Laravel Developers bubble
Laravel Developers profile
Laravel Developers
Bubble
Professional
Laravel Developers are professionals who build web applications using the Laravel PHP framework, forming a vibrant community centered a...Show more
General Q&A
This community centers around building robust web applications using the Laravel PHP framework, with a focus on clean code, rapid development, and open knowledge sharing.
Community Q&A

Summary

Key Findings

Framework Pride

Identity Markers
Laravel Developers strongly identify with Laravel-specific principles and view the framework as a lifestyle, not just a tool, distinguishing themselves sharply from generic PHP programmers.

Mentorship Web

Community Dynamics
The community thrives on an extensive mentorship culture, where knowledge flows through open forums, Laracasts, and peer code reviews to rapidly elevate both novice and expert developers.

Tool Rituals

Social Norms
Using and mastering unique tools like Eloquent, Artisan, and Blade forms an insider ritual, reinforcing community bonds through shared technical fluency and ongoing practice.

Evolving Debates

Opinion Shifts
Continuous debates on best practices and new tools create a dynamic environment where opinions quickly shift based on emerging Laravel ecosystem updates and community feedback.
Sub Groups

Open Source Contributors

Developers who actively contribute to Laravel core and related packages, primarily engaging on GitHub.

Learners & New Developers

Individuals new to Laravel, often found in Discord, YouTube, and Reddit communities seeking tutorials and support.

Event Attendees

Developers who participate in Laracon and local meetups for networking and professional development.

Forum Regulars

Members who prefer in-depth, asynchronous discussions on niche Laravel and PHP forums.

Statistics and Demographics

Platform Distribution
1 / 3
GitHub
35%

GitHub is the primary platform for Laravel developers to collaborate on open source projects, share code, and contribute to the Laravel ecosystem.

GitHub faviconVisit Platform
Creative Communities
online
Reddit
15%

Reddit hosts active Laravel and PHP development subreddits where developers discuss best practices, troubleshoot, and share resources.

Reddit faviconVisit Platform
Discussion Forums
online
Discord
15%

Discord servers dedicated to Laravel provide real-time chat, support, and networking among developers.

Discord faviconVisit Platform
Discussion Forums
online
Gender & Age Distribution
MaleFemale85%15%
13-1718-2425-3435-4445-5455-642%25%50%18%4%1%
Ideological & Social Divides
Enterprise DevsOpen ContributorsJunior LearnersWorldview (Traditional → Futuristic)Social Situation (Lower → Upper)
Community Development

Insider Knowledge

Terminology
Command Line ToolArtisan

Non-members say 'command line tool,' but Laravel developers use 'Artisan' to name their built-in CLI tool for automating repetitive tasks.

Template SystemBlade

Casual observers refer to any template system, whereas Laravel developers distinctly use 'Blade' to describe Laravel's templating engine.

Package ManagerComposer

Casual users say package manager, but Laravel developers globally use 'Composer' for managing PHP dependencies.

Configuration SettingsConfig Files

Outsiders mention generic settings, but insiders refer to 'config files' that control Laravel application behavior.

Database OperationsEloquent ORM

While outsiders might say database operations generally, insiders specifically use 'Eloquent ORM' to describe Laravel's active record implementation for database interaction.

MiddlewareHTTP Middleware

Laymen might say middleware in general terms, but insiders explicitly refer to 'HTTP middleware' as components filtering requests in Laravel.

Web FrameworkLaravel

Casual observers refer to general web frameworks, but insiders specifically denote the Laravel PHP framework, highlighting the community focus.

TestingPHPUnit with Laravel

Casual terms like 'testing' become specified among insiders as 'PHPUnit with Laravel' to indicate Laravel's integrated testing approach.

Background JobsQueues

While outsiders mention general background jobs, Laravel developers specifically use 'queues' to describe deferred task processing.

RoutingRoute Definitions

Outsiders say 'routing' broadly, but Laravel developers focus on 'route definitions', emphasizing the framework's expressive way to manage HTTP requests.

Greeting Salutations
Example Conversation
Insider
Happy coding!
Outsider
What do you mean by that?
Insider
It's our way of wishing you an enjoyable and productive coding session, encouraging continuous progress.
Outsider
Oh, I like that! Sounds positive and motivating.
Cultural Context
This greeting reflects the community's positive and motivational attitude toward software development, emphasizing enjoyment and progress.
Inside Jokes

"I just 'composer update'd, send help!"

Refers humorously to the anxiety and sometimes mess caused by running 'composer update' without proper version control, often leading to unexpected dependency problems.

"Blade is not just a templating engine, it’s a lifestyle"

A tongue-in-cheek phrase emphasizing how deeply developers rely on Blade’s directives and features, sometimes jokingly implying their codebases could not function without it.
Facts & Sayings

Eloquent ORM is life

This phrase emphasizes the community's appreciation for Laravel's elegant ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) system called Eloquent, which makes database operations intuitive and expressive.

Artisan make it so

A playful variation inspired by Laravel's command-line interface tool 'Artisan' that automates tasks; it reflects the community's reliance on Artisan for rapid development.

Blade is king

This highlights the community's preference for Laravel's templating engine 'Blade' for building frontend views efficiently and cleanly.

Tinker and test

Refers to using Laravel's REPL tool 'Tinker' for experimenting directly with the application code in an interactive shell environment.

Happiness over everything

Captures Laravel's philosophy prioritizing developer happiness and an enjoyable coding experience over blunt pragmatism.
Unwritten Rules

Always keep your composer.json tidy and version-controlled.

Maintaining dependency files carefully prevents issues during team collaboration and deployment, reflecting professionalism.

Write clean, readable Eloquent queries rather than raw SQL.

This maintains Laravel's philosophy of elegant code and harnesses Laravel’s ORM advantages while enhancing maintainability.

Use Artisan for routine tasks instead of manual scripts.

Using Laravel’s built-in CLI tools ensures consistency and leverages community best practices for automation.

Follow PSR coding standards and Laravel conventions religiously.

Consistency in style and structure makes code easier to share and collaborate on within the community.
Fictional Portraits

Carlos, 29

Web Developermale

Carlos is a backend developer from Mexico City who specializes in Laravel-based web applications for startups.

Code readabilityCommunity supportContinuous learning
Motivations
  • Keeping up with the latest Laravel features
  • Improving code quality through best practices
  • Networking with other Laravel developers for collaboration
Challenges
  • Finding clear documentation for complex Laravel features
  • Balancing deadlines with learning new techniques
  • Dealing with legacy Laravel codebases that lack proper structure
Platforms
Laravel-focused Discord serversPHP and Laravel subreddits
Eloquent ORMBlade templatesService ProvidersMiddleware

Amira, 35

Fullstack Developerfemale

Amira is a freelance fullstack developer in Egypt who builds complex web apps for clients using Laravel and Vue.js.

ProfessionalismEfficiencyClient satisfaction
Motivations
  • Delivering high-quality, maintainable code
  • Learning how to optimize Laravel for performance
  • Growing her freelancer network and client base
Challenges
  • Keeping up with rapidly evolving Laravel ecosystem
  • Managing client expectations while using modern techniques
  • Limited local community events for Laravel developers
Platforms
Freelancer forumsLocal tech WhatsApp groupsLaravel Facebook groups
QueuesJobsNova admin panel

Jinwoo, 42

Software Engineermale

Jinwoo is a senior engineer in Seoul working on large-scale enterprise applications primarily built with Laravel.

Code qualityScalabilityTeam mentorship
Motivations
  • Architecting maintainable Laravel applications
  • Mentoring junior developers in Laravel best practices
  • Contributing to the Laravel ecosystem through open source
Challenges
  • Integrating Laravel apps with legacy systems
  • Ensuring codebase scalability and performance
  • Keeping the team aligned around Laravel coding standards
Platforms
Corporate Slack channelsLaravel community forums
Design PatternsRESTful APIsDependency Injection

Insights & Background

Historical Timeline
Main Subjects
Technologies

Laravel Framework

The PHP web framework that underpins the entire bubble, offering expressive syntax, built-in tools, and a modular architecture.
Full-Stack PHPMVCExpressive
Laravel Framework
Source: Image / PD

Eloquent ORM

Laravel’s ActiveRecord implementation for database interaction, prized for its readability and relationship management.
Fluent QueryModel-FirstRelations

Blade Templating

Laravel’s lightweight, inheritance-based templating engine, enabling clean separation of logic and presentation.
View LayerDirective-DrivenLightweight

Artisan CLI

Command-line interface tool for scaffolding, migrations, queue management, and other repetitive tasks.
AutomationScaffoldDevSpeed

Laravel Mix

A wrapper around Webpack that simplifies asset compilation and frontend build steps.
Asset PipelineWebpack SimplifiedFrontend

Homestead

Official pre-configured Vagrant box for local Laravel development, ensuring environment consistency.
Virtual DevVagrantConsistency

Valet

A macOS minimal development environment for Laravel, valued for its zero-config setup and speed.
Mac-NativeZero-ConfigFast

Livewire

Full-stack framework for Laravel that allows dynamic interfaces using Blade, without writing JavaScript.
Reactive UIBlade-DrivenNo-JS

Octane

Enhances Laravel performance by leveraging high-performance servers like Swoole or RoadRunner.
High-ThroughputServer-BoostConcurrency
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First Steps & Resources

Get-Started Steps
Time to basics: 2-4 weeks
1

Set Up Development Environment

1-2 hoursBasic
Summary: Install PHP, Composer, and Laravel locally to prepare for hands-on learning and experimentation.
Details: Getting your development environment ready is the essential first step for any aspiring Laravel developer. Begin by installing PHP (preferably the latest supported version), Composer (the PHP dependency manager), and then use Composer to install Laravel globally or create a new Laravel project. This process familiarizes you with the basic tools and ensures you can run Laravel applications on your machine. Common challenges include resolving version conflicts, configuring your system PATH, and ensuring all dependencies are met. Overcome these by consulting official documentation and troubleshooting guides. This step is crucial because hands-on experimentation is the foundation of learning in the Laravel community. To evaluate your progress, confirm you can run 'php artisan serve' and view the default Laravel welcome page in your browser.
2

Explore Official Documentation

2-3 hoursBasic
Summary: Read through Laravel's official documentation to understand core concepts and framework structure.
Details: The Laravel community places high value on familiarity with the official documentation. Start by reading the introductory sections, focusing on routing, controllers, views, and the directory structure. Take notes on key concepts and terminology. Beginners often feel overwhelmed by the volume of information; tackle this by breaking reading into manageable sections and experimenting with code examples as you go. This step is vital because the documentation is the primary reference for all Laravel developers, and learning to navigate it efficiently is a core skill. Assess your progress by being able to explain basic concepts (like routes and controllers) and knowing where to find answers to common questions.
3

Build a Simple CRUD App

1-2 daysIntermediate
Summary: Create a basic Create, Read, Update, Delete (CRUD) application to practice Laravel fundamentals.
Details: Building a simple CRUD app (such as a basic blog or task manager) is a rite of passage for Laravel beginners. This project will help you apply core concepts like routing, controllers, models, migrations, and Blade templates. Start small: plan your app, scaffold it using Laravel's artisan commands, and implement each CRUD operation step by step. Common challenges include understanding Eloquent ORM, managing migrations, and debugging errors. Overcome these by referencing documentation and seeking help in beginner-friendly forums. This hands-on project is essential for cementing your understanding and gaining confidence. Evaluate your progress by successfully creating, editing, and deleting records in your app.
Welcoming Practices

Sharing Laracasts links with newcomers

This practice helps new members get up to speed with Laravel efficiently, fostering a helpful and supportive learning environment.

Inviting newcomers to Laracon events or online meetups

Such invitations help integrate new Laravel developers into the community, encouraging networking and mentorship.
Beginner Mistakes

Running 'composer update' without understanding dependency implications.

New developers should use 'composer install' unless they intend to update packages deliberately and always commit composer.lock to version control.

Overcomplicating applications instead of leveraging Laravel's built-in features.

Learning Laravel’s core tools and conventions first helps avoid reinventing the wheel and enables faster, more maintainable development.

Facts

Regional Differences
North America

North American Laravel developers frequently attend Laracon US and actively participate in large meetups and startup ecosystems integrating Laravel.

Europe

European Laravel communities often combine Laracon EU with localized conferences and place a higher emphasis on multilingual application development due to linguistic diversity.

Asia

Asian Laravel developers focus heavily on contributions to open-source packages and localized learning resources, also emerging fast in adopting new Laravel features.

Misconceptions

Misconception #1

Laravel is just PHP with some extra bells and whistles.

Reality

Laravel is a full-featured web application framework with a distinct ecosystem and philosophies like Eloquent ORM, Blade templating, and an emphasis on developer productivity and happiness, making it far more than just raw PHP.

Misconception #2

Laravel is only for beginners or small projects.

Reality

While beginner-friendly, Laravel is used to build complex, large-scale applications and powers many enterprise-grade web systems worldwide.

Misconception #3

All Laravel developers know each other personally.

Reality

Although the Laravel community is tightly connected online and at events, it is large and global, making personal connections only common within local or specialized groups.
Clothing & Styles

Laravel Logo T-Shirt

Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the Laravel logo is common among developers at conferences and meetups, signaling membership and pride in the community.

Tech Hoodie with Laravel branding

Comfy hoodies featuring Laravel branding or Laracon event details are beloved informal wear for developers, highlighting both comfort and community identity.

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