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We're excited to share a daily email with you that you can read in less than 2 minutes.
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 804 of them?! Keep on scrolling to see what you may have missed below.
2026-09-11
Why I always add a primary key to many-to-many tables
Even when Laravel doesn't require it
2026-09-10
A quick fix for slow Docker container restarts
Compose may be waiting on a signal your dev server never handles
2026-09-09
How to set CORS headers for built assets
And do it efficiently
2026-09-08
Stop rebuilding your Docker image after every front-end change
A Compose feature for projects that skip the bind mount
2026-09-07
Write better requirements or pay for it later
Even imperfect requirements beat none at all
2026-09-04
Something to know if serving scripts for other sites
Especially if you moved to Vite
2026-09-03
Loading relationships inside a queued job
Do it the Laravel way
2026-09-02
Sharing redirect logic between controller actions
Without resorting to messy hacks
2026-09-01
You don't always need to put Pennant in the database
The array driver keeps simple toggles lightweight
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August, 2026
2026-08-31
When new syntax is not actually equivalent functionality
New syntax, same behavior. Usually.
2026-08-28
A better way to drop a unique index
It involves less guesswork
2026-08-27
When a validation failure causes a redirect loop
Bookmarks and new tabs break the usual redirect back
2026-08-26
Manual testing still has its place
Put yourself in the shoes of your users
2026-08-25
Pluralization works in JSON language files
Even though the keys feel like identifiers
2026-08-24
Which layer of caching does your slow app actually need?
There's more to caching than the Cache facade
2026-08-21
Why pagination sometimes has overlapping pages
A deeper look inside the database
2026-08-20
Factory states can accept arguments
Less boilerplate when building related test data
2026-08-19
Pay attention to analytics
There can be some interesting insights
2026-08-18
When Composer can't find a class that exists
Reach for classmap, not files
2026-08-17
The downside of just forcing HTTPS when behind a reverse proxy
You mess up other important behavior
2026-08-14
Make sure your listeners are wired up
Without this simple test, nothing else matters
2026-08-13
When Mockery says your Eloquent model doesn't match
Let Eloquent's is() method do the comparison
2026-08-12
Picking a good test value
And avoid flaky tests
2026-08-11
Is your validation test passing for the wrong reason?
Assert the specific rule, not just the field
2026-08-10
Where do credentials end and configuration begin in your env file?
Not every env variable belongs in phpunit.xml
2026-08-07
Consistent test organization
I like patterns
2026-08-06
Adopting Laravel's hardened cache default in a large app
With a safety net in case you miss something
2026-08-05
One place I avoid constructor property promotion
Just to keep the intent clear
2026-08-04
The sneaky failure mode in Laravel 13's hardened cache
A cache hit can now hand you a broken object instead of your data
2026-08-03
Why unserialize is on every PHP security checklist
Rebuilding an object from a string can run code you never intended
July, 2026
2026-07-31
How we use migrations during early product development
When the schema changes quickly
2026-07-30
Does this field look readonly to you?
A UI toolkit's defaults are still your design decisions
2026-07-29
Avoid changing your code purely for a test
Even if it's just to make a property public
2026-07-28
How to test a macro on a class you don't own
A partial mock keeps Macroable working
2026-07-27
Running AI agents on your production server is the new FTP
Fast and efficient, but with zero responsibility
2026-07-24
Ignoring files per environment with Docker
And why you might want to do this
2026-07-23
How to keep your tests off the real filesystem
When Storage::fake() isn't an option, vfsStream fills the gap
2026-07-22
Composer scripts and Valet isolate
Something to be aware of
2026-07-21
The Livewire security feature I keep forgetting to use
Public properties in Livewire can be user input, but some of them need to be locked down
2026-07-20
Breaking my own rule and reaching for a single-use method
In a service provider, those one-off methods are independent wiring, not one long flow
2026-07-17
Quickly viewing test file structure
Another reason I like patterns
2026-07-16
A three-line method you can't actually read
When extracting methods hides the code instead of clarifying it
2026-07-15
Absolute paths and the Vite asset helper
Want to laugh at me? It's ok.
2026-07-14
Laravel has a tool for that grammar rule
No more rolling your own number formatting
2026-07-13
Why having a human partner still beats relying on AI alone
Some problems still need a real person
2026-07-10
Watch out for this when testing Artisan commands
A weird reason for a failing test
2026-07-09
Debugging a Mystery 502 on Laravel Forge
No exception, no log entry, and it only happened in production
2026-07-08
Don't become numb to pain in your project
You can make it better!
2026-07-07
Why the order of your deployment steps matters
The deploy bug you can never reproduce locally
2026-07-06
Why I assign myself to my own pull requests
The assignee field answers a different question than the reviewer field
2026-07-03
A safer way to check model strictness in production
Without annoying your users
2026-07-02
Why I sometimes sign my code comments
A small signal that a comment is my guess, not team gospel
2026-07-01
Simple rules for writing authorization logic
A little bit of structure goes a long way
June, 2026
2026-06-30
Where else can an enum prevent drift?
A recent experiment with my coding agent's instructions
2026-06-29
What is really inside the AI tools you blindly install
An unread skill file can shape your agent in ways you never agreed to
2026-06-26
A clean approach to testing events and listeners
Focus on what each thing should do
2026-06-25
Not every command failure deserves the same exit code
Why I traded FAILURE for INVALID in my Artisan command
2026-06-24
Inspecting files in a Docker container
And easily spotting what changed
2026-06-23
Let your command fail loudly instead of throwing
A small change that made my validation easy to test
2026-06-22
A test that needs a try/catch is a warning sign
My coding agent suggested code that worked but still felt wrong
2026-06-19
Alpha validation might not be doing what you think
It certainly surprised me the first time I bumped into it
2026-06-18
The security default we change in GitHub's checkout action
A convenient default can quietly hand out more access than you expect
2026-06-17
Considerations when cleaning up a big table
Without causing downtime or making production slow
2026-06-16
Validate your Artisan commands like a stranger will run them
These days, that stranger might be a coding agent
2026-06-15
How much logic is too much logic in a PHP enum?
Enums can hold methods, but they shouldn't do everything
2026-06-12
Get better auto-complete from your factories
What is that factory docblock actually doing?
2026-06-11
Docker up, start, stop, and down are not interchangeable
Two of them flip a switch, two of them create and destroy
2026-06-10
Removing a file your coding agent shouldn't have committed
Pull it out of history without losing the file
2026-06-09
A measured approach to using Larastan
More isn't always better
2026-06-08
When a dev quirk is a production bug in disguise
A development annoyance can be an early warning
2026-06-05
Isn't that just a magic string?
An exception worth making
2026-06-04
Why reach for the DB facade in a migration?
Bind to the table, not the model
2026-06-03
How clear coding rules can free up your team
Have the debate once, then move on
2026-06-02
Give your Composer script a second name
When the name you type and the name you say don't match
2026-06-01
Your codebase is not a museum for old code
Commented-out code and dead lines are quietly slowing your team down
May, 2026
2026-05-29
Why does Laravel offer a max password length rule?
Doesn't hashing make this irrelevant?
2026-05-28
Add noise records to your tests, and put them on both sides
A single happy-path row can hide a broken query
2026-05-27
Using writing to think through a problem
This has saved me many times when I felt stuck
2026-05-26
Don't forget the third argument to when
It has an else branch you've probably never used
2026-05-25
Restoring an explicit empty fillable after a Laravel upgrade
An empty array can still communicate intent
2026-05-22
Drop a route parameter your controller doesn't need
Let the middleware finish the job
2026-05-21
A cross-database method for null-safe equality
Laravel quietly added it earlier this year
2026-05-20
Being explicit when something should not queue
A simple way to clearly communicate intent
2026-05-19
A line break wrinkle in the Claude paste workflow
And a built-in slash command for the whole-message case
2026-05-18
Do you actually own the code you ship?
It's easier than ever to commit code you couldn't explain
2026-05-15
Cleaning up setInterval with Vue's onMounted and onUnmounted
Tying the timer's lifecycle to the component
2026-05-14
PHPUnit can mark a test as deliberately quiet
And there's one catch worth knowing
2026-05-13
Don't reinvent features that Laravel already has
For example, soft deletes
2026-05-12
Asserting that nothing went wrong
PHPUnit doesn't have this built in, so we wrote it ourselves
2026-05-11
Watch a GitHub Actions run from your terminal
A live checklist beats refreshing a browser tab
2026-05-08
A Vite HMR gotcha when using setInterval
Mostly hits Vue and React projects
2026-05-07
A cleaner fix for the duplicate ULID problem
Let Eloquent handle the unique id
2026-05-06
Why we like minimal seeders for tests
Getting this right will make your tests so much easier to maintain
2026-05-05
A duplicate ULID that wasn't a collision
Replicate copies more than you might expect
2026-05-04
Do you actually need a multi-tenancy package?
Before reaching for a package, figure out what tenant separation you actually need
2026-05-01
Running HTTP requests right inside your editor
I promise I'm not getting paid by JetBrains
April, 2026
2026-04-30
A subtle gotcha with NULL comparisons
NULL plays by its own rules in SQL comparisons
2026-04-29
How does LetsEncrypt work behind Cloudflare?
If we use a proxy like Cloudflare, will it impact our ability to issue LetsEncrypt certificates?
2026-04-28
Cleaner pastes from Claude with Raycast
Letting a small script handle the cleanup for me
2026-04-27
Two extra spaces when copying from Claude
A small annoyance with a simple fix
2026-04-24
How to test that a model wasn't changed
One option I like to use
2026-04-23
Don't take patterns too far
Consistency isn't an absolute good
2026-04-22
Cloudflare, Laravel, and TLS
Double check this setting to save yourself some trouble
2026-04-21
Verify the order of HTTP requests in your tests
And catch duplicate requests at the same time
2026-04-20
Local and production should match even for Laravel tools
Developer convenience shouldn't cost you security confidence
2026-04-17
When it might be ok to use a mixed type
Intent matters more than enforcement
2026-04-16
Another way to catch duplicate HTTP requests in your tests
A bonus use for Http sequence
2026-04-15
Use the right tool for the job
You can still have your favorite, but it's good to see what else is out there
2026-04-14
Not every value needs to be an argument
A code review lesson about flexibility you don't need
2026-04-13
Guard against accidental duplicate HTTP requests in your tests
One extra assertion for a lot more confidence
2026-04-10
Version untracked files with PhpStorm
And why you might want to do this
2026-04-09
When your enum case order actually matters
A comment that earns its keep
2026-04-08
Using workarounds without creating a mess
Keep them from piling up as technical debt
2026-04-07
Code for the schema you wish you had
Don't let legacy constraints leak into your new code
2026-04-06
When weird code needs to explain itself
Making the non-obvious impossible to miss
2026-04-03
The right way to fix double encoding in Blade components
The internet often gets it wrong
2026-04-02
Why I still review every line Claude writes
AI is great at writing code, but it doesn't always know when to stop
2026-04-01
Joins in Eloquent? How?
There's a package for that
March, 2026
2026-03-31
Your composer audit notes may soon be a legal requirement
The EU agrees that documenting your reasoning matters
2026-03-30
A subtle gotcha when faking UUIDs in tests
It works until it doesn't
2026-03-27
An easy way to test UUIDs
Laravel has you covered
2026-03-26
Don't just silence composer security warnings
A documented reason turns a warning into a decision
2026-03-25
Take time to make things better
Look for opportunities to make things just a little bit nicer than you found them.
2026-03-24
Manual transactions don't fail the way you'd expect
The closure does more than clean up your code
2026-03-23
Are you testing your app or just the framework?
A simple litmus test for your test suite
2026-03-20
Another reason I like fillable instead of guarded
Every little bit helps
2026-03-19
A subtle gotcha with Eloquent's date cast
What you read isn't always what gets stored
2026-03-18
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.
2026-03-17
A better way to memoize within a request
A framework-supported upgrade to a plain PHP trick
2026-03-16
When loadMissing works against you
Sometimes the extra query is worth it
2026-03-13
Another nice feature for local pull request review
It's even nicer than GitHub's UI
2026-03-12
A quick RDS storage tweak for your Laravel app
Save money and get faster queries with one change
2026-03-11
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?
2026-03-10
MySQL defaults were not designed for your Laravel app
A few InnoDB settings that are worth a second look
2026-03-09
Being anti-hype does not mean being anti-AI
Taking time to learn before speaking up
2026-03-06
Eager loading, but only if you really need to
A one-word change to eliminate duplicate queries
2026-03-05
Let an AI agent dig through your git history
Old code is never truly gone when you have git and a smart assistant
2026-03-04
Try not to make things worse
Tidy as you go
2026-03-03
Common objections to deleting dead code
Every one of them has a better alternative
2026-03-02
Dead code is costing you money
That commented-out block is more expensive than you think
February, 2026
2026-02-27
Route binding with two different models
Let the framework do the heavy lifting
2026-02-26
Why are there two PSR4 mappings for the database directory?
It all comes down to a single capital letter
2026-02-25
Are fast queries always good?
I mean, yeah! Right? Well, there's more to the story...
2026-02-24
Make sure you know how orWhere works with multiple values
A real world example
2026-02-23
Three ways to plan an upgrade when your codebase is a patchwork
Which approach gives you the best tradeoff?
2026-02-20
Stop using $request->get()
There is a better way
2026-02-19
Do Eloquent subqueries work across database connections?
As is so often the case, it depends
2026-02-18
Clean up dead git branch references automatically
Git has an option for everything
2026-02-17
Match your local database connections to production
Another cautionary tale
2026-02-16
Eager loading can query the wrong database
A subtle trap when using multiple connections
2026-02-13
What is the difference between boot and register in service providers
Where do I put this code?
2026-02-12
How to tell if you're testing the framework
A quick way to check if your test has real value
2026-02-11
The value of a quick code demo
Sometimes it's more effective to show than tell
2026-02-10
Occasionally recheck your assumptions about Laravel behavior
Something that was broken for a decade now just works
2026-02-09
Stop doing math in your config files
Keep it boring, not clever
2026-02-06
Even GitHub comments have version control
And it occasionally helps you win arguments
2026-02-05
Be careful with ddRawSql
A handy debugging tool with a few caveats
2026-02-04
Don't get defensive during code review
Sometimes even a small observation can lead to a big improvement
2026-02-03
When might you want to skip updating model timestamps?
Not every change is a real modification
2026-02-02
json_encode with non-consecutive array keys
Why your JSON arrays become objects after filtering
January, 2026
2026-01-30
Failing tests give you confidence
Not just knowing it fails, but why
2026-01-29
Think before changing application code for tests
There might be a better option
2026-01-28
Dealing with messy JSON
Sometimes APIs do unspeakable things and we have to work around it in our app
2026-01-27
Rule::exists vs Rule::unique
Maybe you don't need that custom rule
2026-01-26
Use factories to make your tests more readable
Only include relevant details in your test setup
2026-01-23
What could be worse than having no tests?
Evaluating the test suite of a third-party package
2026-01-22
Rule::exists doesn't work with scopes
When database validation rules need more than simple exists checks
2026-01-21
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.
2026-01-20
Handling optional console command arguments
Sometimes the obvious solution isn't available, so you explore
2026-01-19
Want full IDE support when editing stub files?
Here's a quick config for PHPStorm
2026-01-16
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
2026-01-15
Get the benefits of final classes in Rector
You don't have to commit to final - there's a setting for that
2026-01-14
Ever need a different git setting per repo?
Git's hierarchical config makes it easy
2026-01-13
Add a healthcheck to your local MySQL container
Know when your database is actually ready
2026-01-12
Why I changed my mind about down migrations
Sometimes the best practice isn't
2026-01-09
Using factories with more than one relationship
Sometimes you can't follow the typical naming convention
2026-01-08
Automate license compliance checks
Different output formats make automation possible
2026-01-07
Keep your code consistent
Make it a conscious decision, not left to chance
2026-01-06
Know your dependencies' licenses
A quick way to see what you're shipping
2026-01-05
Use a local script before falling back to global commands
A simple zsh function that checks for project-specific wrappers first
2026-01-02
Redirect routes match all HTTP verbs
If you need to be more precise, here's a better way
2026-01-01
View source no longer makes a new request
Sometimes bugs just quietly disappear
December, 2025
2025-12-31
How to get rid of HEIC files in your app
And it makes your app easier to use for non-iPhone users too
2025-12-30
Composer 2.9 adds native security protection
And one less package we need to install
2025-12-29
Why senior developers feel wrong more often
The unexpected side effect of expertise
2025-12-26
The benefits of Laravel caching in CI
And it's not for performance reasons
2025-12-25
Why isn't the percent sign escaped in LIKE queries?
And how it opens up a useful feature
2025-12-24
Is it time to abstract this?
Oh no! It's duplicated code!
2025-12-23
Do you need to escape user input passed to LIKE queries?
Let's find out and not just assume
2025-12-22
Why you don't need to commit composer.lock in a package repo
And the problems it causes if you do
2025-12-19
Don't cache routes or views locally
Great for production, but trouble for development
2025-12-18
A surprising inconsistency with request helpers and default values
And how to avoid it
2025-12-17
Document before automating
Even though it's not as fun as writing code
2025-12-16
Another way to lazy load a config fallback value
Built right into Laravel's env helper
2025-12-15
Should you ever hand-format code?
When saving time is not the goal
2025-12-12
Why the nullable validation rule is useful
Sometimes code is for your team, not just the PHP runtime
2025-12-11
A simple use case for the modulus operator
Clean and readable
2025-12-10
Ship something every day
Get steady momentum going
2025-12-09
Lazy loading a backup configuration value
Useful to avoid unnecessary work
2025-12-08
A clean way to detect HTTPS behind a proxy in development
Without messing with any production code
2025-12-05
Why we don't use SQLite for tests
Faster isn't always better
2025-12-04
Don't forget that string-backed enums are case-sensitive
Even if your database isn't
2025-12-03
What does INT(11) mean in MySQL?
Here's a hint: it has nothing to do with length
2025-12-02
How many rows should you create when testing a data grid?
And how should you shape the data?
2025-12-01
Discussing different ways to model data
Which do you decide and why?
November, 2025
2025-11-28
Are you writing script definitions in Composer?
Easy to do, and very helpful
2025-11-27
When better architecture makes testing slightly harder
Choosing correctness over convenience
2025-11-26
How do you insert a new column at the beginning of a MySQL table?
And more importantly, why would you want to?
2025-11-25
How to ignore files in one project without modifying .gitignore
Simple, but effective
2025-11-24
A deeper dive into how Laravel Auditing works during tests
How I kept my test assertions clean
2025-11-21
Why we don't use return types on controller actions
But we do like return types in general!
2025-11-20
How to enable Laravel Auditing during tests
And why I needed to do it
2025-11-19
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.
2025-11-18
Making PHPStan properly recognize the authenticated user
Without adding docblocks everywhere
2025-11-17
Read outside tech to expand your horizons
There is more than just code
2025-11-14
How to read uncommitted data while debugging a test
A quick video demo
2025-11-13
Lint your Dockerfiles
Catch a bunch of simple errors
2025-11-12
Don't forget to pin PECL extensions
Just as important as Composer packages
2025-11-11
A couple env-related warnings when using Laravel Sail
And how to avoid them
2025-11-10
Understanding GitHub actions branch rules for pull requests and pushes
A very important distinction
2025-11-07
How to route based on the requested domain
Useful if you serve multiple sites out of the same Laravel app
2025-11-06
How can you remove a trait from a base test class in Laravel?
Or is this the wrong question?
2025-11-05
Do you really need to install that SDK?
Or is there a better way?
2025-11-04
A potential issue with full-text searches and Laravel feature tests
And how to solve it
2025-11-03
Rewriting without a map
Shipping an MVP from a legacy app
October, 2025
2025-10-31
Keep your testing database separate from development
Understanding how phpunit.xml works opens up many possibilities
2025-10-30
Can we log data with complex placeholders?
Or only simple scalar types?
2025-10-29
Knowing when to keep it simple
And not just an excuse to cut corners
2025-10-28
How to read uncommitted data in your database tool while debugging a test
Only one line of SQL needed
2025-10-27
Why we like camel case test methods
A surprisingly controversial opinion in the Laravel world
2025-10-24
Don't rely on key ordering with MySQL JSON values
This behavior caught me by surprise
2025-10-23
Setting up Amazon SES email bounce logging
So many different options
2025-10-22
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?
2025-10-21
A valid reason to override coding standards locally
A follow up to a previous tip
2025-10-20
A composable, versioned toolkit for Laravel projects
How can we make it better?
2025-10-17
Be consistent with composer scripts in CI
Reduce friction
2025-10-16
Should I use path-style or virtual hosted-style S3 URLs?
And what is the difference?
2025-10-15
The benefit of one-time commands
Not a waste of effort
2025-10-14
Why I would not run tests in production
Risks outweigh the benefits
2025-10-13
Should I relax my API's Accept header requirements?
Would it solve a problem?
2025-10-10
Easily find specific code usages in PhpStorm without regex
Very handy to know
2025-10-09
Why we like stopOnError in our test suite
Especially nice for CI pipelines
2025-10-08
Do we really need to build this feature?
Maybe not!
2025-10-07
How can you run Laravel Boost's MCP server in a Docker container?
Use this sample config
2025-10-06
Should you use DTOs in Laravel?
What do we do?
2025-10-03
You don't need to manually run seeders in your tests
Let Laravel do the work
2025-10-02
Should you use emoji in shell scripts?
A few things to consider
2025-10-01
Use GitHub issue templates to save time
And be more consistent
September, 2025
2025-09-30
Multiple layers to understand with Redis rate limiting
Understanding each is important
2025-09-29
A use case for global route constraints
I don't see this used much
2025-09-26
A surprising issue with the Auth user and tests
And why it happens
2025-09-25
Where should I put this class?
Maybe nowhere
2025-09-24
What if every Composer package had a fee?
Thankfully they don't though
2025-09-23
Diffing Laravel routes after a major upgrade
No one likes a broken link
2025-09-22
Sunsetting a company app without loose ends
Tidy up before you go
2025-09-19
Lazy loading protection does not catch all duplicate queries
I discovered this one the hard way
2025-09-18
When might you render a Blade template inline?
Here's one use case
2025-09-17
Two other ways to fix Postgres route model binding behavior
And why I like them better
2025-09-16
One approach to handling Postgres route model binding issues
Leveraging exception rendering
2025-09-15
Route model binding works differently between MySQL and Postgres
Just one example of a difference
2025-09-12
Should you be able to override coding standards locally?
What do the docs say?
2025-09-11
Use PHP sorting flags with Laravel collections
Combining PHP and Laravel is powerful
2025-09-10
How to make a bug fix way more valuable
Without adding much time
2025-09-09
Avoid case sensitivity surprises when sorting in Laravel
Keep it consistent
2025-09-08
When building a UI makes more sense than bloating your seeders
A real world story
2025-09-05
A simple approach to localization using middleware
Only one file
2025-09-04
Why won't Composer update my 0.x package?
Understanding semantic versioning
2025-09-03
When should you use events and observers?
Consistent rules to think about
2025-09-02
Throttle lazy loading error reports in production
Avoid getting flooded with alerts
2025-09-01
Using Eloquent default attribute values instead of MySQL default values
Just a bit cleaner
August, 2025
2025-08-29
How to rate limit by IP behind a Cloudflare proxy
You don't want to block Cloudflare
2025-08-28
Should we prevent lazy loading even in production?
Yes, but handle it differently
2025-08-27
Something slow? It's probably the database.
Start with low-hanging fruit
2025-08-26
A breaking change in the prohibited rule
In a patch version update
2025-08-25
Blade includes vs components: how we decide
Some easy to remember rules
2025-08-22
Considerations when eager loading resource collections
The dreaded N+1 strikes again
2025-08-21
Eloquent examples to satisfy MySQL's ONLY_FULL_GROUP_BY mode
Answering a reader's question
2025-08-20
How do you know something is slow?
An important skill to master
2025-08-19
Why isn't my JSON column default value working in tests?
And how to fix it
2025-08-18
How to selectively copy screenshots to the clipboard in macOS
Without changing the default save location
2025-08-15
Should I enforce Horizon authorization locally?
I think you should
2025-08-14
How to update composer.lock without changing any packages
And why you might want to
2025-08-13
What if you need a value that's random and unique?
A straightforward solution
2025-08-12
When would you use MySQL's ANY_VALUE() function?
Not often, but it's still good to know about it
2025-08-11
Changing your mind about when() and unless() in Eloquent
Revisiting old habits as Laravel evolves
2025-08-08
When is it safe to roll back a migration?
The window is pretty small
2025-08-07
Learn one keyboard shortcut at a time
Slow and steady wins
2025-08-06
Learn to love code review
No need to get defensive
2025-08-05
How to run just one Rector rule at a time
And why you might want to
2025-08-04
Understanding MySQL's ONLY_FULL_GROUP_BY mode
Don't be too quick to turn it off
2025-08-01
How do Laravel sessions work?
And why would dd() change behavior?
July, 2025
2025-07-31
How to get notified when a GitHub release is published
Without getting a ton of unwanted notifications
2025-07-30
Find out what's slow before you deploy to prod
The earlier the better
2025-07-29
Another way to use different SSH keys for different git repos
git truly does it all
2025-07-28
Finding a code-review style that fits your brain
Atomic or holistic?
2025-07-25
Testing job delays without getting clever
It's simpler than you might think
2025-07-24
Consider the context when reusing code
Avoid copy pasting code without understanding it
2025-07-23
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.
2025-07-22
Don't be too eager to accept subpar solutions
Applies to code from AI and fellow devs
2025-07-21
How to use different SSH keys for different git repos
Just two simple steps
2025-07-18
What is the `contains` rule?
And when would you use it?
2025-07-17
Getting typed data out of validation rules
Without bypassing safety
2025-07-16
Even simple validation rules have nuances
Is anything truly simple in programming?
2025-07-15
Validating against a subset of enum values
With conditional logic
2025-07-14
Give clients control from day one
Never take hostages
2025-07-11
Actually read the whole error message
I'm being serious, it will help
2025-07-10
Should I type-hint the rules in a FormRequest?
Rethinking an example from a previous tip
2025-07-09
Why would I leave an unused variable in my test?
It wasn't a mistake
2025-07-08
Why use firstOrFail when we already validated the record exists?
There is a good reason
2025-07-07
API design and tooling in the Laravel ecosystem
A guest podcast appearance
2025-07-04
How can we make error messages more useful to the user?
And when it's worth the effort
2025-07-03
One reason to create a factory for a model you don't own
Always thinking about readability
2025-07-02
Use PHPStan type aliases to clean up long type signatures
Much more readable
2025-07-01
Fine-tuning Rector dead code detection
Don't let a tool boss you around
June, 2025
2025-06-30
Balancing test coverage without chasing 100 percent
So practical as usual
2025-06-27
A clean way to test Laravel middleware
Strikes a nice balance
2025-06-26
Why does Alpine ignore binding to the same attribute multiple times?
Hint, it's not an Alpine issue
2025-06-25
How to get Minio working with Orbstack over HTTPS
Improving the local dev experience
2025-06-24
How to retain backups longer than 35 days in AWS RDS
There's a service for everything
2025-06-23
How to use policies that return specific responses
Still nice and clean
2025-06-20
When should you use Eloquent's sole() method?
It solves an easily-overlooked problem
2025-06-19
Show users time in their timezone
A simple approach leveraging the browser
2025-06-18
What value should I use for MAIL_SCHEME?
A new option in Laravel 12
2025-06-17
How to ignore a specific PHPStan error
And communicate even more clearly with your team
2025-06-16
Exploratory coding when requirements are fuzzy
This happens more than you'd expect
2025-06-13
How to force download with S3 temporary URLs
Useful with S3 and other cloud storage
2025-06-12
Why would you ever sleep in a test?
Not just a dirty hack sometimes
2025-06-11
How to run php-cs-fixer on PHP 8.4
Not officially supported yet
2025-06-10
A few key Laravel features that rely on session data
Let's peek under the hood
2025-06-09
Does flushing the session log you out?
A follow-up to the previous tip
2025-06-06
Be precise when clearing session values
Easier to read and safer too
2025-06-05
Don't import the whole AWS SDK for just one service
Eliminate tons of unused code
2025-06-04
A gotcha when using multiple instances of the same global scope
And an easy way to avoid it
2025-06-03
Understanding how Stringable works inside Blade views
A deep dive into a Laravel feature
2025-06-02
Why doesn't schema dump work with Microsoft SQL Server?
It works for every other db engine
May, 2025
2025-05-30
How to use Google Cloud Platform with Laravel Forge
A step-by-step guide
2025-05-29
How to setup Xdebug in VS Code
It's easier than you think
2025-05-28
Can anything unexpectedly change your application key?
Let's explore source code to find out
2025-05-27
Stop pushing random buttons when someone offers help
A quicker path through troubleshooting
2025-05-26
Don't forget to specify an empty value for your "Select one" option
Or else required validation won't work as expected
2025-05-23
Improve user experience while keeping an eye on performance
Auto-select a single client without unnecessary queries
2025-05-22
Simple rules for where to put business logic
My three-question checklist
2025-05-21
Where should you put your business logic?
Considering the various options
2025-05-20
Expose Redis locally for easier debugging
No harm in opening the port during development
2025-05-19
Avoid overlapping date ranges with a familiar API
Feels like a built-in Laravel feature
2025-05-16
Finishing up our discussion on not having time
Get past the hesitation
2025-05-15
Make forms less frustrating for your users
Show them you care
2025-05-14
Use Faker methods instead of properties
Another thing I see a lot of
2025-05-13
Clean up routes that reference enum values
Keep up with Laravel features
2025-05-12
How disks work in Laravel Cloud
And how to set it up for local development
2025-05-09
Skillful use of comments
A couple different kinds
2025-05-08
What would you want to know about this code?
Answer questions in advance
2025-05-07
Your brand new server is already getting attacked
Don't let your guard down
2025-05-06
Why test setup data doesn't always need to be perfect
More value in testing edge cases
2025-05-05
Why "no time" really means "no priority"
How you frame the problem matters
2025-05-02
You can figure it out
Not everything is in the docs
2025-05-01
Using Xdebug to figure out how Laravel validation works
Sometimes die and dump will not cut it
April, 2025
2025-04-30
Wrapping up our discussion on custom validation rules
The end of a three-part series
2025-04-29
How Laravel validation resolves rules
Continuing our discussion from yesterday
2025-04-28
How to register custom validation rules as strings
It's a little trickier with newer versions of Laravel
2025-04-25
Better mock assertions with Eloquent models
Nice and clean, the Laravel way
2025-04-24
An interesting idea for PR comments
One extra word can make a difference
2025-04-23
Make a code review more fun
Work doesn't have to be boring
2025-04-22
Be nice when reviewing code
It's not just about finding mistakes
2025-04-21
When validation can protect your app's performance
Is there anything validation can't do?
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
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
Not a waste of effort
2023-09-19
Do we really need to build this feature?
Maybe not!
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
And be more consistent
2023-09-08
What if every Composer package had a fee?
Thankfully they don't though
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?
Here's one use case
2023-09-05
How to make a bug fix way more valuable
Without adding much time
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?
Consistent rules to think about
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.
Start with low-hanging fruit
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?
A straightforward solution
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
No need to get defensive
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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