can't create a Laravel project because mcrypt extension is missing - php

Question

OK, I have seen many posts about this, and I have spent the entire day working through them to solve this issue, with no success.
I am trying to create a Laravel project. I am using a Mac (Yosemite), which is running PHP 5.5.14. There is also an older version of PHP on the machine. When I try to create a project from the command line using "laravel new projectname", no errors are reported, but the command just creates an empty folder named with the project name. I get the "Crafting application..." and "Application ready! Build something amazing" messages but, again, only an empty folder.
If I try to use this command:
composer create-project laravel/laravel projectname
I get this:
Installing laravel/laravel (v5.0.16)
- Installing laravel/laravel (v5.0.16)
Downloading: 100%
Created project in projectname
Loading composer repositories with package information
Installing dependencies (including require-dev) from lock file
Your requirements could not be resolved to an installable set of packages.
Problem 1
- Installation request for laravel/framework v5.0.16 -> satisfiable by laravel/framework[v5.0.16].
- laravel/framework v5.0.16 requires ext-mcrypt * -> the requested PHP extension mcrypt is missing from your system.
In the terminal, if I enter this:
which php
I get: /usr/bin/php
/usr/bin/php -v
I get:
PHP 5.5.14 (cli) (built: Sep 9 2014 19:09:25)
Copyright (c) 1997-2014 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.5.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2014 Zend Technologies
with Xdebug v2.2.3, Copyright (c) 2002-2013, by Derick Rethans
I used homebrew to install autoconf and mcrypt with this command:
brew install autoconf mcrypt
If I run that command again, I get:
Warning: autoconf-2.69 already installed
Warning: mcrypt-2.6.8 already installed
Since I kept getting the error, I assumed it was installed in the wrong place so, I compiled and installed mcrypt myself using these instructions:
[Install mcrypt php extension][1]. I used PHP version 5.5.14 during the install. Mcrypt was installed in this directory: /usr/lib/php/extensions/no-debug-non-zts-20121212/
I have restarted Apache. I have checked my .bash_profile to make sure /usr/bin is in my Path.
If I create a page with phpinfo() and view it in my browser, I see that mcrypt is listed in the "Module Authors" section of the page. It just lists the names of the people who created the module.
I am stumped. I look forward to any suggestions that people might offer (I really don't want to install a virtual box, or anything like that. Surely, I can get this module installed in the right place!)
Thanks very much!

Answer 1

I got this exact same problem too.
You have to find php.ini for php cli and add extension=mcrypt.so
My system is running LAMPP server with preinstalled PHP. So, here's what I do:
Install mcrypt extension
I tried both:
sudo apt-get install mcrypt
sudo apt-get install php5-mcrypt
Configure php.ini for CLI
Then, edit php.ini located in /opt/lampp/etc/php5/cli/php.ini add extension=mcrypt.so on Dynamic Extension section (anywhere is fine I think). Don't forget to restart your server.
Try using composer to install laravel
Now, you can run whatever method you want to install laravel. I download Laravel 5 manually, unzip, then install using composer install command. I think your command composer create-project laravel/laravel projectname would've run smoothly too.
References:
here

Answer 2

mac users install brew and then enter
brew install php56-mcrypt
in terminal
EDIT
if you get any error using above line then try this command
brew install homebrew/php/php56-mcrypt

Answer 3

Please following the step :
cd /etc/php5/cli/conf.d
ln -s ../../mods-available/mcrypt.ini 20-mcrypt.ini
Worked for me.

Answer 4

For MAC users,
brew install homebrew/php/php56-mcrypt