diff --git a/.gitpod.Dockerfile b/.gitpod.Dockerfile
index 93a21899..c77c962a 100644
--- a/.gitpod.Dockerfile
+++ b/.gitpod.Dockerfile
@@ -53,4 +53,4 @@ RUN bash -c ". /tmp/update-composer.sh" && rm /tmp/update-composer.sh
 RUN bash -c ". /tmp/scaffold-project.sh" && rm /tmp/scaffold-project.sh
 
 # Force the docker image to build by incrementing this value
-ENV INVALIDATE_CACHE=306
\ No newline at end of file
+ENV INVALIDATE_CACHE=307
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.gp/bash/init-optional-scaffolding.sh b/.gp/bash/init-optional-scaffolding.sh
index bd01c93e..39e0ee49 100644
--- a/.gp/bash/init-optional-scaffolding.sh
+++ b/.gp/bash/init-optional-scaffolding.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ rrd_ver=$(eval "$parse" react-router-dom version)
 laravel_major_ver=$(bash .gp/bash/helpers.sh laravel_major_version)
 laravel_ui_ver=$(bash .gp/bash/helpers.sh laravel_ui_version)
 init_phpmyadmin=".gp/bash/init-phpmyadmin.sh"
+react_examp_warn1="WARNING: React examples require Laravel version >= 8."
+react_examp_warn2="WARNING: Ignoring the example requested:"
 
 # Any value set for EXAMPLE will build an example project thus superceding some directives in starter.ini
 if [[ -n $EXAMPLE ]]; then
@@ -35,11 +37,16 @@ if [[ -n $EXAMPLE ]]; then
     case $EXAMPLE in
       1)
         example_title="React Example with phpMyAdmin and extras - Questions and Answers"
-        init_react_example=".gp/bash/examples/init-react-example.sh"
-        install_react=1
-        install_phpmyadmin=1
-        install_react_router_dom=1
-        rrd_ver='^5.2.0'
+        if [[ $laravel_major_ver -lt 8 ]]; then
+          log -e "$react_examp_warn1 Your Laravel version is $laravel_major_ver"
+          log -e "$react_examp_warn2 $example_title"
+        else
+          init_react_example=".gp/bash/examples/init-react-example.sh"
+          install_react=1
+          install_phpmyadmin=1
+          install_react_router_dom=1
+          rrd_ver='^5.2.0'
+        fi
         ;;
       2)
         example_title="React Example without phpMyAdmin and no extras - Questions and Answers"
@@ -254,10 +261,6 @@ fi
 # BEGIN: optional example setup
 # Initialize optional react example project
 if [[ -n  $init_react_example ]];then
-  [[ $laravel_major_ver -lt 8 ]] \
-  && log -e "WARNING: React examples require Laravel version >= 8. Your Laravel version is $laravel_major_ver" \
-  && log -e "WARNING: Ignoring the example requested: $example_title" \
-  && exit
   # shellcheck source=.gp/bash/examples/init-react-example.sh
   . "$init_react_example" 2>/dev/null || log_silent -e "ERROR: $(. $init_react_example 2>&1 1>/dev/null)"
   exit
diff --git a/starter.ini b/starter.ini
index 9687dc51..e596c4ce 100644
--- a/starter.ini
+++ b/starter.ini
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ type=laravel-js-2space
 #     https://github.com/gitpod-io/workspace-images/blob/master/chunks/tool-nginx/Dockerfile
 # Invalid values will default to 'gitpodlatest'
 # Note: Laravel 9.* requires PHP 8.*
-version=8.0
+version=gitpodlatest
 # ppa, valid values are OS and ondrej
 # The value 'OS' will use the standard (default) operating system PPA
 # The value 'ondrej' will use ppa:ondrej/php
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ install=0
 # Laravel always gives you the latest or most stable Minor and Patch versions which are non-breaking.
 # The version value is for initial setup only and is ignored once the Laravel scaffolding have been pushed
 # to your repository.
-version=9.*
+version=7.*
 # allow_mixed_web
 # Valid values are 0 (off) or 1 (on). Only turn this off if you know what you are doing.
 # Default value is 1