- What is SurvLoop and what does it do?
- SurvLoop is an open data engine built on top of Laravel. You design a database schema, SurvLoop generates a mobile-friendly interface for people to fill it, and then you can share and report on the collected data. It is aimed at teams building surveys, forms, and data-driven systems who do not want to start from scratch. The package bundles branching logic, database-backed forms, reports, and an admin area for managing responses and content.
- How do I install SurvLoop in a Laravel application?
- Install it with Composer using the package name rockhopsoft/survloop, then run the install and migration tooling it ships with to create the tables it depends on. Because SurvLoop is a full data engine rather than a small helper library, you should follow the repository README and documentation for the exact commands and configuration steps. Install into a fresh or staging database first so you can confirm the migrations and default content seed cleanly.
- Which Laravel versions does SurvLoop support?
- SurvLoop is built atop Laravel, so its supported framework and PHP versions are declared in the package's composer.json constraints. Check those constraints and the repository README before adding it to an existing application, especially if you are on the newest Laravel release. If you are planning a Laravel upgrade, verify SurvLoop compatibility first or test the upgrade on a branch.
- How does branching logic work in SurvLoop surveys?
- Forms support conditional branching so later questions appear only when earlier answers make them relevant. The logic lives with the form definition in the database, which means you can adjust the flow through the admin interface rather than rewriting controller code. This makes it practical to build multi-path surveys and intake forms without a custom state machine.
- Can I customize the database schema and forms in SurvLoop?
- Yes, schema design is the core idea behind the package: you define your data structure and SurvLoop builds forms around it. Forms and page content are database-backed, so they can be edited after launch instead of being hardcoded in Blade templates. For deeper changes you can extend the underlying Eloquent models and views the same way you would in any Laravel package.
- Does SurvLoop include an admin interface for managing responses?
- Yes, SurvLoop provides an admin interface for managing submitted responses, forms, and site content. That means non-developers can review or edit records and adjust content without touching the codebase. You should still review the default authentication and authorization setup and restrict admin access before going live.
- Can SurvLoop generate reports or export survey data?
- SurvLoop includes reporting features, and sharing the collected data is part of the engine's stated purpose. For custom exports, you can query the package's tables through Eloquent or the query builder and feed the results into your own CSV, spreadsheet, or API output. Review the documentation for the built-in report options before writing custom reporting code.
- Is the SurvLoop user interface mobile-friendly?
- Yes, the generated data-entry interface is described as mobile-friendly, which matters because most survey and form traffic now comes from phones. The forms are rendered server-side by Laravel, so you can still apply your own CSS or theme overrides. Test your key forms on real devices, particularly any long branching flows.
- How should I test a Laravel app that uses SurvLoop?
- Because SurvLoop is database-driven, run its migrations in your test environment and use Laravel's testing tools against a dedicated test database. Feature tests should cover your critical form paths, including the branches that hide or reveal questions. Seed the forms you depend on so tests do not break when content is edited in the admin interface.
- Is SurvLoop actively maintained, and what are the alternatives?
- Check the GitHub repository for recent commits, releases, and open issue activity before committing to it, since maintenance cadence matters for long-lived applications. Alternatives include general Laravel admin and form packages such as Filament or Nova, or dedicated survey platforms if you do not need the data to live inside your own application. If you need full control over schema and hosting, SurvLoop's database-first approach is its main advantage.