- Can Picotainer replace Laravel’s built-in container entirely?
- No, Picotainer is not designed for full replacement. It lacks Laravel-specific features like `singleton()`, `bindIf()`, or facade support. Use it for isolated modules (e.g., CLI tools) while delegating to Laravel’s container for core dependencies.
- How do I integrate Picotainer with Laravel’s `app()` helper?
- Pass Laravel’s container as a delegate to Picotainer during initialization: `$picotainer = new Picotainer([], app());`. This enables fallback resolution for missing services. Avoid mixing scopes (Picotainer defaults to prototype, Laravel to singleton).
- Is Picotainer compatible with Laravel 10+ and PHP 8.2?
- No, Picotainer’s last release (2017) lacks PHP 8.x support. Test thoroughly for named arguments, union types, or constructor property promotion. Consider forking or using alternatives like `php-di/php-di` if modern PHP features are critical.
- How does Picotainer handle singleton services compared to Laravel?
- Picotainer defaults to prototype scope (new instance per request). To mimic Laravel’s singleton behavior, manually cache resolved instances in your closure: `$container['service'] = fn() => $container->has('service') ? $container['service'] : new Service();`.
- Can I use Picotainer for unit testing Laravel services?
- Yes, Picotainer’s minimalism reduces test boilerplate. Replace Laravel’s container with Picotainer in tests to isolate dependencies. Example: `$container = new Picotainer([...]); $service = $container->get(MyService::class);`.
- What are the performance implications of Picotainer vs. Laravel’s container?
- Picotainer has lower overhead (24 LoC) but lacks Laravel’s optimizations (e.g., caching, autowiring). Benchmark for your use case: Picotainer excels in high-frequency operations (e.g., queue workers) where Laravel’s container adds latency. Use Laravel’s container for core services.
- How do I debug Picotainer in a Laravel app?
- Picotainer lacks Laravel’s `dd(app())` or `php artisan container:inspect`. Use `var_dump($picotainer->get('service'))` or log container entries. For delegate lookups, inspect the delegate container separately (e.g., `app()->get('service')`).
- Are there security risks using an unmaintained DI container?
- Low risk for Picotainer itself, but no active maintenance means no patches for PHP core CVEs or Container-Interop updates. Audit dependencies manually. For critical apps, use maintained alternatives like `aura/di` or `php-di/php-di`.
- How do I migrate from Laravel’s container to Picotainer for specific services?
- Refactor service providers to bind dependencies to Picotainer instead of Laravel’s container. Example: Replace `$this->app->bind(...)` with `$picotainer['service'] = fn() => new Service($picotainer->get('dependency'));`. Use delegate lookup for shared services.
- What alternatives to Picotainer support Laravel and modern PHP?
- For Laravel compatibility: `php-di/php-di` (autowiring, PHP 8.2+) or `aura/di` (PSR-11, modular). For minimalism: `league/container` (PSR-11, actively maintained). Evaluate based on features (e.g., autowiring, macros) and maintenance status.