No Compromises

We'll admit it: sometimes we change our mind. In this episode, we discuss how we used to setup queues in Laravel tests, and why we changed it.

Show Notes

• 00:00 Sometimes we change our mind over time
• 02:00 Changing queue from sync to null in tests
• 03:45 Feature versus integration tests
• 04:40 Where do you test job logic?
• 05:30 White box versus black box testing
• 07:15 Laravel queue drivers and how faking works
• 08:55 Why use events at all?
• 09:30 The new approach is faster too
• 11:15 Silly bit

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Rules in programming can be extremely helpful, especially on a team. But is it possible to go too far with rules? We discuss a couple recent scenarios where we could have made a rule, but decided not to.

• 00:00 I like rules
• 01:20 Maybe going too far with rules - the scenario
• 03:05 Bug explanation
• 05:03 A tangent on test setup
• 06:30 A possible rule to prevent this bug
• 07:17 Why this rule went too far
• 08:50 We still want to fix it, just not now
• 09:45 Another example with syntax and code standards
• 12:53 Silly bit

Need help to set up or improve your team's coding standards?

Before you vent some frustration on another tool or programming community, take a deep breath and think about why you're irritated? We talk about our own reactions to some technologies and how it's good to keep an open mind or, at a minimum, to not be a jerk.

• 00:00 It's easy to hate on tools you don't use
• 01:02 Why are there different kinds of tools?
• 03:30 Is it "bad" because we don't understand it?
• 04:42 Learn from other communities
• 07:10 Don't be a jerk
• 07:55 Silly bit

Need some help with your Laravel application?

We have such a rich ecosystem of packages in the Laravel and PHP community. But can there be too much of a good thing? What do we consider before adding a small package to our projects?

• 00:00 A healthy ecosystem of packages
• 01:02 Too much of a good thing?
• 02:48 Risks to consider
• 04:13 Other ways to share
• 05:34 Think before you promote
• 08:02 Consider the friction
• 08:39 Silly bit

Would you like help auditing the packages in your Laravel application?

Laravel has a vibrant community of people teaching and sharing what they've learned. What makes a good tip? Should you tweet or blog or both?

• 00:00 Why blogging is beneficial
• 02:43 Slowing down before you publish
• 04:30 Tips that provide value
• 08:11 Platforms can go away
• 09:36 Silly bit

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New PHP version! New Laravel version! So exciting! But when does it make sense to upgrade, and when does it make sense to start using new language or framework features?

• PHP marches forward (00:00)
• Upgrade strategy depends on team size (01:20)
• Considerations for new language features (02:33)
• Performance gains (03:27)
• Readability (04:56)
• How to adopt new features (06:16)
• Depends on the project's maturity (08:14)
• Upgrading for security (09:30)
• Silly bit (11:17)

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How can a bug be fun, and not frustrating? When you treat it like a puzzle. Let's walk through a recent bug with CSV mime type validation and go deep down the rabbit hole.

• Think of a bug like a fun code puzzle (00:00)
• Don't get stuck for too long (01:22)
• The confusing CSV bug (02:35)
• Diffing the files (06:05)
• Digging deeper into Symfony and PHP (08:07)
• Getting stubborn about fixing this (11:29)
• Silly bit (12:26)

Why would you validate your MIME types? Learn that and a whole lot more with our validation book: Mastering Laravel Validation Rules

User experience is a term we hear a lot as developers, but it can mean different things depending on the context. We discuss a recent project where decisions around which HTTP status code to return was focused on improving the user's experience and trust in the application.

• 00:16 Why do we write code?
• 01:39 The importance of user experience
• 02:54 A specific example of user-focused thinking
• 04:34 Choosing the most helpful HTTP status code
• 05:44 What if it’s an API response?
• 07:17 How much detail in an error is useful to a user?
• 08:35 Silly bit

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We discuss two "interesting" patterns we've observed in a number of Laravel projects. Let's take a step back and think about why we write tests the way we do.

• 1:06 - One weird pattern we’ve seen in Laravel project tests
• 2:23 - Can you explain why you’re doing this?
• 3:50 - “It’s more readable”
• 5:55 - Principle: learn a thing, do a thing, dissect a thing
• 6:30 - Is it okay to have code duplication in tests?
• 8:20 - How tests are different from application code
• 11:16 - Don’t add application code just for your tests
• 13:06 - Silly bit

Need help building a test suite for your Laravel app or making your existing tests more reliable? Click the link and book a free call to see how we can help.

We've all been there: a thorny piece of code works, but it seems like there must be a better way to simplify it or make it more readable. We share one example when this happened to us, and how code review led to a better solution.

Want another set of eyes on your code? We can help! Visit our site and schedule a free call with us today.

• 00:16 The problem: this code works, but I don't like it
• 01:17 What we mean by "I don't like this code"
• 02:22 A specific example of code I didn't like
• 03:52 Code review sparks a discussion, and a solution
• 05:20 Principle: don't get locked in to your first approach
• 06:03 Principle: the benefits of code review
• 07:22 Don't be defensive, and the code reviewer isn't always right
• 08:03 Silly bit