How to migrate from SQLite to MySQL in Laravel easily

If you are a developer and use Laravel, you may need to migrate your database from SQLite to MySQL at some point. This process can seem intimidating, but by following a few simple steps, you can do it without complications. In this article, I will show you how to effectively perform this migration.

Why migrate from SQLite to MySQL?

SQLite is a lightweight database that offers significant advantages for development and testing. However, when it comes to production applications or when a more robust data management is required, MySQL becomes a more suitable option. MySQL offers superiority in transaction management, concurrency, and better handling of large volumes of data.

Preparations before migration

Before starting the migration process, it’s important to prepare everything you need:

1. Backup your SQLite database. This is crucial to ensure that you don’t lose important data during the migration. You can use tools like DB Browser for SQLite to export your data to a SQL file.
2. Install MySQL if you haven’t already. You can do this on your local environment, server, or choose a hosting service that offers it.

Change Laravel configuration

Once you have your SQLite database backed up and MySQL installed, the next step is to modify the Laravel configuration:

Update the .env file

Open the .env file in the root of your Laravel project. Change the following lines to point to your MySQL instance:

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=your_database_name
DB_USERNAME=your_username
DB_PASSWORD=your_password

Make sure to replace your_database_name, your_username, and your_password with the appropriate credentials.

Configure config/database.php

Next, check that the MySQL connection is correctly configured in the config/database.php file. Ensure that the settings for the mysql driver are correct and match what you've entered in the .env file.

Migrate the data

Now that you have adjusted the configuration, it's time to migrate your data from SQLite to MySQL. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Export the data from SQLite to a SQL file. Use DB Browser for SQLite or any other tool that allows you to export the data.
2. Create the MySQL database. You can do this from the MySQL console or using graphical tools like phpMyAdmin.
3. Import the SQL file into MySQL. Use the following command in the command line:

mysql -u your_username -p your_database_name < path_to_exported_file.sql

This command will prompt you for your password and then execute the queries in your new MySQL database.

Verify the migration

After importing your data, it’s essential to verify that everything is working correctly. Perform some queries from your Laravel application to ensure you are connecting to the MySQL database and that the data is accessible.

Setup migrations and seeds

Finally, if you have migrations or seeds in your Laravel project, you should run them to ensure that the database structure is in order and that the data is populated correctly.

php artisan migrate
php artisan db:seed

With these steps, you will have successfully migrated your database from SQLite to MySQL in Laravel.

If you want to continue learning about Laravel and other development tools, I encourage you to keep reading more articles like this on my blog. Until next time!