Getting Started
Configuration
Environment Configuration
FreshStay uses a .env file for environment-specific configuration. After installation, review and update these settings.
Application Settings
ENV
APP_NAME="FreshStay" APP_ENV=production APP_DEBUG=false APP_URL=https://yourdomain.com APP_TIMEZONE=UTC
**Important:** Always set `APP_DEBUG=false` in production to prevent sensitive information from being exposed.
Database
ENV
DB_CONNECTION=mysql DB_HOST=127.0.0.1 DB_PORT=3306 DB_DATABASE=freshstay DB_USERNAME=your_username DB_PASSWORD=your_password
Mail Configuration
FreshStay supports multiple mail drivers. Configure your preferred provider:
ENV
MAIL_MAILER=smtp
MAIL_HOST=smtp.mailgun.org
MAIL_PORT=587
MAIL_USERNAME=your_username
MAIL_PASSWORD=your_password
MAIL_ENCRYPTION=tls
MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS="noreply@yourdomain.com"
MAIL_FROM_NAME="${APP_NAME}"
**Tip:** For development, use `MAIL_MAILER=log` to write emails to the log file instead of sending them.
Google Maps
To enable map features for property listings, add your Google Maps API key:
ENV
GOOGLE_MAPS_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
You'll need the Maps JavaScript API and Places API enabled in your Google Cloud Console.
Real-time Chat
FreshStay uses Pusher for real-time messaging between guests and hosts:
ENV
BROADCAST_CONNECTION=pusher PUSHER_APP_ID=your_app_id PUSHER_APP_KEY=your_app_key PUSHER_APP_SECRET=your_app_secret PUSHER_APP_CLUSTER=mt1
**Note:** Create a free Pusher account at [pusher.com](https://pusher.com) to get your credentials.
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