Getting Started

Install with composer require <vendor>/<package> (confirm the exact package name from its composer.json / Packagist entry).
Start with the README, then inspect src/, the service provider, config/, and tests/. Because v1.0.0 is the first working release, the tests are likely the most reliable source of intended usage.
Check composer.json for Laravel version constraints and package auto-discovery. If auto-discovery is absent, register the service provider manually in config/app.php (or bootstrap/providers.php on newer Laravel versions).
Publish any package config with php artisan vendor:publish --provider="..." and review defaults before changing them.
First practical use case: install it in a throwaway Laravel app, run the package’s own test suite, then wire one real call into a controller or artisan command to confirm the container bindings and configuration work.

Implementation Patterns

Pin the exact version ("vendor/package": "1.0.0") until the API has a few releases behind it. v1.0.0 is a baseline, not a stability guarantee.
Prefer constructor injection over facades where the package exposes both. It keeps package usage testable and makes future API changes easier to isolate.
Wrap package calls behind a small application-level adapter or service class. That gives you one place to adjust if method signatures or config keys change.
Keep package configuration in config/ and environment-specific overrides in .env. Avoid editing vendor files.
If the package provides events, macros, or extension hooks, use those rather than extending internal classes.
Add integration tests around your usage points: service provider registration, config resolution, and one representative success path.
Mirror the package’s Travis CI matrix locally or in your own CI. At minimum, test the PHP and Laravel versions your application actually supports.

This is the first working release. Expect undocumented behavior, missing upgrade guides, and possible API changes in early minor releases. Read the changelog before every update.
“Travis CI enabled” only means CI exists; inspect .travis.yml to see which PHP/Laravel combinations are actually tested. Do not assume coverage matches your stack.
Package auto-discovery may not be configured. If classes are not resolving, run php artisan package:discover and verify the provider is registered.
Config caching can hide changes: run php artisan config:clear after editing published config or .env values.
Publishing config may overwrite local changes. Use --force deliberately and keep published config under version control.
When debugging container resolution, check the service provider’s bindings and whether the package expects a singleton or a fresh instance.
If documentation is thin, treat the test suite as the contract. Add your own characterization tests before relying on behavior that is not documented.
Extension points are likely limited at v1.0.0. Prefer composition and application-level adapters over monkey-patching or subclassing internals.