Short Bio:
Bob Cravens is a seasoned technology leader, software architect, and educator with a passion for empowering others through practical, real-world knowledge. As the founder of TekFoundry, Bob has dedicated his career to designing and delivering innovative software solutions that combine cutting-edge technology with elegant simplicity.
At TekCasts, Bob leverages over two decades of experience in software engineering, application architecture, and team leadership to create engaging, high-impact courses for developers and technology professionals. His instructional style is rooted in practical application, offering insights drawn from his extensive background in industries like medical devices and global technology consulting.
Bob’s expertise spans a variety of technologies and methodologies, including PHP/Laravel, FastAPI, and DevOps, as well as architecture best practices and team dynamics. Whether teaching foundational concepts or advanced strategies, he’s passionate about helping others turn complex challenges into streamlined solutions.
When not crafting elegant code or inspiring the next generation of tech innovators, Bob enjoys exploring the intersection of technology, business strategy, and creative problem-solving.
At TekCasts, Bob leverages over two decades of experience in software engineering, application architecture, and team leadership to create engaging, high-impact courses for developers and technology professionals. His instructional style is rooted in practical application, offering insights drawn from his extensive background in industries like medical devices and global technology consulting.
Bob’s expertise spans a variety of technologies and methodologies, including PHP/Laravel, FastAPI, and DevOps, as well as architecture best practices and team dynamics. Whether teaching foundational concepts or advanced strategies, he’s passionate about helping others turn complex challenges into streamlined solutions.
When not crafting elegant code or inspiring the next generation of tech innovators, Bob enjoys exploring the intersection of technology, business strategy, and creative problem-solving.
Videos
Checkout Videos By This Instructor
php
18m
Mar 19, 2025
Loops
Loops are a fundamental part of programming, allowing you to execute code multiple times efficiently. In this video, part of the “PHP for Beginners” series, we break down the four main types of loops in PHP:✅ foreach – Perfect for looping through arrays effortlessly.
✅ for – Ideal when you know exactly how many times you need to iterate.
✅ while – Runs as long as a condition is true, great for dynamic scenarios.
✅ do…while – Similar to while, but always runs at least once.
By the end of this tutorial, you’ll understand when and how to use each loop, with clear explanations and examples. Whether you’re new to PHP or need a refresher, this video will help you master loops in no time!
php
22m:8s
Mar 19, 2025
Mixing Markup & Code
It’s time to take our PHP calculator from hardcoded values to real user input! In this video we introduce an HTML frontend to drive our calculator, making it interactive.Here’s what we cover:
✅ Creating an HTML form – Allow users to input expressions dynamically.
✅ PHP Superglobals – Understanding $_POST and how to handle form data.
✅ Mixing PHP & HTML – Embedding PHP inside markup to render values and conditionally show elements.
By the end of this tutorial, you’ll know how to build dynamic web pages that process user input using PHP—an essential skill for web development!
Coming Soon
javascript
6m:55s
Sep 25, 2025
Modules & Imports
Time to break up the band 🎸—but in the best way possible! In this episode, we’ll see how ES Modules help you split your code into neat, reusable files and then pull them back together with ease.Here’s what we’ll cover:
📦 What modules are and why they make your code cleaner and more maintainable.
🔀 The difference between named and default exports.
📥 How to import modules into your project like a pro.
🌐 Setting up modules in the browser with type="module" (plus a sneak peek at Node.js).
We’ll walk through a math utility example, exporting functions and constants, then importing them back into main.js for instant reusability.
By the end, you’ll be ready to organize your projects like a seasoned developer, keeping your codebase modular, scalable, and stress-free. 🚀
autoloading,namespaces,oop,php,psr-4
10m:36s
Mar 22, 2025
Namespaces, PSR-4, and Autoloading
Say goodbye to messy, single-file chaos! 😵💫 In this video, we organize and supercharge our PHP projects by breaking them into multiple files. First, we manually load classes using the trusty require keyword 📜—but that’s just the beginning!Next, we introduce the PSR-4 standard, the industry gold standard for structuring PHP code 🏆. And to make life even sweeter, we harness the power of Composer’s autoloading ⚡—letting PHP automatically find and load classes like magic! ✨
By the end, you’ll be writing scalable, maintainable PHP code like a true OOP architect! 🏗️💻
javascript
13m:57s
May 29, 2025
Nested Structures & Loops w/Objects
As your programs grow more complex, you’ll often need to work with data inside of data. In this episode, we explore how to combine arrays and objects to model richer, more realistic structures.🎯 What you’ll learn:
• How to create and work with arrays inside arrays (like a game board)
• How to structure objects inside objects (like a user and their account)
• How to manage arrays of objects (like a list of students)
• How to handle arrays inside objects (like student grades)
🎥 What you’ll see:
• Code examples of each structure
• How to access nested values
• How to loop through nested data using for loops or for...of
By the end of this episode, you’ll understand how to organize complex data and access it confidently — a big step toward working with real-world applications! 🗃️🔁
javascript
8m:40s
May 27, 2025
Objects - Key / Value Pairs
Objects are one of the most powerful and flexible tools in JavaScript. In this episode, we’ll explore how to represent real-world things — like people, places, or ideas — using key/value pairs.🎯 What you’ll learn:
• What objects are and why they matter
• How to define and access object properties
• The difference between dot notation and bracket notation
• How to add, update, and delete properties dynamically
🎥 What you’ll see:
• A walkthrough of building a simple person object
• Real-time code edits and console logging
• Examples that mirror how data is structured in real apps
After this episode, you’ll see how objects give your data shape and make your code more expressive and organized. 🗂️📦
javascript
12m:42s
Apr 29, 2025
Operators & Expressions
Now that you know how to store data, it’s time to work with it! In this episode, we’ll explore how JavaScript uses operators and expressions to perform calculations, compare values, and make decisions. 🚀🎯 Here’s what we’ll cover:
• Master arithmetic operators like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, remainder, and exponentiation.
• Use assignment operators to update variable values quickly and efficiently.
• Compare values with comparison operators like ==, ===, !=, <, >, <=, and >=.
• Combine logic with logical operators: and (&&), or (||), and not (!).
🎥 Visual Walkthroughs:
• See real-world examples of manipulating numbers and booleans.
• Watch how combining different operators creates dynamic expressions.
• Practice thinking like a computer: true, false, and everything in between!
By the end of this episode, you’ll be writing powerful expressions and making JavaScript do some real thinking for you! 🧠⚡️
javascript
7m:38s
May 13, 2025
Parameters, Return Values, and Scope
In this episode, we go deeper into how functions communicate — by receiving input, producing output, and knowing where variables “live.” 🧩🎯 Here’s what we’ll cover:
• How to pass data into functions using parameters and arguments.
• Use return values to get results back from functions.
• Understand scope — where your variables exist and who can see them:
• Local (block), function, and global scope.
• Get a taste of lexical scope with a simple nested function.
🎥 Visual Walkthroughs:
• Watch functions take in inputs and return meaningful results.
• See clear, visual examples of variable scope in action.
• Spot common mistakes like trying to access variables outside their scope.
After this episode, you’ll be writing smarter functions that take input, give output, and stay in their own lane! 🧠➡️🧪➡️📦
oop,php
22m:11s
Jul 8, 2025
Photo Deletion
🖼️ Improved Photo Show PageIn photo.show, hide the summary and reviews if none exist
🔗 Delete Route & Form
Add a new route using the DELETE method
In photo.show, display a delete form only if the logged-in user owns the photo
Include a hidden input field: _METHOD = DELETE
Update the Router class to detect the method via:
$_POST['_METHOD'] ?? $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD']
🔧 Controller Refactor
Split responsibilities:
ReviewController: keep only the store method, and fix redirect_back() usage
PhotoController: remove the store method
🧨 Destroy Method in PhotoController
Ensure the user is authenticated
Validate the photo exists
Validate ownership of the photo
Delete the photo file:
Add directory() method to the Photo model
Add convert_to_path() method to the Photo model
Delete the corresponding database record:
Add a delete() method to the base Model class
📌 That wraps up the deletion flow and lands us at v26-delete-photos — now users can clean up after themselves!
linux
38m:26s
Feb 3, 2025
Processes and Jobs - Monitor, Kill, Background Jobs, Crontab, SystemD
This video is part of the Linux Crash Course series. This video will cover how to manager processes and jobs. We will cover the following:1. How to monitor running processes
2. How to kill or stop existing processes
3. Run a script in the background as a job
4. Run a script at a scheduled interval (e.g., once per minute...) using crontab
5. Run a script as a service using systemd
Github Repo: https://github.com/rcravens/linux-crash-course
oop,php
12m:3s
Mar 22, 2025
Properties and Methods
Unlock the power of Properties and Methods in PHP OOP! In this action-packed lesson, we dive into public and private properties & methods, breaking down the magic of encapsulation 🔒. Watch as we create a class, instantiate objects, and interact with public properties & methods from the outside 🌎. But wait—what about private ones? 🤔 No worries! I’ll show you how to work with them inside the class like a pro.Get ready to level up your PHP skills one method at a time! ⚡👨💻
composer,packagist,php
8m:41s
Mar 11, 2025
Publishing Your Package on Packagist
Now it’s time to publish our package and make it available to the world! 🌍 We’ll walk through submitting our package to Packagist and using Composer to install it in a project.📌 What you’ll learn:
✅ Registering a package on Packagist
✅ Using Composer to install your package
✅ Replacing old code with the new package
By the end of this video, your PHP package will be live and ready for developers to use! 🚀
🔔 Subscribe for more PHP tutorials!
🔗 Resources:
• Packagist Guide
linux
32m:13s
Feb 3, 2025
Redirection and Pipes - Output & Input, Chaining Commands
This video is part of the Linux Crash Course series. This video will continue exploring the Linux File System. In this video I will discuss redirecting stdin, stdout, and stderr. In addition, we will look a chaining commands together using pipes.Github Repo: https://github.com/rcravens/linux-crash-course
php
8m:32s
Mar 19, 2025
Reusable Code
Writing clean, maintainable code is a key skill for any developer! In this video we take our calculator project to the next level by refactoring it for better structure and reusability.Here’s what you’ll learn:
✅ Refactoring code – Moving related logic into separate files.
✅ require & include – How to properly import and reuse PHP files.
✅ Why structured code matters – Better organization, easier maintenance, and reusability.
By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a more structured, modular, and reusable PHP application—just like professional developers do!
oop,php
10m:34s
May 13, 2025
Router Infrastructure
Let’s bring structure and scalability to our routing system! In this video, we encapsulate all routing logic into a dedicated Router infrastructure class, giving us a clean and centralized way to manage routes. 🧭Here’s what we’ll accomplish:
• Move and rename load_route() into the new Router class as a static view() method 🔁
• Add static get() and post() methods to define routes declaratively 🚪
• Simplify how our application connects URLs to controllers using a centralized approach 🧠
By the end, we’ll have version v10-router-infra—a solid foundation for routing that’s clean, powerful, and easy to scale. 🚀
oop,php
19m:31s
Jul 10, 2025
Second Refactor & Review
🧠 Model Hydration Fixes- Solved the issue where results weren’t instances of the child model class
- Introduced hydrate() and hydrate_rows() to handle model instantiation
- Added PHPDoc annotations with generics to assist with static analysis and better typing
- Updated type hints across Policies and Controllers for clarity and consistency
📦 Model Enhancements
- Added an update() method
- Introduced pagination support with skip() and take()
- Added sorting via order_by() and order_by_desc()
- Modified / route to use pagination
🛡️ New Policy Classes
- PhotoController: created Http/Policies/PhotoPolicy
- AuthController: created and used AuthPolicy
- RegisterController: created UserPolicy
- ReviewController: created ReviewPolicy
- UploadController: updated to use PhotoPolicy
- Fixed return $data in UploadController to include a proper URL
📌 All of that polish and organization lands us at v26-review-refactor — making the codebase smoother, smarter, and more maintainable.