When I started building Nextup, I wanted a stack that would let me move fast without painting myself into a corner. I'd used Laravel before for small things, but this was the first time I leaned on it for something I planned to run for years.
This is a sample note body. Replace it with the real story: what you set out to build, what surprised you, and what you'd tell someone starting the same project tomorrow.
1. Conventions are a feature
The biggest win wasn't any one package. It was not having to make a hundred small decisions about where things go. That freed up time for the decisions that actually mattered to customers.
public function handle(Opportunity $opp): Rep
“The best code I wrote this year was the code I didn't have to think about twice.”
2. What I'd do differently
A few things I'd change on day one next time:
- Write the boring admin tools first. You'll use them every day.
- Put real users on it before it feels ready.
- Log everything you'll wish you had in six months.
3. The takeaway
Pick tools that get out of your way, then spend the saved time with the people you're building for. That's it. Build useful things.