It's easy to overcomplicate data modeling, especially when enums, relationships, and future requirements are in play. In the latest episode of the No Compromises podcast, Joel brings Aaron a real-world technical dilemma: how to model a relationship between two models when types are stored as enums, not models. We discuss the pros and cons of pivot tables versus JSON columns, the importance of context before jumping to solutions, and how developer instincts can sometimes get in the way of clarity.(00:00) - Setting up the technical problem
(02:00) - Pivot tables vs JSON columns
(05:15) - Filtering and validation considerations
(07:15) - Deciding on the best approach
(09:50) - Silly bit
Would you like us to review your code or application architecture?
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11:50
Read outside tech to expand your horizons
It's easy to get so laser-focused on programming and tech, that you close yourself off to other avenues of learning.In the latest episode of the No Compromises podcast, Aaron argues that non-tech reading can sharpen your engineering thinking.We discuss balancing breadth without diluting focus, and how to turn casual reading into active learning with quick capture habits.(00:00) - An example from a book on business
(03:30) - Don’t go too broad
(05:15) - Practice active learning
(07:15) - Read something different
(07:30) - Silly bit
You should still read our Laravel books though.
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Rewriting without a map: shipping an MVP from a legacy app
Multiple times we have encountered the messy reality of rebuilding a decade-old system: stale specs, missing specs, and stakeholders who want "the same… but better." In the latest episode of the No Compromises podcast, we share a lightweight framework for agreeing on an MVP, tagging "post-MVP" ideas, and negotiating trade-offs while still making progress.We walk through practical tactics for parallelizing work and learning as you go.(00:00) - Rebuilding an old system without copying its flaws
(02:00) - Two extremes: too many specs or none at all
(03:00) - MVP tension: ship value vs. future wishes
(04:45) - Define MVP, capture unknowns as post-MVP tickets
(05:30) - Build the first slice and learn
(07:00) - Code foundations while refining scope
(08:30) - Trade-offs as collaboration, not confrontation
(09:30) - Takeaway: progress, check-ins, iterate together
(10:00) - Silly bit
Want to join one of our community dev calls?
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11:53
A composable, versioned toolkit for Laravel projects
We join a fair number of projects, and we often help teams bring their project up to our standard. This means bringing a lot of the same small pieces from project to project.In the latest episode of the No Compromises podcast, we rethink our “project standard” repo. Instead of a full Laravel skeleton, we propose a composable library of tool-specific, versioned configs (PHPUnit, Docker, etc.). We walk through the benefits for greenfield and legacy work, open questions about test organization, and how this approach scales as tools evolve.(00:00) - Why we keep our tooling current
(00:15) - The “project standard” repo is aging
(01:30) - Reference guide vs installable skeleton
(02:30) - Supporting old and new stacks (versions, tags)
(03:30) - Pivot: organize by tool and version, not app
(04:30) - Example plan: folders for PHPUnit 11/12 (and beyond)
(05:15) - What belongs where? Tests, traits, and context
(10:00) - Docker-first thinking; where Horizon config lives
(11:15) - Open questions: PHPUnit vs Pest vs “testing” folder
(12:15) - Takeaway: evolve the repo as the tools evolve
(12:45) - Silly bit
Want help making your project as organized as one of our projects?
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Should you use DTOs in Laravel?
DTOs (Data Transfer Objects) aren't mentioned anywhere in the Laravel docs, but some devs use them heavily in their applications, whereas other devs never use them at all.In the latest episode of the No Compromises podcast, we weigh the pros and cons of DTOs in everyday Laravel apps, comparing them to form requests, PHPDoc-typed arrays, and service-layer boundaries, and share one area where DTOs truly shine. The takeaway: keep DTOs in the toolbox, but reach for them intentionally, not by habit.(00:00) - Framing DTOs in a stricter PHP world
(01:15) - Our current practice: hybrids, few true DTOs
(02:45) - Form requests, `safe()`, and typed inputs
(03:45) - Reuse across API and form layers rarely aligns
(04:30) - Where DTOs shine: normalizing multiple APIs
(05:45) - Service boundaries: wrapping vendor objects (e.g., Stripe)
(06:15) - PHPDoc-typed arrays vs DTO overhead
(06:45) - Conventions, Larastan levels, and avoiding ceremony
(07:45) - Treat DTOs as a tool, not a rule
(09:15) - Silly bit
Want to discuss how we can help you with an architecture review?
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