Bootstrap Check (Symfony)

Use when

• Starting work on an unfamiliar or freshly cloned Symfony project.
• The application fails to boot, the container does not compile, or routes are missing.
• Checking .env, config/packages/*, Doctrine, API Platform or Messenger setup before a change.

Default workflow

1. Confirm .env exists and defines APP_SECRET, DATABASE_URL and the variables the bundles need.
2. Confirm vendor/ is installed and bin/console about runs.
3. Compile the container (cache:clear) and list services and routes.
4. Check the database connection and that the schema matches the mappings.
5. Check the optional stacks present: API Platform resources, Messenger transports.

Guardrails

• Read only: report what is missing, do not rewrite configuration while checking.
• Never print secret values from .env or the vault.
• Prefer ACLs or the correct user over chmod 777 for cache permission issues.
• Run Doctrine checks against a development database, never production.