Laravel 10 is Released: A Deep Dive Into the Latest Updates and Features

Laravel is an open-source PHP web application framework that Taylor Otwell developed in 2011. Its elegant syntax, powerful features, and intuitive design have gained a significant following. Laravel provides tools and resources that make it easier for developers to build web applications and APIs.

One of the most significant advantages of using Laravel is its ability to simplify the development process by providing a range of built-in tools and features that enable developers to focus on creating great applications without getting bogged down in the details of web development. These tools and features include built-in authentication, routing, templating, and database management, all designed to save developers time and streamline the development process.

Laravel is also highly flexible, allowing developers to customize and extend its features to fit their project requirements. This makes it an ideal framework for building web applications of all sizes, from simple blog sites to complex enterprise-level systems.

The Laravel core team previously released two major framework versions yearly, with one release every six months. However, to dedicate more time and effort to each significant version and avoid introducing breaking changes, the team changed the release cycle to one major version per year.

Laravel 10 was initially scheduled for release on February 7, 2023, following the release of Laravel 9 on February 8, 2022. However, the team needed more time to finalize their work, and Laravel 10 was eventually published on February 14, 2023.

Laravel 11 is now expected to be released in the first quarter of 2024.

Regarding the support policy, bug fixes are provided for 18 months and security updates for two years for all Laravel versions. Here is the expected schedule for bug fixes and security updates:

• Laravel 9 will continue to receive bug fixes until August 8, 2023, and security fixes until February 14, 2024.
• Laravel 10 will receive bug fixes until August 6, 2024, and security fixes until February 14, 2025.

Laravel 10 is released on the latest open-source PHP web application framework version. This version has many new features and improvements, making it even more powerful and user-friendly for developers. Here are some of the new features and updates in Laravel 10:

Laravel 10 drops support for PHP 8.0 & Support for PHP 8.2

Laravel 10 requires a minimum PHP version of 8.1, with several features of PHP 8.1, such as readonly properties and array_is_list, being used in the framework. Despite the release of PHP 8.2, which occurred only two months before Laravel 10, developers need not worry about Laravel 10 being incompatible with PHP 8.2 features. Laravel 10 is already equipped to support PHP 8.2 without requiring any additional steps.

Furthermore, the entire Laravel ecosystem, including Forge, Vapor, and Envoyer, supports PHP 8.2, meaning developers can use PHP 8.2 with Laravel 9 and take full advantage of the latest features. This seamless integration between Laravel and the newest version of PHP is a significant advantage for developers, allowing them to create cutting-edge applications easily.

Route caching:

Laravel 10 introduces a new feature called Route caching, which allows developers to cache their application's routes. This can significantly improve the performance of their application by reducing the time it takes to boot up the framework.

Blade components:

Blade components are a new way to define reusable UI elements in Laravel. Developers can use Blade components to create UI elements, such as forms or alerts, that can be easily reused across their entire application.

Packages Upgrade:

The Laravel framework is professionally maintained and updated regularly, and the official packages and ecosystem are also. The following official Laravel packages have recently been updated to support Laravel 10:

• Breeze
• Cashier Stripe
• Dusk
• Horizon
• Installer
• Jetstream
• Passport
• Pint
• Sail
• Scout
• Valet

In addition, Inertiajs 1.0.1 now supports Laravel 10, which is excellent news for fans of Rails, Vue, React, and Svelte.

Predis Version Upgrade:

Predis is a powerful Redis client for PHP that can help maximize caching and enhance the user experience. Previously, Laravel supported both versions 1 and 2 of Predis, but with the release of Laravel 10, support for Predis 1 has been discontinued.

While Laravel documentation suggests using Predis as the package for interacting with Redis, the official PHP extension can also be used. The extension offers an API for communicating with Redis servers.

All Validation Rules Invokable by Default:

In Laravel 9, adding an --invokable flag was necessary when creating an invokable validation rule using the Artisan command. However, this is no longer required in Laravel 10, as all rules are now invokable by default. Therefore, creating a new invokable rule in Laravel 10 is as simple as running the following command:

 PHP artisan make: rule CustomRule

Laravel Pennant:

Feature flags are critical in web applications that undergo frequent updates. However, implementing and maintaining feature flags can be a significant undertaking. Fortunately, Laravel has introduced the first-party Laravel Pennant package to make this task easier.

Laravel Pennant offers a simple, user-friendly solution for managing feature flags, supporting an in-memory array driver and a database.

dispatch() Method Behavior

In Laravel 10, the dispatch() method within the DispatchesJobs trait now verifies unique jobs, just like the global dispatch() helper function. This ensures that dispatch() methods have consistent functionality throughout Laravel 10.

New Middleware Options

Middleware, which provides a convenient mechanism for filtering HTTP requests entering your application, has been updated in Laravel 10 to support more flexible and granular filtering options. Developers can now define middleware that applies only to specific routes or request methods, making it easier to customize the behaviour of your application.

Improved Error Handling

Error handling in Laravel 10 has been improved to provide more detailed and informative error messages. This makes it easier for developers to diagnose and fix issues in their applications, leading to a smoother development process.

Enhanced Database Query Builder

The database query builder in Laravel 10 has been updated with new features and improvements. Developers can now use fluent query-building methods to construct complex database queries more easily, reducing the amount of boilerplate code required.

New Testing Tools

Laravel 10 introduces new testing tools that make it easier to write and execute tests for your application. The new test helpers provide a more expressive syntax for writing tests, making it easier to understand and maintain your test suite.

Related Article: Major 10 Reasons Why You Should Choose Laravel

To install Laravel 10, you must have PHP, a database, and a web server installed on your system. Here are the steps to install Laravel 10 on various operating systems:

Windows

• Install XAMPP or WAMP server, which includes PHP and Apache web servers.
• Download and install Composer, a PHP dependency manager.
• Open the Command Prompt and navigate to the directory where you want to install Laravel.
• Run the command composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel myproject to install Laravel.
• Once the installation is complete, you can run the Laravel application by running the command php artisan serve in the Command Prompt.

macOS

• Install Homebrew, a package manager for macOS.
• Install PHP and Composer using Homebrew.
• Install a database server such as MySQL or PostgreSQL using Homebrew.
• Open the Terminal and navigate to the directory where you want to install Laravel.
• Run the command composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel myproject to install Laravel.
• Once the installation is complete, you can run the Laravel application by running the command php artisan serve in the Terminal.

Linux

• Install PHP, a web server, and a database server using your distribution's package manager.
• Install Composer using the instructions on the Composer website.
• Open the Terminal and navigate to the directory where you want to install Laravel.
• Run the command composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel myproject to install Laravel.
• Once the installation is complete, you can run the Laravel application by running the command php artisan serve in the Terminal.

To install Laravel 10, you must have PHP, a database, and a web server installed on your system. Once you have installed these prerequisites, you can install Laravel 10 using Composer by running the composer create-project command. After the installation, you can run the Laravel application by running the php artisan serve command in the Terminal or Command Prompt.

Upgrading your Laravel application from version 9 to version 10 is now easier than ever with Laravel 10.x Shift. This automated tool streamlines the upgrade process, saving you valuable time and ensuring a smooth transition to the latest Laravel version. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps required to upgrade your Laravel application using Laravel 10.x Shift.

Requirements:

Before you begin the upgrade process, ensure that your Laravel application meets the following requirements:

• Your Laravel application must be currently running on Laravel version 9 or above.
• Your server must have PHP version 8.1 or higher installed.

Core Upgrades:

Laravel 10.x Shift automates many of the core upgrades outlined in the Laravel Upgrade Guide. These include:

• Updates to core Laravel files.
• Implementation of new methods and changes to interfaces.
• Addition of PHP type hints.
• Conversion of the deprecated `$dates` property to `$casts`.
• Update of core dependencies for Laravel 10 and PHP 8.1.
• Removal of redundant typing within PHP DocBlocks.
• Detection and removal of deprecated code within your application.

Additional Upgrades:

In addition to the core upgrades, Laravel 10.x Shift also provides additional upgrades as per the Laravel Upgrade Guide. These include:

• Modernization of PHP syntax, including the use of the null-safe operator and short arrays.
• Ability to apply your preferred code style.
• Adoption of tuple syntax and class-based routes.
• Conversion to anonymous migrations.
• Automated changes are required for PHPUnit 9.
• Transformation of Faker property access to method calls.
• Updates to config files to reflect Laravel 10 versions.
• Increased dependency constraints for popular packages.

Manual Upgrades:

While Laravel 10.x Shift automates many upgrades; there may be some updates that require manual intervention. In such cases, the Shift tool detects these updates and provides detailed instructions within the pull request, outlining the necessary steps for manual implementation.

It's important to review the changelog for dependencies and any additional changes to ensure a successful upgrade. While the Shift tool aims to automate as much as possible, some manual intervention may still be required.

Contributing to Laravel 10 is a great way to become a part of the Laravel community and help improve the framework. Here are the steps to contribute to Laravel 10:

• Fork the Laravel GitHub repository The first step in contributing to Laravel 10 is to create a personal fork of the official Laravel GitHub repository. This can be done by navigating to the Laravel repository on GitHub and clicking the "Fork" button in the page's upper right-hand corner.

• Clone the Laravel repository. Next, clone the Laravel repository to your local machine by running the following command in your terminal:

git clone https://github.com/{your-username}/laravel.git

• Make sure to replace {your-username} with your GitHub username.

• Install Laravel dependencies. After cloning the repository, navigate to the Laravel directory and install the framework dependencies by running the following command:

composer install

• Create a new branch. Create a new Git branch to make your changes by running the following command:

Git checkout -b {new-branch-name}

• Replace {new-branch-name} with a name that describes the changes you plan to make.

• Make your changes. Make the desired changes to the codebase in your new Git branch. Make sure to follow Laravel's coding standards and practices. Write tests Writing tests is an essential part of contributing to Laravel 10. Write tests to ensure your code functions as expected and doesn't break any existing functionality. Commit your changes. Once you have made your changes, commit them to your Git branch by running the following command:

Git commit -m "Brief description of changes."

• Make sure to provide a brief description of the changes you made.

• Push changes to your forked repository. Push the changes to your forked repository by running the following command:

git push origin {new-branch-name}

• Create a pull request. Finally, create a pull request by navigating to the Laravel repository on GitHub and clicking the "New pull request" button. Select your Git branch and provide a detailed description of the changes you made.

That's it! The Laravel core team will review your pull request and merge it into the framework if it meets the project's quality standards.

Related Article: Laravel vs NodeJS – The Never-Ending Battle of Winning the Title of Best Framework For Businesses

A leading Laravel development agency can help you upgrade to Laravel 10 by providing expert guidance, support, and resources. Here are some ways that a Laravel development company can help you upgrade to Laravel 10:

Assessment and planning:

A Laravel development agency can assess your current Laravel application and plan the upgrade process. They can identify any compatibility issues, recommend the best approach, and provide a timeline for the upgrade.

Custom development:

If your application requires custom development, a Laravel development agency can create a customized plan for the upgrade process that meets your specific needs.

Code review and optimization:

We review and optimize your code for Laravel 10. This can include refactoring deprecated code, improving performance, and implementing best practices.

Testing and quality assurance:

A Laravel development company can thoroughly test your application to ensure all features and functionality work as expected. They can also perform quality assurance to ensure your application is of the highest quality.

Training and support:

We will provide training and support for your team to help them understand the new features and changes in Laravel 10.

Ongoing maintenance and support:

We provides ongoing maintenance and support for your application after the upgrade to ensure it performs at its best.

Whether upgrading an existing Laravel application or starting a new project from scratch, it is essential to work with a team of experienced developers who can guide you through the upgrade process and help you get the most out of Laravel 10.

By staying up-to-date on the latest version of Laravel and following best practices for upgrading, developers can build high-quality web applications that meet users' needs and keep pace with the ever-changing world of web development.