An open, modern approach to HR & PeopleOps
Discover how modern companies are rethinking HR to attract, retain, and empower top developer talent.
by Steve McDougall
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Technical writing on backend engineering, APIs, and developer experience
I write about the challenges and solutions in backend development, sharing insights from
building production systems, designing APIs, and creating tools that developers love.
Deep technical content with practical examples you can use in your own projects.
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Showing 100 articles • Press ⌘K to search
Building a production-ready Go service with Go Blueprint
Discover how Go Blueprint can transform your Go development workflow — from boilerplate-heavy project setup to shipping production-ready microservices in minutes.
by Steve McDougall
Building modular systems in Laravel — A practical guide
Learn how modular architecture can transform your Laravel apps from tangled monoliths into scalable, maintainable systems — with practical steps and real examples.
by Steve McDougall
Building APIs that scale with Nitro, Drizzle, and unstorage
Discover how Nitro, Drizzle ORM, and unstorage create a modern TypeScript API stack that's faster to build, easier to scale, and ready for edge deployments.
by Steve McDougall
Dockerizing Laravel queues, workers, and schedulers
Learn how to properly containerize Laravel's queues, workers, and schedulers for a production setup that actually works. Complete guide covering isolation, scalability, and best practices.
by Steve McDougall
JSON Resume - The future of career data is here
A hands-on guide to implementing JSON Resume with PHP, from basic concepts to advanced usage with type-safe Laravel integration.
by Steve McDougall
Modern PHP development with FrankenPHP and Docker
A hands-on guide to deploying PHP applications with FrankenPHP and Docker, from simple containers to standalone binaries.
by Steve McDougall
Static site generation in PHP with Tempest
Learn how Tempest brings static site generation to PHP, making it easy to build fast, secure, and scalable sites with familiar patterns.
by Steve McDougall
How I Would Have Built Laravel Cloud
Discover an alternative approach to how I would have built Laravel Cloud, exploring platform architecture, developer experience, and the balance between simplicity and flexibility.
12 min read by Steve McDougall
An educational look into the Tempest PHP framework
Discover how Tempest, a modern PHP framework, uses code discovery and the latest PHP features to simplify app development and boost productivity.
by Steve McDougall
Multi-tenancy Without the Hassle
Learn how to build a multi-tenant application in Laravel using Sprout, avoiding the common pitfalls of manual tenant management.
8 min read by Steve McDougall
Building and Deploying an Astro Website - A Deep Dive
Learn how I built my personal dashboard using Astro, integrating dynamic content and productivity features, and deployed it with Sevalla and Cloudflare.
5 min read by Steve McDougall
What are MCP Servers, and why should I care?
Discover how Model Context Protocol servers are revolutionizing Laravel development by connecting AI to your codebase for smarter debugging and coding workflows.
30 min read by Steve McDougall
Nuxt and why you should be using it
Discover the power of Nuxt.js for building modern web applications. Learn why you should consider using it for your next project.
14 min read by Steve McDougall
Sevalla on the Command Line
Build a beautiful Go-powered CLI tool to manage your Sevalla apps directly from the terminal — no browser, just clean, fast, TUI driven control.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Meet Sevalla; Cloud Hosting Without the Headache
Sevalla simplifies cloud hosting by providing intuitive app deployment, object storage, and database hosting on Google Cloud and Cloudflare.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Advanced Authorization methods in Laravel
Unravel Laravels authorization built-in Gates, Policies & advanced ReBAC, ABAC, PBAC methods for secure, scalable app access control.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Deploying Laravel on Sevalla - A No-Nonsense Guide
Deploy your Laravel app with Sevalla using Docker & FrankenPHP for seamless, zero-downtime releases. Say goodbye to server hassles and Kubernetes headaches!
14 min read by Steve McDougall
Diving into Notifications
Learn how to send dynamic, multi-channel notifications in Laravel applications, including email, Slack, and in-app alerts, with customizable delivery mechanisms.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
The definitive Guide to Webhooks in Laravel
Master webhooks in Laravel with this definitive guide. Learn setup, security, event handling, and more to build powerful real-time integrations.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
API Experience
Is API Experience affecting the adoption of your API or product? With APIs being the backbone of todays internet, isn't it time you started to pay attention to your API Experience?
7 min read by Steve McDougall
API Ops
Discover how API Ops revolutionizes API development, deployment, and management, fostering efficiency, collaboration, and excellence in the digital world.
14 min read by Steve McDougall
Building a Homelab Dashboard with Laravel and Livewire
Follow my journey as I build a powerful homelab dashboard using Laravel and Livewire, automating and monitoring my setup along the way.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
API Versioning in Laravel - All you need to know
All you need to know about API Versioning. What is it, what types of versioning exist, how are they used and why you might need it?
14 min read by Steve McDougall
What are the different parts of a URL?
We all use URLs in our day-to-day lives, whether we are technical or not. But what are the different parts of a URL? Read on the learn more.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Making APIs the Right Way
All you need to know about API Versioning. What is it, what types of versioning exist, how are they used and why you might need it?
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Modelling Business Processes in Laravel
Simplify complex business processes in Laravel using pipelines for clean and elegant code.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Passwordless Authentication in Laravel
Learn how to implement secure passwordless authentication in Laravel using magic links for user access. Follow this tutorial for a step-by-step guide.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Laravel Response Classes
Laravel Response Classes; Simplify API responses, maintain code quality with custom response classes.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Laravel CI with GitHub Actions
Automate Laravel CI with GitHub Actions - Learn testing, PHPStan static analysis setup in this tutorial.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Managing Routes in a large Laravel Application
Learn strategies like Route Service Provider, File Requires, and Route Groups for managing routes in a large Laravel application.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Getting started with PHPInsights
Use PHPInsights to enhance PHP code in Laravel and others - A guide to optimal code style and architecture.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Laravel Pennant
Laravel Pennant in Laravel 10; Manage Feature Flags easily. Perfect for A/B testing, incremental rollouts, and more.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Testing JSON:API Endpoints with PestPHP
Efficient JSON:API Endpoint Testing with pestPHP - Learn how to effectively test JSON:API endpoints in Laravel using pestPHP.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Building APIs in Laravel
Explore effective API design in Laravel; Learn to focus on integration, eliminate pain points, and create user-centered, scalable APIs with practical examples.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Reducing code duplication
Learn to reduce code duplication in Laravel using artisan commands and services for better code quality.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Learn all about Laravel's dependency injection container
Learn how Laravel's dependency injection container simplifies code organization and optimization for efficient Laravel applications
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Configuring Laravel Pint
Discover how to tailor Laravel Pint, a PHP CS Fixer wrapper, to your coding standards with a personal guide on rule implementation and customization.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Using OpenAI in Laravel
Discover how to harness the potential of OpenAI in Laravel for AI-driven applications, from natural language processing to text generation.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Effective Eloquent
Explore advanced Eloquent querying in Laravel with a focus on efficient ORM usage for a banking app, including user accounts and transactions management.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Steve vs Matt - How two developers approach the same problem
Steve vs Matt; Two Developers, One Problem - Witness two programmers tackle the same challenge with contrasting approaches
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Eloquent API Calls
Discover advanced techniques for API integration in Laravel, focusing on configuring GitHub API calls, utilizing Enums, and creating efficient client resources.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Creating a Password Generator
Explore creating a memorable yet secure password generator with Laravel, focusing on framework-agnostic implementation and customization options.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Fun with Refactoring
Master the art of Laravel refactoring with Laravel Shift Blueprint, optimizing code for improved performance and management in a real-world Laravel project.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Your first Laravel 9 Application
If you have never built a Laravel application, let me take a walk-through with you from scratch - with no perceived knowledge. Follow along to learn Laravel.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Valid validators validating data
Explore Laravel data validation methods, from form requests to centralizing rules with validators and Eloquent Models for cleaner, efficient code.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Composition over inheritance in final classes
Explore the use of final classes in PHP packages like 'moneyphp/money' and learn how to integrate them using composition over inheritance in your application code.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Reaching for Facades
Demystify Laravel Facades with this insightful guide, showcasing their practicality in creating clear and efficient code, and embracing Laravel's unique features.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Modern PHP features explained - PHP 8.0 and 8.1
Explore PHP 8.0 and 8.1's modern features; constructor property promotion, union types, named arguments, match expressions, enums, and more, enhancing code readability.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Automating your OpenAPI Documentation
Learn to automate API documentation in Laravel with a design-first approach using OpenAPI, Scribe, and efficient pagination in this practical tutorial.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Learn how to upload files in Laravel like a Pro
Learn expert Laravel file uploads; validate, store, and optimize with UploadService and Livewire integration.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Building a slide-over panel component with Livewire
Learn to build a versatile slide-over component in Laravel Livewire for TALL Stack applications, enhancing UI with a simple, reusable solution.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Writing to the Database with Eloquent
Learn different methods of writing to the database using Laravel's Eloquent ORM, including create, query builders, repositories, actions, and more. Master database interactions with Eloquent.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Simple one-time password authentication in Laravel
Learn how to implement one-time password authentication in Laravel. Secure and streamlined user authentication.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Setting up your Data Model in Laravel
Master the art of Laravel data modeling and build a meeting room booking system with this comprehensive tutorial.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Behavioural Driven Development in Laravel
Discover how Laravel can embrace BDD with the 'Given When Then' approach, uniting teams and creating a ubiquitous testing language without new syntax.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
From idea, to blog, to live without leaving your IDE
Effortlessly turn your ideas into a live blog with Statamic in Laravel, seamlessly managing content and deploying your site to Digital Ocean, all from within your IDE.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Working with OS process in PHP
Learn how to enhance the developer experience when working with OS-level commands in PHP applications. Improve code quality and maintainability.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Working with Laravel Model Events
Learn how to work with Laravel Model Events and explore different approaches to handle them efficiently. Discover pros and cons of each method.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Event Sourcing in Laravel
Master Event Sourcing in Laravel with this comprehensive guide, perfect for enhancing PHP projects with advanced data tracking and state management techniques.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Zero Hassle CLI Application with Laravel Zero
How can I put this? CLI apps are cool. The ability to open a terminal anywhere and just run a command to do a job that might have taken you much longer.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
How I develop applications with Laravel
Learn a unique Laravel development workflow; Build a to-do API with a step-by-step guide, leveraging Laravel's versatile tools like Livewire, and a systematic approach from data modeling to API creation.
14 min read by Steve McDougall
JSON API Resources in Laravel
Master JSON API Resources in Laravel with this guide. Learn to create consistent, compliant API responses with Tim MacDonald's package, streamlining your API development with attributes, relationships, and meta-data handling.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Building your own Laravel Packages
Master the art of building Laravel packages with our step-by-step guide. Discover package design, artisan commands, DTOs, and quality assurance for a robust Laravel package.
14 min read by Steve McDougall
Using Laravel Model Factories in your tests
Master the use of Laravel Model Factories for predictable test data. Learn how to define and modify states for various scenarios in your app.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Working with Data in your API Integrations
Enhance your API experience with contextual data objects. Learn how to build clean and developer-friendly integrations with third-party APIs using PHP.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Using Route Registrars in your Laravel application
Enhance Laravel route management with Route Registrars. Simplify route registration and organization for cleaner and more efficient code.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Building your website using Jigsaw
Discover the ease of blogging with Jigsaw, a static site generator by Laravel partners Tighten. Learn to create a simple, markdown-based personal website, perfect for developers.
14 min read by Steve McDougall
The State of Laravel Survey 2022
Laravel's 10th Anniversary; Insights from the State of Laravel Survey 2022 - Community trends, experience levels, PHP versions, code editors, and more.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Eloquent Attribute Casting
Unlock the potential of Eloquent Castable attributes in Laravel with practical examples, including address formatting and business hours, to enhance your applications.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Laravel Pint
Laravel Pint; CLI Tool for PHP Code Styling. Zero dependencies, PSR-12 compliance, effortless operation.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Getting started with Laravel Scout and Meilisearch
Boost your Laravel app's search experience with Laravel Scout and Meilisearch, offering powerful and efficient search capabilities that enhance user interaction.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Logging external HTTP Requests with Laravel Telescope
Track and debug third-party API requests with Laravel Telescope for improved visibility in your Laravel application.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Running PHPStan on max with Laravel
Discover how to enhance your Laravel project with static analysis using Larastan. Add confidence and type safety to your code.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
API Integrations using Saloon in Laravel
Discover easy API integration in Laravel with Saloon; a tutorial on creating a GitHub API connection to manage workflows from the command line.
11 min read by Steve McDougall
Laravel subdomains in Docker
Learn how to set up subdomain support for your Laravel app using Docker. Configure Nginx, Redis, MySQL, and Traefik for seamless subdomain management.
14 min read by Steve McDougall
Sauber PHP
Explore Sauber PHP, a clean and simple micro-framework for small APIs. Learn about its routing, dependency injection, and custom Command Bus in this informative article.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Building a CLI application in 2022
Explore the best options for building CLI apps in 2022, including Laravel Zero, Symfony Console, and more, suitable for both PHP and Rust developers.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Laravel Command Bus
Implement Command Bus in Laravel for efficient code management. Learn to create command handlers and integrate them seamlessly into your projects.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Adapter Pattern
Explore the adapter design pattern in coding through a practical example of building a versatile social poster class, adaptable for different social networks.
6 min read by Steve McDougall
Testing API responses in PestPHP
Efficient API Response Testing in Laravel with pestPHP - Learn to test Laravel API responses effectively using pestPHP and fixtures.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Tappable Query Scopes in Laravel
Enhance Laravel Query Scopes with Tappable Query Scopes - Learn about tappable query scopes in Laravel, a clean way to apply multiple scopes.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Routing within our Domain
Learn how to manage routes in Laravel DDD by creating domain-specific route files and using service providers for cleaner and more organized code.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Getting started with DDD in Laravel
Master Laravel DDD with ease; Learn how to enhance your Laravel applications by implementing Domain Driven Design for improved structure and maintainability.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Querying Records in our Domain
Learn how to leverage Laravel DDD for efficient record queries. Simplify read actions in your application.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Starting our Domain Code; Data Objects and Factories
Enhance code consistency and safety in Domain-Driven Design with Laravel DDD. Learn about Data Objects & Factories.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Using Data Objects; Domain Commands
Laravel DDD; Use Data Objects and Domain Commands to escape 'array hell' and perform clean write operations in your application.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Quick Look into Laravel Feature Flags
Discover Laravel Feature Flags, a powerful package for feature flag management in Laravel applications. Control feature access with ease.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Introducing - Laravel Transporter
Introducing Laravel Transporter; Streamline your API requests with a powerful OOP approach. Manage API interactions efficiently with class-based requests, offering easy configuration and maintenance for Laravel applications.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Working with third party services in Laravel
Learn how to work with 3rd party services in Laravel, focusing on connecting to the PingPing API. Improve your Laravel skills today!
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Adventures in PHP - PHP SDK Builder
Explore the world of PHP SDKs and learn how to build efficient, interoperable APIs using Laravel Forge and PSR-18 with this guide on creating adaptable PHP SDKs.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Adventures in PHP - PHP URI Builder
Introducing the 'uri-builder' package; a versatile PHP tool offering a fluent interface for effortless URI string creation, simplifying API calls and enhancing URL manipulation.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
PHP Online - The Story So Far
Discover the journey of PHP Online, a community hub for PHP enthusiasts. Join us in shaping the future of PHP.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Building a REST API in GoLang
Discover the process of building a REST API in GoLang, from setting up Docker containers to structuring and scaling your application effectively.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
My First Go Module - go api problem
Explore the journey of building the first Go Module for error handling in APIs. Simplify error handling in GoLang with this module.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Embracing The Tall Stack with Event Sourcing, an adventure into the unknown
Dive into blending Laravel's TALL stack with event sourcing, learning to create efficient and reactive PHP applications with modern web development techniques.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Embracing PSRs to build an interoperable HTTP Client
Learn to build a PSR-18 compliant HTTP client in PHP, enhancing web development through interoperability and efficient request handling.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
An adventure with Graph Databases
Explore open-source PHP packages for Neo4j graph database, offering fresh solutions to outdated or abandoned integrations.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
ParameterBag - My latest open source package
Discover ParameterBag, a PHP package that simplifies data handling by replacing arrays on objects, making code cleaner and more efficient.
7 min read by Steve McDougall
Slim PHP 4 - A lightweight breath of fresh air
Discover the power of Slim4, a lightweight PHP framework offering control and customization. Ideal for flexible application architecture.
7 min read by Steve McDougall