Pipeline Laravel Package

Getting Started

Start by requiring the package: composer require illuminate/pipeline. If you're in a Laravel app, it's already included—no extra setup needed. For standalone projects, bootstrap a simple pipeline with send($value)->through([...pipes])->thenReturn(). A first use case: chain validation and normalization steps for incoming API data—e.g., cast types, validate required fields, and transform dates—without bloating controllers.

Implementation Patterns

• Middleware-style processing: Replace ad-hoc conditionals with pipes for cross-cutting concerns (auth, logging, rate limiting). Each pipe accepts the payload, modifies it, and returns it—or short-circuits by not calling $next($payload).
• Domain workflows: Model complex processes (e.g., order fulfillment) as a pipeline: ApplyDiscount → ValidateStock → ReserveInventory → SendConfirmation. Pipes stay small, testable, and composable.
• Container-based pipes: Use send($payload)->through(['App\Pipes\ValidateEmail', ValidatePhone::class])->resolveUsing(app())→thenReturn(). Ideal when pipes depend on services (e.g., repositories, mailers).
• Reusability: Build generic pipelines (e.g., ValidationPipeline, AuditPipeline) and parametrize them—e.g., inject rules or callbacks—to reuse across handlers, jobs, and console commands.
• Custom endpoints: Override then() to run final aggregation logic (e.g., summarizing pipeline results), or use pipe() to return the instance for deferred execution.

Gotchas and Tips

• Silent failures: If a pipe omits return $payload, the next stage receives null. Always explicitly return the payload—even if unmodified—to avoid subtle bugs.
• Mutable state leaks: Pipelines mutate shared objects in-place. Clone payloads (clone $order) when idempotency matters (e.g., retries, dry-runs).
• Exception handling: Uncaught exceptions halt the chain. Wrap thenReturn() in try/catch, or add a final pipe that logs errors and returns a fallback.
• Testability: Avoid closures in production pipelines—use invokable classes or explicit handle($payload, callable $next) methods for easy mocking and assertion.
• Order optimization: Place cheap, high-impact filters first (e.g., isAuthenticated, isValidInput) before expensive operations (DB queries, external API calls).
• Extensibility hooks: Extend Pipeline to inject tracing (e.g., timings per pipe), circuit breakers, or context-aware fallbacks—override handlePipe() to intercept pipe execution.
• Debugging: Use ->pipe(fn ($payload) => dump("Step X: ", $payload)) sparingly; better yet, log payload snapshots with context via a dedicated debug pipe.