Taylor Otwell has announced the release of several new framework features that were demoed at LaraconUS. Highlights include the new defer() function, which delays tasks until the response is sent. The Cache::flexible method implements a stale-while-revalidate pattern, refreshing the cache in the background. The Concurrency facade enables concurrent execution of closures. Additional updates include temporary signed URLs in the local filesystem and intuitive when helpers for Blade/Livewire templates. There is a new log function, the firstOrFail method for query builders, and a convenient Skip queue middleware for skipping queued jobs conditionally. Check out the release notes for more details.

Have you missed Laracon US 2024? Don’t worry! All the sessions are now available for you to watch on YouTube. Dive into a range of topics, from Laravel’s latest features to industry best practices, presented by leading experts. Whether you want to revisit your favorite talks or catch up on what you missed, you can stream the entire event lineup.

The retry() helper allows you to attempt a piece of logic multiple times with a delay between each attempt, perfect for handling transient failures like network issues or temporary service outages.

$result = retry(
  5, // times
  fn() => attemptCriticalOperation(),
  100, // delay between retries
); 

Support for Composer 1.x is coming to an end. The repository will shift to read-only mode on February 25, and will be completely shut down by August 1.

Pest 3 has arrived, introducing Mutation Testing and Arch Presets along with enhanced Team Management capabilities. This update includes a revamped Configuration API and improvements in Architectural Testing to boost code quality and facilitate more efficient team collaboration.

This week, we’re featuring PHP-TUI, which is heavily inspired by the Rust package Ratatui. It brings a Terminal User Interface (TUI) to PHP and allows you to create interactive CLI applications with visual components such as windows, forms, and menus. Ideal for developers aiming to improve the user experience of their command-line scripts, this package provides a robust way to build dynamic and user-friendly terminal applications.

In Mux’s latest blog post, the author revisits PHP after years away, discovering how Laravel and the broader ecosystem have transformed it into a modern, versatile language. The post offers a great starting point for those on the fence about PHP, showcasing Laravel tools like Herd and other ecosystem advantages. It’s a solid overview for developers considering diving into PHP again or for the first time.

Explore the enhanced Performance Panel in Chrome DevTools, designed to optimize web performance and Core Web Vitals. Learn to access and utilize new features, customize CrUX data, and integrate these tools into your development workflow for improved site performance.