Name: Aura
Author: Aura

Question 1

What is Aura?

Accepted Answer

Aura is a zero-server PHP runtime. It compiles PHP 8.4, the Laravel 13 framework, your application code and a SQLite volume into a single static WebAssembly artifact that executes entirely inside the browser tab.

Question 2

How does PHP run in the browser without a server?

Accepted Answer

The PHP interpreter is compiled to wasm32-wasi. When you press run, your main.php entrypoint executes inside that in-browser interpreter at memory speed — there are zero network hops and no backend to deploy.

Question 3

Which PHP and Laravel versions does Aura support?

Accepted Answer

Aura ships PHP 8.4.12, Laravel 13.x and SQLite 3.49 in an ~8.9 MB compressed artifact with a ~42 MB in-browser resident set.

Question 4

Does my code or data leave my machine?

Accepted Answer

No. Execution happens locally in the browser tab via WebAssembly. Nothing is sent to a server — there is no server.

Question 5

What can I build with Aura?

Accepted Answer

Prototypes, Laravel route handlers, SQLite-backed demos, PHP learning sandboxes and offline-capable tools — anything that fits a single-process PHP runtime with a local SQLite volume.

Question 6

Is Aura free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The in-browser runtime is free to try — open the page, launch the runtime and run PHP immediately with nothing to install.