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We're excited to share a daily email with you that you can read in less than 2 minutes. Oh, and if daily is too often - don't worry - you can opt into weekly digests instead.
I've been subscribed to this newsletter for less than a week, and I already received some advice that I was able to instantly implement into my daily work.
Samuel Pedraza
Laravel Developer
Daily Tips Archive
We've been cranking out tips for a while now. Can you believe there are 439 of them?! Keep on scrolling to see what you may have missed below.
2025-04-18
You will never get everything done
And that's ok
2025-04-17
Something to know before reordering columns in a migration
Especially if not on MySQL 8
2025-04-16
A newer method to clean up resourceful routes
Every little bit helps
2025-04-15
Make it easy for others to help you
And increase your odds of success
2025-04-14
Some thoughts on test helpers for manipulating time
It is hard to resist a slick API
2025-04-11
What happened to pre-hashed passwords in the user factory?
And why I change it back
2025-04-10
How to deal with the pain of slow CI pipelines
Don't get numb to it
2025-04-09
Why is this job value empty?
A short lesson in debugging
2025-04-08
How does Laravel validation handle multibyte characters with the max rule?
And what exactly is a multibyte character?
2025-04-07
Stick with conventions and avoid overengineering your Laravel app
Keep your life easy and don't get fancy
2025-04-04
Don't be afraid to alter vendor code while debugging
Just clean up after yourself
2025-04-03
Watch out for mixed type comparisons in Laravel view data
And how to avoid the problem
2025-04-02
Why does Laravel set Bcrypt rounds to 4 in testing?
Why not 1?
2025-04-01
Why I would not use a factory in application code
Stick to their intended purpose
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March, 2025
2025-03-31
We review our code, so why not our goals?
Planning and review have a huge return on investment
2025-03-28
Why PhpStorm Local History is useful even if you use Git
It has saved me more than once
2025-03-27
Quick PHP REPL
Laravel Tinker isn't the only game in town. It builds on some of these tools, actually.
2025-03-26
Naming things is suddenly easier
The hardest part is naming things, right? Well... it doesn't have to be
2025-03-25
Using Eloquent's when method cleans up code
Using this method for conditional queries removes the need for extra lines of code
2025-03-24
When to bring in outside help
And how to get the most out of it
2025-03-21
When would I use a mock versus a spy?
Both have cool names
2025-03-20
Be careful when asserting view data is null
This behavior will surprise you
2025-03-19
Keep track of your project's external dependencies
You'll thank yourself later
2025-03-18
gitignore entries don't have to be permanent
Let the tool help you
2025-03-17
Better mocking when testing conditional logic
Explicit assertions are easier to read
2025-03-14
Using RefreshDatabase with multiple connections
A simple, but undocumented, feature in Laravel
2025-03-13
Editing mixed file types in PHPStorm
Get back all the features you're used to
2025-03-12
Another benefit of my approach to testing Cashier
Prepare for future upgrades or changes
2025-03-11
How do you test Cashier?
Without making network requests
2025-03-10
Why two databases are better than one
We just love talking about testing
2025-03-07
Why is Vapor saying my environment is unhealthy?
Especially important to know when doing Laravel version upgrades
2025-03-06
Two issues to watch for with Composer dependencies
Save your future self some headaches
2025-03-05
What config files should you keep in Laravel 11?
As usual, I like the defaults
2025-03-04
How to revert a commit for just one folder
Not a one-liner, but still easy
2025-03-03
Clean up unused policy methods
Don't make a future developer guess
February, 2025
2025-02-28
Don't forget about validating maximum length
It's quick and saves database overflow errors
2025-02-27
How does the phpunit.xsd file help us in our editor?
No you're not having deja vu
2025-02-26
Why you should use placeholders in logs
A security concern you may not have considered
2025-02-25
How I decide when to chain assertions
I don't do it often
2025-02-24
Dealing with being a beginner again
It can be frustrating
2025-02-21
Quickly attach a Docker terminal in PhpStorm
I love keeping my hands on the keyboard
2025-02-20
Switching from Pest to PHPUnit
Just a few quick steps
2025-02-19
How closely do I read a code review?
And what am I able to just scan?
2025-02-18
Safer testing of records that should not exist
Avoid a flaky test
2025-02-17
Replicating a table with a single query
MySQL makes it easy
2025-02-14
Eliminate redundant values in your PHPUnit config file
It's just adding noise
2025-02-13
What is phpunit.xsd for?
How does it help me?
2025-02-12
A better way to manage firewall rules in AWS
Logic applies to other VM providers too
2025-02-11
Why we use obviously fake values in the test config
A small improvement with a potentially huge benefit
2025-02-10
Making short video demos count
And when text is still best
2025-02-07
How to fix "This password does not use the Bcrypt algorithm"
And why does this happen?
2025-02-06
How to try out a new workflow in GitHub Actions
And without cluttering your main branch
2025-02-05
Always use a branch
No really, always
2025-02-04
Not all test assertions treat enums the same
Make sure you know how they work
2025-02-03
An unhelpful error message with enums and assertJson
You might be scratching your head
January, 2025
2025-01-31
Stripping down a new command
And why I do it
2025-01-30
More effective use of documentation
Don't get tunnel vision
2025-01-29
Thinking about a problem from a different angle
And why it can be so helpful
2025-01-28
Thinking about uniqueness in factories
How much uniqueness do you need?
2025-01-27
Examining test layering in multi-tenant requests
A fun little debate
2025-01-24
Mocking policy logic in a test
Feels like a native Laravel test helper
2025-01-23
When would you use recycle?
Isn't `for()` enough?
2025-01-22
An even better way to handle conditional notifications
And it's been there since Laravel 8!
2025-01-21
Changing the default browser in PHPStorm
A little less Chrome in my life
2025-01-20
Reusing language keys within a file
How does Laravel resolve them?
2025-01-17
Don't just write the API spec, validate it too
It really doesn't take much effort
2025-01-16
Stick with dashes in HTTP headers
And avoid underscores
2025-01-15
How you return early matters inside listeners
Make sure you understand the impact
2025-01-14
Ordering by a relationship in Eloquent
But should you do it?
2025-01-13
When to step out of Eloquent's comfort zone
And how to do it effectively
2025-01-10
Letting the code sit a while before refactoring
An experiment with some ugly code
2025-01-09
Treat feature access as data, not code
Future changes will be easier
2025-01-08
Using events and listeners to handle conditional notifications
And how good names make your code easier to understand
2025-01-07
How would you handle an event with dynamic listeners?
And without making the app more complex
2025-01-06
How do I know if this package is good?
The first three questions I ask
2025-01-03
Does listener order matter?
And would I rely on it?
2025-01-02
Don't forget about DB queries when auditing model changes
You want a complete record
2025-01-01
Take a moment to reflect periodically
I like to do it once a quarter
December, 2024
2024-12-31
Don't let one-time commands stick around forever
Tidy up after yourself
2024-12-30
Feature flags: Temporary tool or permanent solution?
What are they being used for?
2024-12-27
What is the monetary value of testing?
Is it worth learning?
2024-12-26
Better types on route parameters
More docblocks banished
2024-12-25
Why didn't tests save me?
Should I do this differently?
2024-12-24
Be careful about duplicating events
This bit me on a recent Laravel 11 upgrade
2024-12-23
When to use first versus firstWhere in collections
It depends on the shape of your data
2024-12-20
The importance of resisting complexity
For as long as possible
2024-12-19
Seeing the route list in definition order
So much to say about routes
2024-12-18
How do fallback routes work
Take a peek under the hood
2024-12-17
Another way to get config values
With added type safety
2024-12-16
Deciding when to use a new piece of technology
So new and shiny
2024-12-13
Step debugging in GitHub Actions
When echoing everything doesn't help
2024-12-12
Understand multi-line commands in GitHub Actions
Evaluation may not always be what you expect
2024-12-11
Why is this GitHub Action running on the wrong branch?
Read the docs very closely
2024-12-10
Eliminate redundant defaults in your PHPUnit configuration
Focus on what matters
2024-12-09
Why we like stopOnFailure in our test suite
Changing the defaults for a better developer experience
2024-12-06
Which collation and character set should I pick?
The answer has changed over time
2024-12-05
Tests can show code that will break in the future
Make future upgrades easier
2024-12-04
Debugging a segmentation fault
What does it even mean?
2024-12-03
Some quirks about using Docker in Gitlab pipelines
Especially if you're used to GitHub Actions
2024-12-02
Taking liberties with value objects
Don't get mad
November, 2024
2024-11-29
Feature flags are meant to be temporary
So make them easy to remove
2024-11-28
Sometimes it's okay to do it the hard way
Not always even that hard
2024-11-27
Where should that business logic go?
It's worth a discussion
2024-11-26
When would you use an enum?
A very useful addition to PHP
2024-11-25
Limit the number of feature flag checks
You'll thank yourself later
2024-11-22
When would I use a feature flag?
Keep it simple to start
2024-11-21
How do strict types work if only enabled in some files?
One simple rule to remember
2024-11-20
Have one GitHub Action trigger another
It doesn't work by default
2024-11-19
How are duplicate routes resolved?
Order is important
2024-11-18
How to deal with things outside your control
Estimates are hard enough already
2024-11-15
More flexible assertions for mock calls
But still providing test confidence
2024-11-14
Make PHPStorm aware of your custom Blade directives
Don't put up with those red squiggly lines
2024-11-13
How can you make sure the environment is configured correctly?
Avoid silent failures
2024-11-12
Another reason to like named routes
It keeps getting better
2024-11-08
Get rid of the squiggles
Don't become numb to IDE noise
2024-11-07
What about the action helper?
Better than named routes?
2024-11-06
Always use named routes
Future developers will thank you
2024-11-05
Don't forget this when writing mock assertions
Or it might pass when it shouldn't
2024-11-04
Should we use a JSON field for this?
Database design is important
2024-11-01
Connecting to a git repo through a SOCKS proxy
Sometimes it has to be done.
October, 2024
2024-10-31
Connecting to a git repo through an SSH tunnel
SSH config is your friend
2024-10-30
Where should you put extra config values?
Make future Laravel upgrades easier
2024-10-29
Export all routes to a spreadsheet
Businesses love spreadsheets
2024-10-28
Make it easier to debug GitHub Actions
Get better failure output
2024-10-25
Not all databases run migrations the same
Definitely good to understand
2024-10-24
A good use for `mergeIfMissing`
Simplify forms with optional sections
2024-10-23
Part 2: What is the best framework for a super small task?
Lumen? Slim? Symfony?
2024-10-22
What is the best framework for a super small task?
Part 1: How about Laravel?
2024-10-21
A balanced approach to static analysis in Laravel apps
Don't just take orders from a tool
2024-10-18
Refactoring toward a longer-term goal
When one big change is too much
2024-10-17
Minimizing risk with production data migrations
Measure twice, cut once
2024-10-16
Just do it the right way
It will probably take less time too
2024-10-15
Why I don't use `dropIfExists` in down methods
Assuming you even have a down method
2024-10-14
A use case for the `value-of` PHPDoc type
Catch more errors with specific types
2024-10-11
What is an integration test?
A little off the beaten path
2024-10-10
What is a unit test?
And when would I use one?
2024-10-09
What is a feature test?
And how should I organize my tests?
2024-10-08
Additional thoughts about the `observedBy` attribute
Another reason you might choose to use it
2024-10-07
Why do we like testing so much?
We talk about it a lot, I know
2024-10-04
Why we keep the testing database separate
A huge improvement
2024-10-03
Easily generate a bigger collection
Useful for quick experimentation
2024-10-02
A very useful tool for managing Node versions
Been using it for over a year now
2024-10-01
Should you run `optimize` with Vapor?
I didn't see this in the docs
September, 2024
2024-09-30
A small gotcha with the `observedBy` attribute
And how to avoid it
2024-09-27
How would you override a URL in a command?
And why would you even want to?
2024-09-26
An important fix for composite primary keys
Another reason to keep Laravel up to date
2024-09-25
Appreciating code by using it
See it in a whole new light
2024-09-24
Making better use of docblocks
An improvement on a previous tip
2024-09-23
What does it mean to 'know' something?
Words are hard
2024-09-20
Avoid surprises with factory relationships
Do you need all those records?
2024-09-19
Default factories should do as little as possible
Another time laziness pays off
2024-09-18
Don't overthink your application architecture
The defaults get you very far
2024-09-17
The right way to upgrade Laravel
More than running composer update
2024-09-16
Better types in API resources
And very simple to do
2024-09-13
Route method order matters in certain cases
Another one I learned the hard way
2024-09-12
API resources behave differently if you have a data property
This had me confused for a bit
2024-09-11
An actual bug related to CPU architecture
I knew I wasn't paranoid
2024-09-10
Tell a story with your git commits
It doesn't have to be a long story
2024-09-09
How to approach being wrong
Make the most of the situation
2024-09-06
Is Apple Silicon going to shoot me in the foot?
I might be a bit paranoid
2024-09-05
Better assertions for things that happen more than once
Laravel has you covered
2024-09-04
Look for opportunities to group routes
It's not just about fewer lines of code
2024-09-03
Make the most of your project README
Help out a future dev
2024-09-02
A slightly vague validation error
It tripped me up for a little bit
August, 2024
2024-08-30
Why do you need reflection with attributes?
And isn't reflection "bad"?
2024-08-29
A little bit more on PHP attributes
How do they work?
2024-08-28
Thinking out loud about field lengths
I don't have all the answers
2024-08-27
Strengthen your tests by being negative
Not that kind of negative
2024-08-26
Where do you go when you need help?
No one knows it all
2024-08-23
Start with the simple test
You don't have to test everything at once
2024-08-22
Static analysis versus Laravel conventions
Sometimes they don't play well together
2024-08-21
A technique for testing legacy code
Which is seldom well-behaved
2024-08-20
How should you document API permissions?
It depends on the audience
2024-08-19
Why we assert specific validation error messages
Are you testing what you think you are?
2024-08-16
When is a stream download not a stream?
A slight correction to a previous tip
2024-08-15
What do these three dots mean?
Keeping up with newer PHP syntax
2024-08-14
When does route model binding happen?
Understanding this helps with troubleshooting
2024-08-13
A simpler approach to testing policies
And the tests are a little faster too
2024-08-12
What does it mean if someone says your app is slow?
Can you be more specific?
2024-08-09
What makes a test valuable
It's not a metric like coverage
2024-08-08
How we name validation tests
I don't see others doing this
2024-08-07
Get more specific when asserting events dispatched
More confidence and better errors
2024-08-06
Sync queue works differently than async
Another time I learned the hard way
2024-08-05
Some unexpected behavior with times in Carbon
As always, it pays to be explicit
2024-08-02
One time echo versus print made an actual difference
Unlike tabs versus spaces
2024-08-01
Why we have a separate test suite for external services
Speed is good, but not the whole answer
July, 2024
2024-07-31
Should all request data in tests be strings?
Tests should act like the real world
2024-07-30
What do I put in my base test class setup method?
They aren't completely empty
2024-07-29
How to customize the message for enum validation
It wasn't completely obvious to me
2024-07-26
How I like to set up application seeders
This approach has worked well for me
2024-07-25
How to customize the database notification model
Not documented, but very simple
2024-07-24
Sharing a model between landlord and tenant
A little tricky in a multi-database environment
2024-07-23
Use global test setup methods sparingly
Seems like a good idea at first, but...
2024-07-22
Simplifying webhook client responses
Especially useful with high volume projects
2024-07-19
Write command tests in a consistent way
Have one way of doing things
2024-07-18
API specs are not just for giant teams
Or external users
2024-07-17
What does Laravel clean up after each test?
Save yourself some work
2024-07-16
When would you use validation attributes?
Very useful in specific circumstances
2024-07-15
How to enforce all API requests are JSON
Cut down on confusion and support requests
2024-07-12
The importance of running CI checks locally
Don't wait for some remote pipeline to catch your mistakes
2024-07-11
How to enforce max payload size in validation
Not as simple as using a built-in rule
2024-07-10
What is the difference between Eloquent array and JSON casts?
When would you use one over the other?
2024-07-09
Why does auto-complete not work for GitHub mentions?
Super annoying when it happens
2024-07-08
Why I don't like generating API specs
Even though it would be a lot quicker
2024-07-05
How to test an observer is wired up
If it isn't, then no other logic tests matter
2024-07-04
Slowly introducing static analysis without changing everything
It doesn't have to be all or nothing
2024-07-03
How to get started writing an API spec
Slow and steady without getting overwhelmed
2024-07-02
The benefits of writing an API spec
Not just for external users
2024-07-01
Generating slugs in factories
Cleaner than it sounds...
June, 2024
2024-06-28
Automatically generate label from enum name
What happens when you need more than name and value?
2024-06-27
sprintf is the single most valuable tool that you probably aren't using
It is a string-formatting beast!
2024-06-26
Why I rarely use Laravel mailables anymore
My use of outgoing emails is still strong as ever, though.
2024-06-25
Making third-party validation look like your own
A good user experience also may be easier to code
2024-06-24
If you're in a loop you may implode
It's actually better than it sounds
2024-06-21
How to ignore a filter for one policy method
A couple approaches
2024-06-20
Troubleshooting an empty session
The importance of knowing your tools
2024-06-19
Refactoring logic into a policy method
So much nicer
2024-06-18
Making sure tests don't reach the outside world
Keep things fast and stable
2024-06-17
Why we use phpunit.xml
Instead of different env files
2024-06-14
How do you set a specific starting auto-increment value?
Can we do it without raw SQL?
2024-06-13
Why use a form request with no rules?
What else is it good for?
2024-06-12
Our rule for ordering controller action parameters
With an explanation as to why
2024-06-11
What is the difference between localhost and 127.0.0.1?
And when does it matter?
2024-06-10
Should you publish package migrations?
And why does it matter?
2024-06-07
Using a trait to communicate intent
Don't make future devs guess
2024-06-06
Magic methods are okay in the right context
We're reasonable about it
2024-06-05
Does this page really need CSRF protection?
Most of the time, the answer is yes
2024-06-04
Better command line diffs for git
Easier to read and understand
2024-06-03
How we test external APIs
Without slowing down our normal test suite
May, 2024
2024-05-31
How do you test code you don't understand?
And without tests, how could you ever change it?
2024-05-30
Why we don't queue password reset emails
Faster responses aren't always better
2024-05-29
A nuanced opinion on validating URL request parameters
What error code should you use?
2024-05-28
Add a feature to a package without forking or hacking
Laravel is so flexible
2024-05-27
Don't use the config helper in a config file
Unless you like empty config values
2024-05-24
A change in PHP 8 that affects Laravel tests and transactions
The error was there all along...
2024-05-23
Should you let your admin do that?
Maybe admins shouldn't have access to everything
2024-05-22
What do you need to clean up after your tests?
Maybe less than you think
2024-05-21
Disabling Composer timeout with nested scripts
Useful for long-running CI pipelines
2024-05-20
How do you discover interesting new packages?
Here's a great resource
2024-05-17
Read the docs for that package
It doesn't even take that long
2024-05-16
Order of operations with null coalesce
This can be sneaky
2024-05-15
How to detach a fork from your GitHub repo
This should be more obvious
2024-05-14
Avoid logic inside your test
Hard-coding things is okay
2024-05-13
How to set an env variable within a Composer script
And why you might want to do it
2024-05-10
An easy way to merge long-running branches in GitHub
One button click away
2024-05-09
Don't get overwhelmed by errors in your application
Or put your head in the sand
2024-05-08
Should a factory always define a required field?
Sometimes a little extra manual work makes for a better test
2024-05-07
Dealing with name collision in different namespaces
Optimize for simplicity
2024-05-06
Using Cloudflare to set up simple email forwarding
And it doesn't cost anything
2024-05-03
Why I always type-hint route parameters
A fun little riddle
2024-05-02
Another helpful use for local history
Related to testing
2024-05-01
Conferences are more than just talks
They've had a huge impact on my career
April, 2024
2024-04-30
Avoid some common Composer dependency issues
Save yourself from a future surprise
2024-04-29
How to detect and safely remove dead code
Don't just ignore it
2024-04-26
You will never get everything done
And that's ok
2024-04-25
Does it matter how your code looks?
It's not just about aesthetics
2024-04-24
Is now the right time to clean up this data?
Keep a realistic outlook
2024-04-23
Using the stricter assertSame check with collections
Without making the test more complex
2024-04-22
Should this be a collection or an array?
Use the right tool for the job
2024-04-19
A strategy for testing permissions logic
And avoiding false positives
2024-04-18
Easier test coverage for complex API resources
And the tests are fast too
2024-04-17
Rate limiting down to the second
Important for high-traffic applications
2024-04-16
Adding rules to an extended form request
It's all just arrays
2024-04-15
What is the difference between the asset helpers?
And which one should you use?
2024-04-12
What is the longest valid email address?
And how does this impact validation rules?
2024-04-11
The life cycle of database hosting
Start simple and grow as needed
2024-04-10
Preventing performance surprises with Laravel migrations
Keep your system healthy
2024-04-09
Is there a performance penalty in MySQL for inserting a column?
The answer is nuanced
2024-04-08
Passing arguments to a partial mock's constructor
You can't use Laravel's mock helper
2024-04-05
Avoid unnecessary work when querying relationships
Keep your database happy
2024-04-04
How would you test code that uses the `old()` helper?
And why you might want to
2024-04-03
A better way to schedule commands
Avoid magic strings
2024-04-02
Partial mocks don't run constructors
At least by default...
2024-04-01
How to troubleshoot S3 filesystem issues
Silent failures are the worst
March, 2024
2024-03-29
Understanding how caching works in GitHub Actions
Keep CI running fast
2024-03-28
Are you really going to need that abstraction?
No really, are you sure?
2024-03-27
Forcing all API requests to accept JSON
Avoid annoying errors
2024-03-26
How to use Pusher with private encrypted channels
Important when dealing with sensitive data
2024-03-25
An easy way to test UUIDs
Laravel has you covered
2024-03-22
Understanding the order of authorization and model binding
And why you shouldn't just flip the order
2024-03-21
A trick for geolocating US postal codes
It's dumb, but it works
2024-03-20
How to step debug a queued job
For those times when dd is not enough
2024-03-19
Cleaning up deprecated warnings during a database migration
Don't ignore it
2024-03-18
Monitoring progress of a big database import
Without this, it feels like it takes forever
2024-03-15
A good rule for when to create a factory state
Make your tests more readable
2024-03-14
Should you change app code for a test?
It depends on why you're changing it
2024-03-13
Loading a SQL backup without altering your configuration
Sometimes data is messy
2024-03-12
Why I always add a primary key to many-to-many tables
Even when Laravel doesn't require it
2024-03-11
Make sure your listeners are wired up
Without this simple test, nothing else matters
2024-03-08
How to set CORS headers for built assets
And do it efficiently
2024-03-07
Something to know if serving scripts for other sites
Especially if you moved to Vite
2024-03-06
Loading relationships inside a queued job
Do it the Laravel way
2024-03-05
A better way to drop a unique index
It involves less guesswork
2024-03-04
Why pagination sometimes has overlapping pages
A deeper look inside the database
2024-03-01
Sharing redirect logic between controller actions
Without resorting to messy hacks
February, 2024
2024-02-29
What is the point of design patterns?
And have you fallen asleep yet?
2024-02-28
Manual testing still has its place
Put yourself in the shoes of your users
2024-02-27
Ignoring files per environment with Docker
And why you might want to do this
2024-02-26
Quickly viewing test file structure
Another reason I like patterns
2024-02-23
Picking a good test value
And avoid flaky tests
2024-02-22
Pay attention to analytics
There can be some interesting insights
2024-02-21
Consistent test organization
I like patterns
2024-02-20
How we use migrations during early product development
When the schema changes quickly
2024-02-19
Simple rules for writing authorization logic
A little bit of structure goes a long way
2024-02-16
One place I avoid constructor property promotion
Just to keep the intent clear
2024-02-15
Move that logic out of your view
How much is too much?
2024-02-14
Alpha validation might not be doing what you think
It certainly surprised me the first time I bumped into it
2024-02-13
Avoid changing your code purely for a test
Even if it's just to make a property public
2024-02-12
Get better auto-complete from your factories
And reduce the need for @var docblocks
2024-02-09
Watch out for this when testing Artisan commands
A weird reason for a failing test
2024-02-08
A clean approach to testing events and listeners
Focus on what each thing should do
2024-02-07
Another reason I like fillable instead of guarded
Every little bit helps
2024-02-06
A safer way to check model strictness in production
Without annoying your users
2024-02-05
Why does Laravel offer a max password length validation rule?
Doesn't hashing make this irrelevant?
2024-02-02
Composer scripts and Valet isolate
Something to be aware of
2024-02-01
Is it worth switching to another tool?
And how do you know when it's the right time?
January, 2024
2024-01-31
Being explicit when something should not queue
A simple way to clearly communicate intent
2024-01-30
Absolute paths and the Vite asset helper
Want to laugh at me? It's ok.
2024-01-29
Don't become numb to pain in your project
You can make it better!
2024-01-26
Why might you want to forget a route parameter?
And how does it work?
2024-01-25
Inspecting files in a Docker container
And easily spotting what changed
2024-01-24
Considerations when cleaning up a big table
Without causing downtime or making production slow
2024-01-23
A measured approach to using Larastan
More isn't always better
2024-01-22
How to test that a model wasn't changed
In a very simple way
2024-01-19
Running HTTP requests right inside your editor
I promise I'm not getting paid by JetBrains
2024-01-18
How we use seeders in our application
And why we rarely use them for testing
2024-01-17
Another nice feature for local pull request review
It's even nicer than GitHub's UI
2024-01-16
Eager loading, but only if you really need to
Since we want to reduce the number of queries
2024-01-15
Route binding with two different models
While still leveraging the framework
2024-01-12
Stop using $request->get()
There is a better way
2024-01-11
Don't reinvent features that Laravel already has
For example, soft deletes
2024-01-10
Vite Hot Module Replacement and setInterval
And a workaround if you really need one
2024-01-09
What is the difference between boot and register in service providers
Where do I put this code?
2024-01-08
Even GitHub comments have version control
And it occasionally helps you win arguments
2024-01-05
Failing tests give you confidence
Not just knowing it fails, but why
2024-01-04
Don't just get mad at some tech, dig in and learn
Once you learn it, then you can complain
2024-01-03
Use factories to make your tests more readable
Only include relevant details in your test setup
2024-01-02
One situation where it is useful to make more than one request in a test
Don't abuse this, but here's one case I think is okay
2024-01-01
Using factories with more than one relationship
Sometimes you can't follow the typical naming convention
December, 2023
2023-12-29
Redirect routes match all HTTP verbs
If you need to be more precise, here's a better way
2023-12-28
Routes resolve differently when cached
But tests can help you catch the issue
2023-12-27
The benefits of caching in CI
And it's not for performance reasons
2023-12-26
Don't cache routes or views locally
Great for production, but trouble for development
2023-12-25
View source always makes a new request
I forget this like once a year
2023-12-22
How clear coding rules can free up your team
Have the debate once, then move on
2023-12-21
Making a case for consistency
And the importance of a good README
2023-12-20
Why the nullable validation rule is useful
Sometimes code is for your team, not just the PHP runtime
2023-12-19
Why we don't use SQLite for tests
Faster isn't always better
2023-12-18
When it might be ok to use a mixed type
It serves a useful purpose
2023-12-15
Using writing to think through a problem
This has saved me many times when I felt stuck
2023-12-14
Are you writing script definitions in Composer?
If not, we highly recommend it!
2023-12-13
Why we don't use return types on controller actions
But we do like return types in general!
2023-12-12
How to route based on the requested domain
Very useful if you serve multiple sites out of the same Laravel app
2023-12-11
Keep your testing database separate from development
Understanding how phpunit.xml works opens up many possibilities
2023-12-08
Don't rely on key ordering with MySQL JSON values
This behavior caught me by surprise
2023-12-07
Different approaches to upgrading to a new major Laravel version
And we explain the pros and cons of each
2023-12-06
Be consistent with composer scripts in CI
Keep it simple and save yourself some trouble
2023-12-05
Why we like minimal seeders for tests
Getting this right will make your tests so much easier to maintain
2023-12-04
You don't need to manually run seeders in your tests
Laravel is constantly making things nicer
2023-12-01
A surprising issue with the Auth user and tests
Knowing how this works helps you avoid false failures in your tests
November, 2023
2023-11-30
Lazy loading protection does not catch all N+1 queries
I discovered this one the hard way
2023-11-29
Should you be able to override coding standards locally?
And why am I even asking this question?
2023-11-28
A simple approach to localization using middleware
We used this on a recent project and it worked great.
2023-11-27
How to rate limit by IP behind a Cloudflare proxy
If you don't do this, your app could actually start blocking Cloudflare traffic.
2023-11-24
Don't take it personal if your contribution is rejected
You had a good idea and submitted it, but then the project rejects it. Now what?
2023-11-23
Maybe you don't need to write code this time
And using a no-code tool may even give you more empathy for users of your app
2023-11-22
How to reference a PHP CodeSniffer ruleset in EasyCodingStandard
This simple addition can make it much easier to migrate between tools
2023-11-21
How does LetsEncrypt work behind Cloudflare?
If we use a proxy like Cloudflare, will it impact our ability to issue LetsEncrypt certificates?
2023-11-20
Considerations when eager loading resource collections
Check out a subtle bug that avoided notice for a while, and how tests eventually helped us.
2023-11-17
The right way to fix double encoding in Blade components
There is a lot of bad advice out there on this topic. Here's a better approach.
2023-11-16
Version untracked files with PhpStorm
Another very handy use for PhpStorm's Local History feature
2023-11-15
Enforcing Horizon auth in local
Is this overkill? Or does it give you more confidence in your application?
2023-11-14
Cloudflare, Laravel, and TLS
Double check this setting to save yourself some trouble
2023-11-13
A good rule around "down" migrations
Some would say don't bother to write "down" migrations. I argue that if you do, you should follow this rule.
2023-11-10
Use the right tool for the job
You can still have your favorite, but it's good to see what else is out there
2023-11-09
Should you manage roles and permissions with a UI?
It's tempting to let non-developers manage this data, but is it a good idea?
2023-11-08
Understanding how Laravel sessions work
If we don't know how something works, it's more confusing when things behave differently than expected.
2023-11-07
Using workarounds without creating a mess
Sometimes a workaround is unavoidable, but how can you avoid them from piling up technical debt?
2023-11-06
Dealing with messy JSON
Sometimes API do unspeakable things and we have to work around it in our app
2023-11-03
The value of a quick code demo
Sometimes it's more effective to show than tell
2023-11-02
Don't get defensive during code review
Sometimes even a small observation can lead to a big improvement
2023-11-01
How to assert a Laravel job is delayed
I've seen a lot of convoluted approaches to this, here's a drop-dead simple way to do it.
October, 2023
2023-10-31
Ever need a different git setting per repo?
Maybe you have one git account for work, and one for open source. How do you make sure the right author is used in each repo?
2023-10-30
Keep your code consistent
Ever find 5 different ways of doing something in a single codebase? Here's an approach to minimize that.
2023-10-27
How to get rid of HEIC files in your app
And it makes your app easier to use for non-iPhone users too
2023-10-26
The changing value of books throughout your career
Perhaps that book you thought was useless 5 years ago is exactly what you need today.
2023-10-25
Actually read the whole error message
This seems really simple and obvious, but I've been burned in the past not doing this myself.
2023-10-24
How much detail should you include in error messages?
Error messages are part of user experience.
2023-10-23
Is it time to abstract this?
You spot two things in your app that are mostly the same. Is that an automatic refactor?
2023-10-20
How do you test middleware?
Middleware can be a tricky thing to test. Here's what I did in a recent project.
2023-10-19
Document before automating
As devs, sometimes we rush to coding a solution. But there's an important step that should come first.
2023-10-18
A simple way to avoid multiple lookups within a request
Traditional caching comes with its own set of complexities. Here's a simple way to use basic PHP instead.
2023-10-17
Joins in Eloquent? How?
Sometimes you need a join for performance or sorting by relations. Here's a way to do that without giving up Eloquent.
2023-10-16
Ship something every day
There's value in shipping something, anything, at least once a day, even on a bigger feature.
2023-10-13
Is sleep in a test always bad?
You might think adding sleep to a test is a dirty hack, but it's not always a bad thing.
2023-10-12
Some reasons to write a down method in your migrations
And it's probably not the reason you think.
2023-10-11
Use custom Mockery matchers for better Laravel assertions
Clean up your tests, especially when passing models as arguments
2023-10-10
What does INT(11) mean in MySQL?
Here's a hint: it has nothing to do with length
2023-10-09
How do you insert a new column at the beginning of a MySQL table?
And more importantly, why would you want to?
2023-10-06
Be careful ordering columns in a migration
Laravel migrations let us insert a column in a specific position in a table, but it's not always a good idea.
2023-10-05
Applying a class to a Markdown link
Ever wish you could add a CSS class to a Markdown link? Here's how I did it.
2023-10-04
Don't forget to pin PECL extensions
We pin Composer packages and PHP versions, but what about PECL extensions?
2023-10-03
How to make the AWS SDK much smaller
Only need a small portion of the AWS SDK, and wish you could make it a lot smaller?
2023-10-02
Do you really need to install that SDK?
If you're integrating with a third-party API, you may not need to bring in a giant SDK.
September, 2023
2023-09-29
Cache Larastan results in Github Actions
Larastan is a great tool, but it can slow down your CI pipeline. Here's how to cache the results to make each run faster.
2023-09-28
Managing a micro-manager
It's frustrating to have a client or co-worker attempt to micro-manage you. We share some tips on how to make the working relationship better.
2023-09-27
Drop unneeded steps in CI
This might seem pretty obvious, but it's easy to forget to remove steps from your CI pipeline when they are no longer needed.
2023-09-26
Keep your Laravel CI pipeline running fast
CI pipelines tend to get slower over time, the more we add to them, and the bigger our project grows. Keeping an eye on this is important.
2023-09-25
Knowing when to keep it simple
We take pride in building things "the right way", but there is a balance to strike with simplicity.
2023-09-22
Should we write tests for this one-time command?
I'm a huge proponent of writing tests, but is there ever a valid time to skip them?
2023-09-21
A good use case for the Eloquent sole() method
The sole() method has been around for a while, but I don't use it very much. Here's one place I found it useful.
2023-09-20
The benefit of one-time commands
Is there any reason to build a Laravel command you only plan to use one time? Let's consider a few benefits.
2023-09-19
Do we really need to build this feature?
Before diving into the code and cranking out a feature, sometimes it's useful to consider if we really need to build it at all.
2023-09-18
Easily find specific code usages in PhpStorm without regex
Regexes in search logic are powerful, but this tip will supercharge your code searching without needing to get too fancy.
2023-09-15
Understanding how Laravel view assertions work internally
No one likes a passing test when the actual logic is wrong. Here's how to make sure your view assertions are actually testing what you think they are.
2023-09-14
Local history in PHPStorm
If you already have git, why would you use the local history feature in PHPStorm?
2023-09-13
Be careful when using assertViewHas with null
Laravel's assertViewHas method doesn't work for null values. Here's how to test for them.
2023-09-12
When to pull in top-level dependencies
If Laravel already requires a package, is there ever a reason to install it into your project directly?
2023-09-11
Use GitHub issue templates to save time
Having a template not only makes issue creation easier, but also more consistent.
2023-09-08
What if every Composer package had a fee?
An interesting thought experiment that might influence how many packages you pull into your project.
2023-09-07
How to override PHPStorm file types
PHPStorm allows you to override the file type, giving you different syntax highlighting and auto-complete prompts.
2023-09-06
When might you render a Blade template inline?
This isn't a feature I reach for frequently, but it's good to know it exists. Here is one use case where we found it quite handy.
2023-09-05
How to make a bug fix way more valuable
Fixing bugs is important, but by taking just a little more time you can make your app much more resilient
2023-09-04
Don't explicitly install dependencies if you don't need to
Pay attention to the dependencies Laravel or other packages are already bringing in. You may be pinning them to an older version without realizing it.
2023-09-01
Take time to make things better
Look for opportunities to make things just a little bit nicer than you found them.
August, 2023
2023-08-31
Tools should work for you, not boss you around
Ever have a day where you're "fixing the squiggles" in your editor and feel like the code got worse? Let's talk about how to avoid that.
2023-08-30
Try not to make things worse
You know those parts of a codebase that feel "not great"? Be mindful to not further entrench those bad decisions.
2023-08-29
Are fast queries always good?
I mean, yeah! Right? Well, there's more to the story...
2023-08-28
Clean up dead git branch references automatically
When you merge a branch in GitHub, the reference to it is still in your local repo. How can you clean those up automatically?
2023-08-25
A scenario using events and observers together
Sometimes it's useful to pair events and observers together. Let's look at one real-world example.
2023-08-24
When should you use events and observers?
Laravel events and observers seem to do very similar things. So when would you use one over the other?
2023-08-23
How do you know if something is slow in production?
The tools we used for finding slow code in development are not suitable for production. So how can we find slow code there?
2023-08-22
Something slow? It's probably the database.
The absolute number one cause of slow code is the database. Laravel makes fixing some of the common issues very easy.
2023-08-21
How do you know something is slow?
The first step in making your app faster is knowing what is slow. How do you figure that out?
2023-08-18
What if you need a value that's random AND unique?
Sometimes we need random data that is ALSO unique. How can you generate that in Laravel?
2023-08-17
Harness that post-conference excitement
New features! New packages! New techniques! How can we harness that excitement when we get back to work a conference?
2023-08-16
Learn to love code review
Code review feedback might make us feel defensive, but if you approach it with the right attitude it can become something you value.
2023-08-15
Find out what's slow BEFORE you deploy to prod
The earlier you find an issue, the better! How can we improve our chances of finding slow code before it reaches production?
2023-08-14
Sometimes Eloquent can make a query slower
Eloquent improves developer efficiency, but in some cases it can make a query less efficient. Let's look at one example and how to fix it.
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