To set up a new Laravel project using the official installer or Composer, download and install Composer from getcomposer.org if you haven't already. Then, navigate to your desired project directory and run 'laravel new project-name' or 'composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel project-name'. This will create a fresh Laravel installation with all necessary dependencies.
Mastering Git is essential for developers to track changes, collaborate with team members, and maintain multiple versions of their project. Install Git on Windows, macOS, or Linux by following specific steps, then configure it by setting up your username, email, and default editor. Best practices include using meaningful commit messages, creating feature branches, and regularly pushing and pulling code from remote repositories.
