laravel convert to string mysql - php

Question

I have this code written in using the laravel and I wonder how to write it in pure SQL without using laravel, as would be?
Route::get('popular', function(){
$media = Media::where('active', '=', '1')->join('media_likes', 'media.id', '=', 'media_likes.media_id')->groupBy('media_likes.media_id')->orderBy(DB::raw('COUNT(media_likes.id)'), 'DESC')->select('media.*')->paginate(30);
$data = array(
'media' => $media,
'categories' => Category::all(),
'pages' => Page::all(),
'settings' => Setting::first(),
);
return View::make('Theme::home', $data);
});

Answer 1

Using toSql method
Laravel Query builder has a helpful method called toSql which is handy to see what the final SQL query looks like.
Now, when you call the paginate method, you'll get a Paginator and you won't be able to call the toSql method.
Deconstructing paginate
When you use paginate, Laravel will make the following query for each $page:
// Let's simplify the query for now
Media::skip(($page - 1) * $perPage)->take($perPage);
Knowing that, you can use the query builder's method toSql and you'll see the actual sql string.
Supossing $page=3, $perPage=30, and that the name of the table is media, you'll get something like this:
Media::skip(2 * 30)->take(30)->toSql();
select * from media limit 30 offset 60
Now, for your actual query, you can use the following to see the resulting SQL string for the page 3 (as an example):
Media::where('active', '=', '1')
->join('media_likes', 'media.id', '=', 'media_likes.media_id')
->groupBy('media_likes.media_id')
->orderBy(DB::raw('COUNT(media_likes.id)'), 'DESC')
->select('media.*')
->skip(2 * 30)
->take(30)
->toSql();
Listening For Query Events
Alternatively, you can set an event listener in your AppServiceProvider, and log each SQL query the application executes.
public function boot()
{
\DB::listen(function ($query) {
\Log::debug($query->sql);
\Log::debug($query->bindings);
\Log::debug($query->time);
});
}

Answer 2

$media = Media::where('active', '=', '1')->join('media_likes', 'media.id', '=', 'media_likes.media_id')->groupBy('media_likes.media_id')->orderBy(DB::raw('COUNT(media_likes.id)'), 'DESC')->select('media.*')->paginate(30);
Something like this:
SELECT m.*
FROM
media m
JOIN
media_likes ml
ON
ml.media_id = m.id
GROUP BY
ml.media_id
ORDER BY
COUNT(ml.id) DESC