- Can I use Pokio to speed up Laravel migrations or Artisan commands?
- Yes! Pokio lets you parallelize blocking operations like database queries or API calls in migrations or Artisan commands. For example, run multiple `Schema::table()` calls concurrently by wrapping them in `async()` and awaiting results. Just ensure tasks are stateless and under 5 minutes.
- Will Pokio work with Laravel 10 or 11?
- Pokio is compatible with Laravel 10 and 11, but it requires PHP 8.3+. It integrates seamlessly with Artisan commands and testing frameworks like Pest. Check the [GitHub repo](https://github.com/nunomaduro/pokio) for the latest Laravel version support.
- How do I install Pokio in a Laravel project?
- Install via Composer: `composer require nunomaduro/pokio`. Requires PHP 8.3+ and the `pcntl` and `ffi` extensions. If extensions are missing, Pokio falls back to sequential execution gracefully. Verify with `php -m | grep -E 'pcntl|ffi'` before installing.
- Is Pokio safe for production use?
- No, Pokio is **not production-safe**. It’s designed for internal tooling, CI/CD, or local development (e.g., Pest test parallelization). It lacks retries, dead-letter queues, and distributed coordination. Use Laravel queues or Symfony Messenger for production async tasks.
- How does Pokio handle database connections in parallel tasks?
- Shared database connections can cause race conditions. Pokio doesn’t manage connections automatically, so you must manually disconnect after tasks: `DB::disconnect()` in a `finally()` block. For safety, use transactions or explicit locks for shared resources.
- Can I debug Pokio-powered Artisan commands with Xdebug?
- Yes! Pokio auto-disables forking in debug mode (XDEBUG_SESSION=1). Child processes won’t interfere with debugging. However, debug sessions may slow down parallel execution, so test thoroughly in CI/local environments.
- What’s the maximum number of parallel tasks Pokio can handle?
- Pokio doesn’t enforce limits, but your OS and PHP process limits apply. Monitor `ulimit -u` (Linux/macOS) or task manager tools. For CI, start with 4–8 parallel tasks and adjust based on available CPU/memory. Avoid exceeding system limits to prevent crashes.
- How do I handle errors in async tasks?
- Use `catch()` and `finally()` with promises, just like JavaScript. Example: `await(async(fn() => sleep(1)))->catch(fn($e) => error_log($e))->finally(fn() => cleanup());`. Nested errors may propagate uncleanly, so wrap critical tasks in try-catch blocks.
- Are there alternatives to Pokio for Laravel async tasks?
- For production, use Laravel queues (database/Redis) or Symfony Messenger. For local/dev, consider `spatie/async` (simpler) or `reactphp` (event-loop based). Pokio’s strength is its minimal async/await syntax, but it lacks production features like retries or clustering.
- Will Pokio work in shared hosting or Docker containers?
- Pokio requires `pcntl` and `ffi`, which may not be available in shared hosting. In Docker, ensure the PHP image includes these extensions (e.g., `php:8.3-cli-pcntl-ffi`). Test fallbacks by disabling extensions temporarily to confirm graceful degradation.