Aaron Saray
Appears in 115 Episodes
Should developers have access to production?
> Developer: "I just need to SSH in real quick"> Server admin: "No"Have you had this discussion? Listen in as Joel and Aaron talk about their experience on teams of di...
Pick a coding standard, any one will do
Where should I place this curly brace? Trailing commas or not? Have you encountered disagreements about coding standards on your team. In this episode we explain the b...
The art of asking and answering questions
We've all been stuck with something we didn't know. Should you ask for help? And how? Or if someone on your team asks you a question, how can you handle it best? We di...
Testing 1 ... 2 ... 3, let's talk testing
What are the big 3 types of tests we use on our projects? How do we decide which to use? Listen in as we discuss this and more.Need help improving your testing strateg...
Guarded vs fillable, fight!
It's no tabs versus spaces, but it's close. Do you use guarded or fillable in your Laravel models? Aaron and Joel share their default approach, as well as several reas...
Don't ignore that pain!
It's easy to get used to things that cause us friction or pain in our development process. In this episode, we discuss how to avoid that trap and how to evaluate when ...
Validation is your friend
Validation may seem boring, but it's a vital part of any Laravel application. Joel and Aaron share some tips on validation along with exciting news about a new resourc...
Always be ready to hand off the project
Why is it important to think about a future project hand-off at the beginning of a client relationship? Aaron and Joel share their approach.Sign up for our Laravel tip...
Finding and fixing a performance issue
Last episode we discussed how to deal with a "slow app" complaint. This episode we discuss some technical approaches to find and fix the issue.Sign up for our Laravel ...
Someone said my app is slow. Now what?
The dreaded support ticket gets filed: App is slow! Before you get defensive or close as "Won't fix", consider a few tips on how to successfully approach this situatio...
How long does it take to get your project running?
Aaron and Joel have joined a fair number of projects over the years. Listen as they share some tips on how to make process less painful for your team.Sign up for our L...
Is it a good idea to install that package?
Laravel and PHP have a rich ecosystem, but it's good to weigh the pros and cons before reaching for a new package. We share some things to consider.Sign up for our Lar...
Where do I start making things better?
Where are some good starting points for modernizing and improving a legacy codebase? Joel and Aaron discuss a few ideas where you could start.Sign up for our Laravel t...
How long is that going to take?
The eternal question that every developer hears: How long is that going to take? Aaron and Joel discuss some ways to frame that question, and how to provide an estimat...
Getting started with a legacy codebase
Stepping into an unfamiliar codebase with a long history can be a challenge. Aaron and Joel share some tips on how to get started and build confidence that you're maki...
Why even review when my code is perfect?
Some shy away from code review, not wanting to be critiqued. Aaron and Joel share some tips on how to get the most out of code reviews, and things to look for as a cod...
Are you testing me?
Aaron and Joel talk about why they write tests and what sorts of tests they find valuable.00:00 Why do we write tests?03:05 Implied trust in packages04:15 What do you ...
What is the one true way to do this?
We discuss a couple scenarios where there's more than one way to do something, and how we think through our decision.00:00 How to pick what file to put this code in?01...
Did you just tell me to read the manual?
How do you learn a new technology? Or how do you find out what's changed in the latest version of something you already use? Aaron and Joel share some tips on what the...
Do you have a clear mental model?
The technologies we work with are extremely detailed. Without a clear mental model of how things work together, it's easy to get lost or confused.00:00 A common patter...
The best argument is no argument
Disagreements and debate can sap your team's energy. We'll talk about some ways to avoid unnecessary conflicts, and how to successfully handle a difference of opinion ...
What's with these flaky tests?
Croissants are great because they're flaky, but no one likes a flaky test. We share some strategies on how to make your tests more reliable.00:00 Flaky tests are the w...
When should I upgrade my Laravel project?
00:00 The desire to upgrade to a shiny new Laravel version02:20 I actually enjoy maintenance03:48 An analogy with cars04:30 The importance of communication05:30 Making...
How do you figure out why your code isn't working?
00:00 The thought process when you get stuck01:40 An example with CSS03:40 Tools that can help locally06:15 Using a debugger to learn about Laravel06:30 Tools that can...
When is the right time to automate a dev task?
00:00 The urge to automate everything01:49 Document before you automate02:45 Weighing time spent versus time saved03:30 Automation isn't maintenance-free04:08 Types of...