Laravel Messenger is a package designed to add a full user messaging system to your Laravel application. Here are some key features and installation steps:
Features
- Multiple Conversations per User: Users can participate in multiple conversations simultaneously.- Optional Looping: Additional users can be included in each new message.
- Last Message View: The last message for each thread is available.
- Flexible Usage: Implement your own access control.
- Common Uses: Open threads, group messaging, and one-to-one messaging are supported[1].
Installation
1. Laravel 4.x:- Installation instructions are available on GitHub.
- Add the service provider to `config/app.php` under `providers`.
- Publish the config file.
- Create a `users` table if necessary.
- Publish migrations.
- Run `php artisan migrate` to apply the migrations.
- Add the `Messagable` trait to your user model[1].
2. Laravel 5.x:
- Run `composer require cmgmyr/messenger`.
- Add the service provider to `config/app.php` under `providers` (optional for Laravel 5.5).
- Publish the config file.
- Create a `users` table if necessary.
- Publish migrations.
- Run `php artisan migrate` to apply the migrations.
- Add the `Messagable` trait to your user model[1].
Example Projects
- RTippin/messenger: This package provides a full messenger suite with real-time messaging, reactions, attachments, and more. It supports multiple models and includes features like private and group threads, message reactions, and scheduled commands[2].Usage
- cmgmyr/laravel-messenger: This package is simpler and more flexible, allowing you to implement your own access control. It supports multiple conversations per user and includes features like viewing the last message for each thread[1].Real-Time Messaging
- RTippin/messenger: This package supports real-time messaging using websockets. It includes features like real-time messaging between multiple models and real-time updates[2].Integration
- Laravel Messenger Integration: This example demonstrates how to integrate Laravel Messenger with a group chat system, including creating a group chat and submitting files[5].Tutorials
- Laravel Messenger Tutorial: This YouTube video provides a basic introduction to Laravel Messenger and how to set it up in your application[4].Additional Tips
- Polling vs. Websockets: When implementing real-time messaging, you can use either polling or websockets. Polling involves periodic requests from the frontend to the backend, while websockets maintain a continuous connection for real-time updates[3].These packages and tutorials can help you integrate a messaging system into your Laravel application.
Citations:[1] https://github.com/cmgmyr/laravel-messenger
[2] https://github.com/RTippin/messenger
[3] https://www.reddit.com/r/laravel/comments/u39oe5/messenger_chat_package_for_laravel/?rdt=47155
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoBb1751tAM
[5] https://laracasts.com/discuss/channels/general-discussion/laravel-messenger-integration