproperties), and enable the option: **Keep the selected file(s) external and copy them to the "Data" subfolder**.

Finally, edit `www/app/Config/core.php` and add the following line:

```php
Configure::write('App.baseUrl', env('SCRIPT_NAME'));
```

### Fat-Free Framework (F3)

No specific configuration is required.

### Other Frameworks

This list is not exhaustive. The absence of a framework does not mean that a PHP application based on it will not work when compiled with ExeOutput for PHP.

[Accessing Files in Compiled PHP Applications](accessingfiles)

[How Compiled PHP Applications Work](howphpappliwork)