- Can I use Architect for a Laravel SaaS admin dashboard with 10+ tables and complex workflows?
- Architect is designed for data-heavy admin interfaces, so it handles multiple tables well. For complex workflows, you’ll need to extend its Blade components or use Laravel middleware for custom logic. Start with a single resource to test fit before scaling.
- How do I install and set up Architect in a Laravel 10 project?
- Run `composer require entelechy/architect`, then publish assets with `php artisan vendor:publish --tag=architect`. Configure Tailwind (default) or override CSS. Define a `Resource` class in `app/Resources` to map Eloquent models to UI components.
- Does Architect support Laravel’s authorization (Gates/Policies) for row-level permissions?
- Yes, Architect integrates with Laravel’s native auth system. Use Gates or Policies to restrict table actions (e.g., `edit`, `delete`) per row. The package doesn’t include built-in RBAC, so leverage Laravel’s existing tools for granular control.
- Will Architect work with my existing Bootstrap/Alpine.js frontend stack?
- Architect defaults to Tailwind CSS, which may conflict with Bootstrap. You can override styles via Blade or config, but expect manual effort to align components. For Alpine.js, use it within Blade templates, but avoid mixing with Architect’s JS if it relies on jQuery or similar.
- How do I customize the toolbar or add bulk actions like ‘Export to CSV’?
- Extend the toolbar via Blade overrides or use Architect’s `architect.table.actions` hook. For bulk operations, define custom methods in your `Resource` class and bind them to toolbar buttons. Complex workflows may require middleware or Laravel Jobs.
- Is Architect suitable for high-traffic admin panels (e.g., 10K+ requests per second)?
- Architect isn’t optimized for extreme scale out-of-the-box. Cache Blade views with Laravel’s cache tags or use a micro-frontend approach for critical paths. For supersearch, consider Algolia/Meilisearch to offload query load from Eloquent.
- Can I integrate real-time updates (e.g., WebSocket-driven stats) with Architect’s tables?
- Architect’s Blade-based tables aren’t designed for real-time updates, but you can embed Laravel Echo/Pusher JS in Blade templates to refresh data via AJAX. For dynamic stats, use Laravel’s broadcasting with a separate component outside Architect’s scope.
- What are the alternatives to Architect for Laravel admin panels, and when should I choose them?
- For teams comfortable with Laravel, **FilamentPHP** (modern, feature-rich) or **Nova** (Laravel’s official tool) are better-supported. **Backpack** is a solid alternative for CRUD-heavy apps. Choose Architect only if you need lightweight, Blade-native control without a plugin ecosystem.
- How do I test Architect’s Blade components in PHPUnit/Pest?
- Mock Blade views by testing underlying logic (e.g., `Resource` methods) and asserting rendered HTML with `assertStringContainsString`. Use Laravel’s `Testing` facade to simulate requests. Architect lacks built-in testing utilities, so focus on Eloquent and service-layer tests.
- Does Architect support multi-tenancy or soft-deletes out of the box?
- No, Architect doesn’t include multi-tenancy or soft-deletes natively. Use Laravel’s global scopes (e.g., `GlobalScope`) for soft deletes or middleware for tenant context. Extend the `Resource` class to filter queries dynamically based on your tenancy logic.