Learn Laravel by Exploring Open-Source Projects
For developers starting their journey, getting practical experience can be a chicken-and-egg problem. Without hands-on exposure to real projects, it’s difficult to build the skills needed to land opportunities. Yet, without those opportunities, gaining experience feels impossible. This is where open-source projects become a godsend.
By exploring and contributing to these projects, you not only learn how professional applications are built but also get a chance to see how seasoned developers solve real-world problems.
Even for experienced developers, exploring open-source projects can be incredibly valuable. These projects offer a chance to see diverse coding styles, learn advanced techniques, and discover innovative ways of solving complex problems.
Laravel is one of the most popular PHP frameworks for building modern web applications. While tutorials and documentation provide a great foundation, diving into real-world open-source projects can offer invaluable insights into best practices, architecture, and advanced features of Laravel.
Below, I’ve compiled a list of notable Laravel-based projects, along with descriptions and learning opportunities for each.
Let's dive in. 👇
1. Cachet
Cachet is an open-source status page system for monitoring and displaying service uptime.
Project URL: Cachet on Github
What to Learn:
- Building real-time dashboards with Laravel.
- Managing scheduled tasks with Laravel’s Task Scheduler.
- Creating APIs for external integrations.
- Using various types of notifications.
- Using Reponsitory pattern in Laravel apps.
- How to handle storage and retrieval of metric (analytics) data.
2. Monica
Monica is a personal relationship management tool designed to help users manage their personal contacts and interactions.
Project URL: Monica on Github
What to Learn:
- Domain-driven (DDD) design using Laravel.
3. BookStack
BookStack is a platform for creating and organizing documentation and knowledge bases.
Project URL: BookStack on Github
What to Learn:
- Managing rich text editors and integrating Markdown parsing.
- Creating nested content structures and permission systems.
- Employing policies and gates for authorization.
- Writing good tests using PHPunit.
4. Flarum
Flarum is a forum software that emphasizes simplicity and flexibility.
Project URL: Flarum on Github
What to Learn:
- Extending Laravel with plugins and extensions.
- Handling user authentication and roles.
- Managing real-time interactions with WebSockets.
5. Coolify
Coolify is an open-source tool to self-host applications effortlessly.
Project URL: Coolify on Github
What to Learn:
- Automating deployments and server management with Laravel.
- Using Docker & Docker compose with Laravel applications.
- Implementing queue systems for background tasks.
6. Bagisto
Bagisto is an open-source e-commerce platform built on Laravel.
Project URL: Bagisto on Github
What to Learn:
- Building and customizing e-commerce features like product catalogs, orders, and inventory management.
- How to work with Vue.js in Laravel.
- Extending Laravel using packages and modular architecture.
- Implementing multi-language and multi-currency support.
7. OctoberCMS
OctoberCMS is a content management system built on Laravel.
Project URL: OctoberCMS on Github
What to Learn:
- Building content management systems using Laravel.
- Working with themes and plugins.
- Leveraging Laravel’s event system for extensibility.
8. Invoice Ninja
Invoice Ninja is an invoicing and billing platform for freelancers and small businesses.
Project URL: InvoiceNinja on Github
What to Learn:
- Generating PDFs dynamically using Laravel.
- Handling events & listeners.
- Using Livewire components in Laravel apps.
- Building robust REST APIs.
9. Akaunting
Akaunting is an open-source accounting software.
Project URL: Akaunting on Github
What to Learn:
- Implementing financial calculations and reporting features.
- Using Vue.js and TailwindCSS in Laravel.
- Handling Laravel Jobs.
- Sending emails & notifications.
- Handling multi-tenancy in a Laravel application.
- Extending functionality with app modules.
10. Pterodactyl
Pterodactyl is a game server management platform.
Project URL: Pterodactyl on Github
What to Learn:
- Using Laravel with Docker to manage server instances.
- Securing sensitive operations with detailed role-based access control.
- Monitoring server performance and resource usage.
11. Canvas
Canvas is a content management system specifically for bloggers.
Project URL: Canvas on Github
What to Learn:
- Building blogging platforms with Laravel.
- Managing user-generated content and media files.
- Implementing SEO-friendly features.
12. TastyIgniter
TastyIgniter is an open-source restaurant management system with online ordering features.
Project URL: TastyIgniter on Github
What to Learn:
- Building custom management systems for niche industries.
- Integrating third-party APIs for payments and notifications.
- Handling real-time order tracking and updates.
Exploring these projects offers a fantastic opportunity to see Laravel in action. By reviewing the codebases, you can understand how seasoned developers structure their applications, solve complex problems, and use Laravel’s rich ecosystem to build robust solutions.
Happy learning! 🤘
