[Laravel specific] Works perfectly if you need to execute an Artisan command AND get the output as a string.

laravel_artisan_call.php

<?php

if ( ! \function_exists('artisan_call'))
{
    function artisan_call($command, array $parameters = array())
    {
        $buffer = new \Symfony\Component\Console\Output\BufferedOutput();

        \Artisan::call($command, $parameters, $buffer);

        return $buffer->fetch();
    }
}