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!

Middleware Basics

In today’s video, we’re digging into one of the most important — and most misunderstood — parts of the Laravel request lifecycle: middleware.

If you’ve ever wondered how Laravel transforms an incoming HTTP request into a response… or how authentication, sessions, CSRF protection, and even custom logic happen automatically — this video is for you.

⭐ What You’ll Learn
In this lesson, we break down the core concepts behind Laravel middleware, including:
- How middleware modifies request and response data
- How it can short-circuit the request lifecycle
- Where middleware fits inside Laravel’s 5-step request lifecycle
- How route files are registered inside bootstrap/app.php
- How to attach middleware to individual routes, route groups, or out-of-the-box groups like web and api
- How to explore your middleware stack using: php artisan route:list -v

We also walk through real examples showing how middleware groups (like auth, verified, and password.confirm) cascade to define route behavior.

🔗 Resources
• Request Lifecycle — https://laravel.com/docs/12.x/lifecycle
• Routing — https://laravel.com/docs/12.x/routing

💥 About the Series:
Pragmatic Laravel focuses on building real applications with Laravel — emphasizing clarity, maintainability, and thoughtful design decisions instead of shortcuts or magic.

#Laravel #PHP #WebDevelopment #LaravelMiddleware #LaravelRouting #PHPTutorials #LearnLaravel #LaravelTips #BackendDevelopment #FullStackDevelopment #WebDevTutorials #LaravelEcosystem #LaravelFramework #CodeBetter #BuildWithLaravel

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!

Model Factories

We simplify the process of generating test data by introducing Model Factories. Model factories allow you to create models and their relationships using expressive, reusable definitions — perfect for seeding your database with realistic sample data.

You’ll learn how to:
✅ Create and use model factories (php artisan make:factory)
✅ Generate models with fake data using make() and create()
✅ Build relationships with nested factories (has())
✅ Replace manual seeder logic with elegant factory-based seeding

By the end of this video, your database setup will be cleaner, faster, and ready for scalable testing and development.

Resources
- Laravel Factories Docs: https://laravel.com/docs/12.x/eloquent-factories

💥 About the Series:
Pragmatic Laravel focuses on building real applications with Laravel — emphasizing clarity, maintainability, and thoughtful design decisions instead of shortcuts or magic.

#Laravel #PHP #Eloquent #WebDevelopment #DatabaseSeeding #ModelFactories #LaravelTips #FullStack #TekCasts #LearnToCode

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. 🚀

Modules and NPM

📦 In this video, we explore how Node.js uses modules and NPM to organize code, manage dependencies, and scale projects. You’ll see the difference between CommonJS and ES Modules, learn how to create a package.json, install and use packages like lodash, manage NPM scripts, and keep your project clean by uninstalling dependencies.

💡 Relevant Links

Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment


Official Docs:
- Node.js Modules: https://nodejs.org/api/modules.html
- NPM: https://www.npmjs.com/
- Lodash: https://www.npmjs.com/package/lodash
- NPM Scripts Docs: https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v8/using-npm/scripts

MVC Page LifeCycle

Your MVC framework is about to come alive ⚡️

So far, we’ve built the parts — now it’s time to see them in motion. In this episode, we’ll trace how every request flows through your application — from the moment it hits the server to the controller logic that shapes the response. 🌐

👉 In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

🚀 Follow the full request/response lifecycle in an MVC app
⚙️ Understand how routing, controllers, and views work together
📦 Parse request bodies and extract parameters dynamically
🧩 Connect the dots between HTTP, Router, and Controller layers

By the end, you’ll see your framework as a living, breathing system — where every part plays its role in delivering dynamic web pages 💻

💡 Relevant Links

Previous TekCasts series:
- JavaScript for Beginners: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-for-beginners-what-is-javascript
- JavaScript in the Browser: https://tekcasts.com/play/javascript-in-the-browser-browser-runtime-environment

Official Docs & Resources:
- Node.js Documentation: https://nodejs.org/en/docs/
- MDN HTTP Guide: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP
- MDN JavaScript Guide: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript

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! 🏗️💻

Navigation

In this video, we enhance the user experience of our survey application by improving navigation flow and tightening up some important logic. You’ll see how to guide users more intuitively through the app while ensuring clean, secure, and predictable behavior.

What We Cover
- Fixed the query in take_store by adding a missing where survey_id filter
- Added a welcome page that lists all active surveys
- Prevent users from retaking a survey they’ve already completed
- Updated the “thanks” page with a Redo Survey link
- Stretch Goal: Introduced a simple top-level navigation menu to improve app-wide usability

💥 About the Series:
Pragmatic Laravel focuses on building real applications with Laravel — emphasizing clarity, maintainability, and thoughtful design decisions instead of shortcuts or magic.

#Laravel #PHP #WebDevelopment #FullStackDev #TekCasts #WebAppDesign

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! 🗃️🔁

New Fortify + Breeze Package

In this video we walk through my custom fork of Laravel Breeze (repo: rcravens/breeze), showing how to get a full authentication system up and running in Laravel — with views, routes, and backend logic all wired up thanks to Laravel Fortify + Breeze.

Whether you’re building a brand-new Laravel project or retrofitting auth into an existing one, this setup gives you a clean, flexible, and fully functional auth flow that’s easy to customize.

✅ What You’ll Get
- A minimal auth scaffold that “just works” — login, registration, password reset, email verification, profile update, password change, and more.
- Blade-based views + Tailwind styling for a clean UI.
- Full route list and handlers (Fortify + Breeze) including register, login, logout, password reset, email verification, profile update, etc.
- A structure that works in fresh projects or existing Laravel apps that didn’t start with a “starter kit.”


🔧 How to Use It
- `composer require rcravens/breeze`
- Run `php artisan breeze:install`, choosing "Laravel Forge + Blade Views" and your preferred options.
- Migrate your database, compile assets — and you’re ready to go.
- Explore routes like /register, /login, /forgot-password, /profile, etc. — everything is wired up for you.


📚 Useful Links & Resources
- GitHub Repo: https://github.com/rcravens/breeze
- Official Laravel Starter Kits documentation (covers Fortify + Breeze): https://laravel.com/docs/starter-kits
- Laravel Breeze overview article: https://laravel-news.com/laravel-breeze

💥 About the Series:
Pragmatic Laravel focuses on building real applications with Laravel — emphasizing clarity, maintainability, and thoughtful design decisions instead of shortcuts or magic.

#Laravel #LaravelBreeze #LaravelFortify #PHP #WebDevelopment #Auth #TailwindCSS #FullStack #OpenSource #TekCasts #CleanCode #Backend #Frontend #DeveloperTools

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. 🗂️📦

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! 🧠⚡️

Other Browser APIs

🌐✨ Unlock the Hidden Superpowers of Your Browser! ✨🌐

Did you know your browser can remember things, track your location, talk to your clipboard, and even access your camera? 🚀 In this video, we’ll dive into the world of Browser APIs and see how JavaScript can hook into these powerful tools.

Here’s what you’ll learn:
🗄️ Storage APIs — localStorage, sessionStorage, and cookies (where do your app’s secrets live?)
📍 Geolocation — get your users’ coordinates (with their permission 😉)
🖥️ Navigator API — online/offline detection, device info, and more
📋 Clipboard & Notifications — small but mighty features for modern apps
📸 Camera Access — yes, your browser can take photos!

By the end, you’ll see your browser not just as a window to the web, but as a full-featured platform ready to power real-world apps. ⚡

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! 🧠➡️🧪➡️📦

Photo Deletion

🖼️ Improved Photo Show Page


In 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!