Develop a Custom Laravel Web Application with AI Integration

Description

We have a Laravel 8 application that runs our training business — course scheduling, enrolments, certificates — built by a contractor who left in 2023. It works. It is also on an unsupported PHP version and has no tests. Two pieces of work, in this order. First bring it current: PHP and Laravel upgraded, dependencies patched, a test suite around enrolment and certificate issuance so we can change things without fear. Then, and only then, the new feature — a search over our course catalogue and past learner questions that answers "which course covers X". If a proposal skips the upgrade to get to the interesting part faster, we will pass on it.

• Upgrade PHP and Laravel to supported versions, patching dependencies, with no functional regression
• Add test coverage around enrolment and certificate issuance before touching anything else
• Build catalogue and question search once the base is stable
• Keep the existing admin UI conventions rather than introducing a second design language
• Set up CI so the tests actually run on every change

• Upgraded application on supported PHP and Laravel with a passing test suite
• CI pipeline
• Course catalogue search feature
• Upgrade notes and a dependency maintenance plan