The success of any business is closely tied to time. The faster you act, the higher your chances of success. We do not have time to wait for our competitors to get ahead of us, do we? We need first-class solutions to speed up time to market.
And here comes the challenge of having a framework that can withstand the high speed with which we intend to work. One such framework is Laravel. Let’s go deeper into what Laravel is and why businesses choose it.
What is the Laravel framework?
It is difficult to put into words the description of the Laravel framework in such a way that it is correctly understood not only by a technical specialist but also by a non-tech savvy person.
We can go into detail and sugarcoat our article with terms and figures, but this will not make the article more valuable for readers. Instead, our aim is to explain to you in simple language, the meaning of the Laravel framework and answer the question of why you should choose it when you need to launch a web application quickly.
Laravel is an MVC-based (Model-View-Controller principle) PHP framework. It is an open-source, intuitive, easy-to-manage, and scalable framework providing advanced multifunctional applications and enterprise systems.
The core of the Laravel mindset is the belief that the development process must be as smooth and enjoyable as a high-quality application use. To this end, the Laravel framework is packed with developer-friendly features that allow experts to focus on the fundamentals without being distracted by writing code from scratch.
Laravel helps create applications using various elements of many other frameworks, including Ruby on Rails, CodeIgniter, Yii, or Symfony. Laravel web development is perfect in case you need to significantly reduce your app development time. Everything made with its help is extremely simple and intuitive. Laravel is one of the most accessible and best frameworks in terms of quality and functionality. It is not used to create banking systems or corporate social networks. However, this is enough if you want to make a general type of site.
Due to its simplicity and lightweight, Laravel programming is widely preferred by developers around the world. To help you understand what we are talking about, here is a fact:
When to choose the Laravel framework?
Laravel is suitable when you start thinking outside the box trying to find solutions that will benefit you in the future. The truth is that there are ready-made solutions for e-commerce (e.g. WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento) or blogging when you are into online media (WordPress). At first sight, all these solutions are suitable because of the non-standard features they provide, but in the long run, they are just technical debt. Compared to Laravel, it takes a lot of time and effort to customize or improve them.
The Laravel framework is best suited when there is no need to build turnkey internal applications or CMS. This framework is also appropriate for creating scalable and integrated solutions in the future.
Developers and stakeholders benefit from Laravel. The code’s conciseness speeds up the development process and simplifies project support, which ultimately has a positive impact on budgeting.
Why choose the Laravel framework?
Let’s start with a fact that is rarely taken into account. Many programmers sell their services within the tech stack they are good at. Few of the highly skilled professionals are willing to admit that the programming language they have mastered is troublesome or too complicated. And yet, every programming language and every software solution has its pros and cons. The ideal one does not exist but some win over the others. We are talking about Laravel.
But why do developers still choose Node.js and Ruby instead of Laravel?
Most often Node.js is used by front-end developers working with JavaScript and avoiding other technologies in their projects.
Ruby on Rails follows the same principles as Laravel which are the code’s brevity and its high performance. When Laravel was needed, it did not exist. PHP developers, most of whom are back-end developers, have been waiting a long time for such a solution. The popularity of Laravel is quite predictable these days and continues to grow.
Why choose Laravel programming among others? There is no sheer answer for or against Laravel. It depends a lot on which technical experts are involved in the project. To succeed with Laravel, it is better to cooperate with experienced architects. As highly qualified professionals, they work more confidently and are supposed to be more productive with better results.
Laravel web app development by DDI Development team
Laravel developers are a significant part of our team. Their experience combined with the innovative solutions they bring to life enables us to provide our customers with the most advanced solutions together with the greatest commercial value.
Our Laravel services include the following:
Cooperation models can also be varied:
We take an individual approach to customer needs. This helps us offer cooperation options suitable for both the client’s business and our team.
The key advantages of working with our team are strict NDA conditions, control over the team and work process, availability at any time when needed, consistent and transparent communication.
Click here right now to learn more about the benefits of working with us, as well as to check out CVs of our leading Laravel developers to understand their level of expertise.
Now let’s see how Laravel Development can benefit your business.
Business benefits of the Laravel framework
The key business advantages of Laravel may be obvious to technicians, but why should business owners prefer this framework over any other CMS? There are certain business values the Laravel PHP framework delivers.
To start with, let’s mention in a nutshell the opinion many developers believe to be true. It states that all frameworks are a fundamentally bad idea and at the same time the Laravel framework is a bad idea, but to a lesser extent.
By the way, it was just a joke.
Now let’s move on to the business benefits of Laravel:
All these features are time-saving, resulting in budget cuts.
Another business advantage of Laravel is the return on investment. The Laravel PHP framework enables developers to quickly prototype and build scalable applications, providing you with internal tools tailored to specific team’s needs, thus saving your corporate budget.
Pros and cons of Laravel
Now it is time to find out what advantages Laravel has and why you should choose this framework if your goal is to simplify or speed up the development process while maintaining a high level of application quality and security.
We will also consider further some of Laravel’s shortcomings, which should not be ignored.
TOP 11 of the most outstanding advantages of the Laravel framework
1. The built-in access control system
With Laravel, you have control over user authentication and role-based access control.
All the necessary options are built-in. As a result, user authentication logic and access control are sophisticated and therefore more secure.
Laravel was created as a more advanced alternative to the existing Codelgniter framework. Codelgniter lacked many useful features such as built-in support for the authentication system. Laravel comes with an authentication system consisting of all necessary steps, such as Login, Registration and Password Reset, that are executed with a single command.
Benefits for you:
2. MVC architecture
MVC architecture makes Laravel the best PHP environment for web app development. It provides improved performance, detail-oriented documentation, and many built-in features more than other PHP environments.
This is how MVC works:
3. The simplified email integration system
Email integration function is not only desirable but also already mandatory. With Laravel, you can use drivers for Mandrill, Amazon SES, Sendmail, and others. Emails can be sent both in the cloud and through local services.
Benefits for you:
4. Cache integration
Laravel provides caching support through built-in drivers, ensuring that objects are stored on the internal file system. The caching limit may vary. With caching, the performance of any system can be improved.
Benefits for you:
5. Easy exception handling
The Laravel framework has a built-in mechanism for handling exceptions and resolving configuration errors. And, as you know, easily resolved exceptions lead to an interactive interface that makes the software solution more user-friendly.
Benefits for you:
6. Improved technical vulnerabilities and security management
Laravel helps developers correct security vulnerabilities and technical issues before they deploy.
Laravel also provides users with a high level of security at all levels. For example, passwords are stored in a database encrypted rather than in a text form. This helps avoid fraud when users access paid resources or anything else that is just as important to your business.
Benefits for you:
7. Easy automated testing
Laravel supports automated testing. With Laravel, it is possible to test individual units rather than the entire product. The step-by-step approach reduces the risk of breaking the existing code which is important especially in the case of large and complex projects. With Laravel testing features and support for PHP unit testing with phpunit.xml, technical experts can easily test user behavior. This translates to time savings.
Benefits for you:
8. Separation of business logic from presentation logic
Laravel follows the MVC architecture which is responsible for the division (bifurcation) between business logic and syntax. Thanks to the bifurcation process, it takes less time for developers to add new features and fix bugs. It is also easier to improve the user interface without interfering with developers’ work and without disrupting core functionality.
Benefits for you:
9. Simplified URL routing configuration
Within the structure, it is possible to create links to named routes. URL routing is vital for the web application as it allows users to easily find the right content or page.
Benefits for you:
10. Efficient command schedule and management setup
The built-in Laravel command-line interface allows developers to build skeleton codes. It also manages the database system. This frees programmers from routine tasks.
All these contribute to more efficient interaction with end-users. Executing the command schedule will take one CRON record on the server, which results in hosting cost reduction.
Benefits for you:
11. Smooth database migration
Laravel’s migration system allows you to expand your databases with minimal risk of data loss. Data migration is done with the help of PHP, which also facilitates the work of developers.
Benefits for you:
Pros of Laravel framework for cost-effective software development
Templates and widgets
Access to ready-made templates speeds up the development process as layouts can be created faster and at a lower cost. Widgets are available, including JS and CSS.
Object-Relational Mapping (ORM)
ORM allows developers to use PHP instead of SQL to issue databases. Among other things, ORM is faster than other frameworks.
PHP features
Best PHP standards and coding practices are available, as well as support for the latest versions of PHP. For example, anonymous functions, namespaces, overloading and shorter array syntax. Many components are already available for use and can be easily integrated with third-party platforms and tools. It is easy to create any custom element and product.
Detailed documentation
Each framework version is provided with full documentation. This is especially useful when it comes to approaches, code types and classes.
Shortened cycle time
The Laravel framework helps development cycle time to be significantly reduced. This is possible, thanks to rapid integration and Laravel community which contains answers to various questions from PHP programmers. By shortening the development cycle time, you can also reduce your budget. What took a lot of time with WordPress could have been done in a few minutes with Laravel.
The Laravel queue manager
If there are irrelevant tasks, they can be queued up and thus reduce user response time.
Variety of resources and packages
If there is a need to integrate the Laravel framework with React or/and Vue.js, which will be useful for many apps, NPM, Yarn and Laravel Mix can be used. This is handy when it comes to the asset and resource review process.
IOC container
Inversion of Control (IOC) is a strategy used to build a new object without third-party libraries. Objects can be extracted from anywhere you encode.
Built-in libraries
Laravel has more than 20 built-in libraries (e.g. authentication library to improve security). It provides programmers with off-the-shelf payment methods such as Laravel Cashier. One of the Cashier’s features is that it creates all the billing subscription template code that programmers are usually reluctant to write. It also automates tasks such as processing coupons, changing the subscription format, handling the number of subscriptions and even generating PDF invoices, i.e. everything that could have been done manually.
This makes it easier and faster for technical talents to work on your project, as there is no need to invent new libraries and write code from scratch.
Disadvantages of Laravel framework to consider
The pros of Laravel are truly meaningful and help you choose this framework over others. However, it would be unfair to focus only on the benefits of Laravel. Let us also look at Laravel’s shortcomings to see the big picture.
Lack of technical talents
Laravel may seem simple because of the automated functions it is equipped with. This is misleading. Many developers overestimate their knowledge, so there are not so many highly skilled Laravel experts.
This framework is easy to learn, but difficult to master
To find out how to solve this problem, please go to the section ‘Laravel web app development by DDI Development team’.
No built-in support function
Laravel has limited built-in support as it is a small framework, unlike Ruby on Rails and Django. However, the problem with the lack of built-in support is easily resolved by the built-in utilities.
Difficulty with some updates
Platforms with long-term support often face some problems after updates. Laravel is not an exception, and that is why it gets sometimes criticized. However, these little problems can be solved quickly, assuming of course, that programmers are fast enough to respond to updates and have sufficient experience.
Things seem to be more complicated than they really are
Several features of Laravel could be simplified. First of all, it is a heavy documentation that not all programmers can cope with at first. However, the support of Laravel and the online developer community can make the initial stage of working with the framework as painless as possible.
Bottom Line
There is no ideal or one-size-fits-all framework. If it existed, it would be widely used for a long time, and there would be no point in such reviews.
Among all PHP frameworks, Laravel is undoubtedly leading the way, allowing the creation of functional and user-friendly web solutions.
Laravel is not the easiest framework for a novice developer to work with, but it is definitely best suited for beginners, thanks to the modern and powerful development practices it provides. Of course, there are some of its features that make it difficult for newcomers to master. However, this issue can also be resolved.
When working with Laravel, more attention and caution will be required. The main thing is to make sure that the developers are qualified and know how to balance the development of new features with technical debt. But overall, these are trifles against the background of all the advantages that Laravel web development provides to programmers and stakeholders.
Nevertheless, the power of its “advantages” prevails, especially when you consider the simple principles and powerful features inherent to this framework.
Do you want to discuss your project? Give us a call or email us. We will help you make the right decision.
This content was originally published here.