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Laravel Boost Guidelines
The Laravel Boost guidelines are specifically curated by Laravel maintainers for this application. These guidelines should be followed closely to enhance the user's satisfaction building Laravel applications.
Foundational Context
This application is a Laravel application and its main Laravel ecosystems package & versions are below. You are an expert with them all. Ensure you abide by these specific packages & versions.
- php - 8.3.27
- inertiajs/inertia-laravel (INERTIA) - v2
- laravel/framework (LARAVEL) - v12
- laravel/prompts (PROMPTS) - v0
- laravel/wayfinder (WAYFINDER) - v0
- laravel/mcp (MCP) - v0
- laravel/pint (PINT) - v1
- laravel/sail (SAIL) - v1
- pestphp/pest (PEST) - v4
- phpunit/phpunit (PHPUNIT) - v12
- @inertiajs/vue3 (INERTIA) - v2
- tailwindcss (TAILWINDCSS) - v4
- vue (VUE) - v3
- @laravel/vite-plugin-wayfinder (WAYFINDER) - v0
- eslint (ESLINT) - v9
- prettier (PRETTIER) - v3
Conventions
- You must follow all existing code conventions used in this application. When creating or editing a file, check sibling files for the correct structure, approach, and naming.
- Use descriptive names for variables and methods. For example,
isRegisteredForDiscounts, notdiscount(). - Check for existing components to reuse before writing a new one.
Verification Scripts
- Do not create verification scripts or tinker when tests cover that functionality and prove it works. Unit and feature tests are more important.
Application Structure & Architecture
- Stick to existing directory structure; don't create new base folders without approval.
- Do not change the application's dependencies without approval.
Frontend Bundling
- If the user doesn't see a frontend change reflected in the UI, it could mean they need to run
npm run build,npm run dev, orcomposer run dev. Ask them.
Replies
- Be concise in your explanations - focus on what's important rather than explaining obvious details.
Documentation Files
- You must only create documentation files if explicitly requested by the user.
=== boost rules ===
Laravel Boost
- Laravel Boost is an MCP server that comes with powerful tools designed specifically for this application. Use them.
Artisan
- Use the
list-artisan-commandstool when you need to call an Artisan command to double-check the available parameters.
URLs
- Whenever you share a project URL with the user, you should use the
get-absolute-urltool to ensure you're using the correct scheme, domain/IP, and port.
Tinker / Debugging
- You should use the
tinkertool when you need to execute PHP to debug code or query Eloquent models directly. - Use the
database-querytool when you only need to read from the database.
Reading Browser Logs With the browser-logs Tool
- You can read browser logs, errors, and exceptions using the
browser-logstool from Boost. - Only recent browser logs will be useful - ignore old logs.
Searching Documentation (Critically Important)
- Boost comes with a powerful
search-docstool you should use before any other approaches when dealing with Laravel or Laravel ecosystem packages. This tool automatically passes a list of installed packages and their versions to the remote Boost API, so it returns only version-specific documentation for the user's circumstance. You should pass an array of packages to filter on if you know you need docs for particular packages. - The
search-docstool is perfect for all Laravel-related packages, including Laravel, Inertia, Livewire, Filament, Tailwind, Pest, Nova, Nightwatch, etc. - You must use this tool to search for Laravel ecosystem documentation before falling back to other approaches.
- Search the documentation before making code changes to ensure we are taking the correct approach.
- Use multiple, broad, simple, topic-based queries to start. For example:
['rate limiting', 'routing rate limiting', 'routing']. - Do not add package names to queries; package information is already shared. For example, use
test resource table, notfilament 4 test resource table.
Available Search Syntax
- You can and should pass multiple queries at once. The most relevant results will be returned first.
- Simple Word Searches with auto-stemming - query=authentication - finds 'authenticate' and 'auth'.
- Multiple Words (AND Logic) - query=rate limit - finds knowledge containing both "rate" AND "limit".
- Quoted Phrases (Exact Position) - query="infinite scroll" - words must be adjacent and in that order.
- Mixed Queries - query=middleware "rate limit" - "middleware" AND exact phrase "rate limit".
- Multiple Queries - queries=["authentication", "middleware"] - ANY of these terms.
=== php rules ===
PHP
- Always use curly braces for control structures, even if it has one line.
Constructors
- Use PHP 8 constructor property promotion in
__construct().- public function __construct(public GitHub $github) { }
- Do not allow empty
__construct()methods with zero parameters unless the constructor is private.
Type Declarations
- Always use explicit return type declarations for methods and functions.
- Use appropriate PHP type hints for method parameters.
Comments
- Prefer PHPDoc blocks over inline comments. Never use comments within the code itself unless there is something very complex going on.
PHPDoc Blocks
- Add useful array shape type definitions for arrays when appropriate.
Enums
- Typically, keys in an Enum should be TitleCase. For example:
FavoritePerson,BestLake,Monthly.
=== inertia-laravel/core rules ===
Inertia
- Inertia.js components should be placed in the
resources/js/Pagesdirectory unless specified differently in the JS bundler (vite.config.js). - Use
Inertia::render()for server-side routing instead of traditional Blade views. - Use the
search-docstool for accurate guidance on all things Inertia.
=== inertia-laravel/v2 rules ===
Inertia v2
- Make use of all Inertia features from v1 and v2. Check the documentation before making any changes to ensure we are taking the correct approach.
Inertia v2 New Features
- Deferred props.
- Infinite scrolling using merging props and
WhenVisible. - Lazy loading data on scroll.
- Polling.
- Prefetching.
Deferred Props & Empty States
- When using deferred props on the frontend, you should add a nice empty state with pulsing/animated skeleton.
Inertia Form General Guidance
- The recommended way to build forms when using Inertia is with the
<Form>component - a useful example is below. Use thesearch-docstool with a query ofform componentfor guidance. - Forms can also be built using the
useFormhelper for more programmatic control, or to follow existing conventions. Use thesearch-docstool with a query ofuseForm helperfor guidance. resetOnError,resetOnSuccess, andsetDefaultsOnSuccessare available on the<Form>component. Use thesearch-docstool with a query ofform component resettingfor guidance.
=== laravel/core rules ===
Do Things the Laravel Way
- Use
php artisan make:commands to create new files (i.e. migrations, controllers, models, etc.). You can list available Artisan commands using thelist-artisan-commandstool. - If you're creating a generic PHP class, use
php artisan make:class. - Pass
--no-interactionto all Artisan commands to ensure they work without user input. You should also pass the correct--optionsto ensure correct behavior.
Database
- Always use proper Eloquent relationship methods with return type hints. Prefer relationship methods over raw queries or manual joins.
- Use Eloquent models and relationships before suggesting raw database queries.
- Avoid
DB::; preferModel::query(). Generate code that leverages Laravel's ORM capabilities rather than bypassing them. - Generate code that prevents N+1 query problems by using eager loading.
- Use Laravel's query builder for very complex database operations.
Model Creation
- When creating new models, create useful factories and seeders for them too. Ask the user if they need any other things, using
list-artisan-commandsto check the available options tophp artisan make:model.
APIs & Eloquent Resources
- For APIs, default to using Eloquent API Resources and API versioning unless existing API routes do not, then you should follow existing application convention.
Controllers & Validation
- Always create Form Request classes for validation rather than inline validation in controllers. Include both validation rules and custom error messages.
- Check sibling Form Requests to see if the application uses array or string based validation rules.
Queues
- Use queued jobs for time-consuming operations with the
ShouldQueueinterface.
Authentication & Authorization
- Use Laravel's built-in authentication and authorization features (gates, policies, Sanctum, etc.).
URL Generation
- When generating links to other pages, prefer named routes and the
route()function.
Configuration
- Use environment variables only in configuration files - never use the
env()function directly outside of config files. Always useconfig('app.name'), notenv('APP_NAME').
Testing
- When creating models for tests, use the factories for the models. Check if the factory has custom states that can be used before manually setting up the model.
- Faker: Use methods such as
$this->faker->word()orfake()->randomDigit(). Follow existing conventions whether to use$this->fakerorfake(). - When creating tests, make use of
php artisan make:test [options] {name}to create a feature test, and pass--unitto create a unit test. Most tests should be feature tests.
Vite Error
- If you receive an "Illuminate\Foundation\ViteException: Unable to locate file in Vite manifest" error, you can run
npm run buildor ask the user to runnpm run devorcomposer run dev.
=== laravel/v12 rules ===
Laravel 12
- Use the
search-docstool to get version-specific documentation. - Since Laravel 11, Laravel has a new streamlined file structure which this project uses.
Laravel 12 Structure
- In Laravel 12, middleware are no longer registered in
app/Http/Kernel.php. - Middleware are configured declaratively in
bootstrap/app.phpusingApplication::configure()->withMiddleware(). bootstrap/app.phpis the file to register middleware, exceptions, and routing files.bootstrap/providers.phpcontains application specific service providers.- The
app\Console\Kernel.phpfile no longer exists; usebootstrap/app.phporroutes/console.phpfor console configuration. - Console commands in
app/Console/Commands/are automatically available and do not require manual registration.
Database
- When modifying a column, the migration must include all of the attributes that were previously defined on the column. Otherwise, they will be dropped and lost.
- Laravel 12 allows limiting eagerly loaded records natively, without external packages:
$query->latest()->limit(10);.
Models
- Casts can and likely should be set in a
casts()method on a model rather than the$castsproperty. Follow existing conventions from other models.
=== wayfinder/core rules ===
Laravel Wayfinder
Wayfinder generates TypeScript functions and types for Laravel controllers and routes which you can import into your client-side code. It provides type safety and automatic synchronization between backend routes and frontend code.
Development Guidelines
- Always use the
search-docstool to check Wayfinder correct usage before implementing any features. - Always prefer named imports for tree-shaking (e.g.,
import { show } from '@/actions/...'). - Avoid default controller imports (prevents tree-shaking).
- Run
php artisan wayfinder:generateafter route changes if Vite plugin isn't installed.
Feature Overview
- Form Support: Use
.form()with--with-formflag for HTML form attributes —<form {...store.form()}>→action="/posts" method="post". - HTTP Methods: Call
.get(),.post(),.patch(),.put(),.delete()for specific methods —show.head(1)→{ url: "/posts/1", method: "head" }. - Invokable Controllers: Import and invoke directly as functions. For example,
import StorePost from '@/actions/.../StorePostController'; StorePost(). - Named Routes: Import from
@/routes/for non-controller routes. For example,import { show } from '@/routes/post'; show(1)for route namepost.show. - Parameter Binding: Detects route keys (e.g.,
{post:slug}) and accepts matching object properties —show("my-post")orshow({ slug: "my-post" }). - Query Merging: Use
mergeQueryto merge withwindow.location.search, set values tonullto remove —show(1, { mergeQuery: { page: 2, sort: null } }). - Query Parameters: Pass
{ query: {...} }in options to append params —show(1, { query: { page: 1 } })→"/posts/1?page=1". - Route Objects: Functions return
{ url, method }shaped objects —show(1)→{ url: "/posts/1", method: "get" }. - URL Extraction: Use
.url()to get URL string —show.url(1)→"/posts/1".
Example Usage
// Import controller methods (tree-shakable)... import { show, store, update } from '@/actions/App/Http/Controllers/PostController'// Get route object with URL and method...
show(1) // { url: "/posts/1", method: "get" }
// Get just the URL...
show.url(1) // "/posts/1"
// Use specific HTTP methods...
show.get(1) // { url: "/posts/1", method: "get" }
show.head(1) // { url: "/posts/1", method: "head" }
// Import named routes...
import { show as postShow } from '@/routes/post' // For route name 'post.show'
postShow(1) // { url: "/posts/1", method: "get" }
Wayfinder + Inertia
If your application uses the <Form> component from Inertia, you can use Wayfinder to generate form action and method automatically.
=== pint/core rules ===
Laravel Pint Code Formatter
- You must run
vendor/bin/pint --dirtybefore finalizing changes to ensure your code matches the project's expected style. - Do not run
vendor/bin/pint --test, simply runvendor/bin/pintto fix any formatting issues.
=== pest/core rules ===
Pest
Testing
- If you need to verify a feature is working, write or update a Unit / Feature test.
Pest Tests
- All tests must be written using Pest. Use
php artisan make:test --pest {name}. - You must not remove any tests or test files from the tests directory without approval. These are not temporary or helper files - these are core to the application.
- Tests should test all of the happy paths, failure paths, and weird paths.
- Tests live in the
tests/Featureandtests/Unitdirectories. - Pest tests look and behave like this: it('is true', function () { expect(true)->toBeTrue(); });
Running Tests
- Run the minimal number of tests using an appropriate filter before finalizing code edits.
- To run all tests:
php artisan test --compact. - To run all tests in a file:
php artisan test --compact tests/Feature/ExampleTest.php. - To filter on a particular test name:
php artisan test --compact --filter=testName(recommended after making a change to a related file). - When the tests relating to your changes are passing, ask the user if they would like to run the entire test suite to ensure everything is still passing.
Pest Assertions
-
When asserting status codes on a response, use the specific method like
assertForbiddenandassertNotFoundinstead of usingassertStatus(403)or similar, e.g.: it('returns all', function () { $response = $this->postJson('/api/docs', []);$response->assertSuccessful(); });
Mocking
- Mocking can be very helpful when appropriate.
- When mocking, you can use the
Pest\Laravel\mockPest function, but always import it viause function Pest\Laravel\mock;before using it. Alternatively, you can use$this->mock()if existing tests do. - You can also create partial mocks using the same import or self method.
Datasets
- Use datasets in Pest to simplify tests that have a lot of duplicated data. This is often the case when testing validation rules, so consider this solution when writing tests for validation rules.
=== pest/v4 rules ===
Pest 4
- Pest 4 is a huge upgrade to Pest and offers: browser testing, smoke testing, visual regression testing, test sharding, and faster type coverage.
- Browser testing is incredibly powerful and useful for this project.
- Browser tests should live in
tests/Browser/. - Use the
search-docstool for detailed guidance on utilizing these features.
Browser Testing
- You can use Laravel features like
Event::fake(),assertAuthenticated(), and model factories within Pest 4 browser tests, as well asRefreshDatabase(when needed) to ensure a clean state for each test. - Interact with the page (click, type, scroll, select, submit, drag-and-drop, touch gestures, etc.) when appropriate to complete the test.
- If requested, test on multiple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari).
- If requested, test on different devices and viewports (like iPhone 14 Pro, tablets, or custom breakpoints).
- Switch color schemes (light/dark mode) when appropriate.
- Take screenshots or pause tests for debugging when appropriate.
Example Tests
it('may reset the password', function () { Notification::fake();$this->actingAs(User::factory()->create());
$page = visit('/sign-in'); // Visit on a real browser...
$page->assertSee('Sign In')
->assertNoJavascriptErrors() // or ->assertNoConsoleLogs()
->click('Forgot Password?')
->fill('email', 'nuno@laravel.com')
->click('Send Reset Link')
->assertSee('We have emailed your password reset link!')
Notification::assertSent(ResetPassword::class);
});
$pages = visit(['/', '/about', '/contact']);$pages->assertNoJavascriptErrors()->assertNoConsoleLogs();
=== inertia-vue/core rules ===
Inertia + Vue
- Vue components must have a single root element.
- Use
router.visit()or<Link>for navigation instead of traditional links.
import { Link } from '@inertiajs/vue3'
<Link href="/">Home</Link>
=== inertia-vue/v2/forms rules ===
Inertia v2 + Vue Forms
<div v-if="errors.name">
{{ errors.name }}
</div>
<button type="submit" :disabled="processing">
{{ processing ? 'Creating...' : 'Create User' }}
</button>
<div v-if="wasSuccessful">User created successfully!</div>
=== tailwindcss/core rules ===
Tailwind CSS
- Use Tailwind CSS classes to style HTML; check and use existing Tailwind conventions within the project before writing your own.
- Offer to extract repeated patterns into components that match the project's conventions (i.e. Blade, JSX, Vue, etc.).
- Think through class placement, order, priority, and defaults. Remove redundant classes, add classes to parent or child carefully to limit repetition, and group elements logically.
- You can use the
search-docstool to get exact examples from the official documentation when needed.
Spacing
- When listing items, use gap utilities for spacing; don't use margins.
Dark Mode
- If existing pages and components support dark mode, new pages and components must support dark mode in a similar way, typically using
dark:.
=== tailwindcss/v4 rules ===
Tailwind CSS 4
- Always use Tailwind CSS v4; do not use the deprecated utilities.
corePluginsis not supported in Tailwind v4.- In Tailwind v4, configuration is CSS-first using the
@themedirective — no separatetailwind.config.jsfile is needed.
- In Tailwind v4, you import Tailwind using a regular CSS
@importstatement, not using the@tailwinddirectives used in v3:
Replaced Utilities
- Tailwind v4 removed deprecated utilities. Do not use the deprecated option; use the replacement.
- Opacity values are still numeric.
| Deprecated | Replacement | |------------+--------------| | bg-opacity-* | bg-black/* | | text-opacity-* | text-black/* | | border-opacity-* | border-black/* | | divide-opacity-* | divide-black/* | | ring-opacity-* | ring-black/* | | placeholder-opacity-* | placeholder-black/* | | flex-shrink-* | shrink-* | | flex-grow-* | grow-* | | overflow-ellipsis | text-ellipsis | | decoration-slice | box-decoration-slice | | decoration-clone | box-decoration-clone |