- What is mnapoli/dotlock used for?
- dotlock is a small PHP library that implements dotlock-style file locking so applications can create lock files and coordinate access between concurrent processes. Its stated purpose in this listing is secure secrets for local Laravel development, and its API covers acquiring, checking, and releasing locks. The 0.1.0 release notes are minimal, so confirm the exact use case by reading the source and composer.json before adopting it.
- How do I install mnapoli/dotlock in a Laravel application?
- The standard path is Composer with composer require mnapoli/dotlock, but the provided release notes do not document Laravel auto-discovery, service provider registration, or config publishing. Install it on a throwaway branch first and inspect the resolved dependency tree in CI. Do not assume any Artisan commands or configuration files exist until you have verified them in the source.
- Which Laravel and PHP versions does dotlock support?
- The available context does not state a Laravel version range or a PHP version floor, and the 0.1.0 release does not publish a compatibility matrix. You must validate support against your own Laravel and PHP matrix rather than relying on the package metadata. A quick composer require in a scratch project will show the constraints it declares.
- Is dotlock production-ready at version 0.1.0?
- Treat it as evaluate, not adopt. A 0.1.0 release labelled only First release provides no semver stability guarantee, and pre-1.0 minor bumps may introduce breaking changes. The TPM assessment flags high technical risk from single-maintainer bus factor, no visible CI or test evidence in the release notes, and no stated support policy. It should not enter a critical path without a bounded spike.
- How does dotlock acquire, check, and release locks?
- dotlock is described as implementing dotlock-style file locking, with a simple API for acquiring, checking, and releasing locks. That means your application creates lock files to coordinate access and prevent concurrent processes from clashing. The exact method names, timeout behaviour, and stale-lock handling are not documented in the release notes, so read the public API surface in the source before designing around it.
- Does dotlock require configuration, migrations, or a service provider?
- Unknown from the provided overview. The TPM assessment explicitly lists whether the package requires config publishing, migrations, or queue workers as one of the unknowns to resolve. At 0.1.0, schema changes or data migrations would materially raise the exit cost and should be treated as a red flag. Inspect composer.json and the package source during the spike.
- Can dotlock help manage secrets for local Laravel development?
- The listing describes dotlock as secure secrets for local Laravel development, while the library blurb focuses on dotlock-style file locking. Those two descriptions should be reconciled by reading the README and source, because the provided README excerpt is empty. If it does handle secrets, confirm how files are stored, permissioned, and kept out of version control before relying on it.
- How should I test a dotlock integration in Laravel?
- Run composer require on a throwaway branch, resolve the dependency tree in CI, and run your existing test suite with the package installed. Add focused tests around lock acquisition, contention, and release behaviour, including failure paths, because the release notes do not show a test suite or coverage evidence. For a non-critical pilot, soak it in a background job or low-blast-radius service with monitoring before widening use.
- What are alternatives to dotlock for Laravel secret management or file locking?
- For secrets, Laravel developers commonly compare dotlock with framework-native environment handling, encrypted secret stores, and dedicated vault services. For file locking, compare it with native PHP flock, Symfony Lock, and database-backed locks. Because dotlock is pre-1.0 with an unproven surface, keep it behind an internal interface you own so it remains a swappable implementation detail.
- Who maintains mnapoli/dotlock and is there a roadmap to 1.0?
- The package is published under the mnapoli namespace, and the context identifies a single-maintainer bus factor as a risk. There is no stated deprecation policy, support window, or path to 1.0 in the available release notes. Ask the maintainer directly and treat a 1.0 release, if it arrives, as a fresh evaluation gate rather than an automatic approval.