# Laravel Valkyrie Use this skill when a Laravel application needs to integrate the Laravel Valkyrie package: database-backed roles and abilities answered through the Gate, with forbids that beat allows, scoped grants, and ownership grants. ## Primary Goal - apply the `signl-no/laravel-valkyrie` package's public API in the smallest correct way ## Workflow ### 1. Install and wire up - `composer require signl-no/laravel-valkyrie` then `php artisan migrate` (creates the four `valkyrie_*` tables; provider and `Valkyrie` facade alias are auto-discovered) - add `Signl\Valkyrie\Concerns\HasRolesAndAbilities` to each actor model (usually `User`); the Gate bridge activates automatically for models using the trait - publish config only when a default must change: `php artisan vendor:publish --tag=laravel-valkyrie-config` - schema changes (e.g. adding a `tenant_id` column): `php artisan vendor:publish --tag=laravel-valkyrie-migrations`, then set `valkyrie.migrations => false`; the published file keeps its original filename, so nothing runs twice. Table renames need only the config, never the migration. ### 2. Grant, assign, check - grant: `$user->allow()->to('export-reports')`, `->to(['view','update'], Report::class)`, `->toManage(Report::class, except: [...])`, `->toOwn(Report::class, only: [...])`, `->everything()` - forbid (always beats allows): `$user->forbid()->to('delete', Report::class)`; remove rows with `Valkyrie::disallow(...)` / `Valkyrie::unforbid(...)` (removing an unknown ability is a no-op) - roles: `Valkyrie::role('manager', 'Manager')`, `Valkyrie::allow($role)->toManage(Report::class)`, `$user->assign('manager')`, `$user->retract('manager')` - check through Laravel's own surface — `$user->can(...)`, `Gate::allows(...)`, `@can`, `$this->authorize(...)`, route `->can(...)` — or explicitly via `Valkyrie::can($user, 'approve', on: $office)`; `Valkyrie::check()` returns the raw tri-state (`true|false|null`, null falls through to policies) - role checks: `$user->isA('manager')` (any scope), `$user->isA('manager', $office)` (globally or in that scope), `Valkyrie::holdsGlobalRole($user, 'manager')` (global assignments only) ### 3. Protect routes and views - middleware (pre-registered aliases, any-of semantics): `->middleware('role:system-admin')`, `->middleware('ability:view-posts,edit-posts')`; guests get 401, denied users 403 via `AuthorizationException` - scope caveat: `role:` counts only global assignments; a trailing `any` (`role:manager,any`) also accepts assignments in any scope — never protect cross-organization routes with `role:...,any` when roles are assigned per scope; check `isA($role, $scope)` explicitly instead. `ability:` matches only global (scope-`null`) grants - Blade: `@role('manager') ... @else ... @endrole` (global assignments only; `@role('manager', $office)` checks globally or in that scope, `@role('manager', 'any')` any scope), `@unlessrole('manager') ... @endrole`; use the built-in `@can` for abilities ### 4. Scopes, ownership, tenancy (when needed) - scope any grant/assignment to one model: `Valkyrie::allow($user, $office)->to('approve')`, `$user->assign('manager', $office)`; matching is exact, never inherited - let an entity carry its own scope by implementing `Signl\Valkyrie\Contracts\ScopedEntity::accessScope()`; it always replaces `on:`, and `null` means global - ownership: `$user->allow()->toOwn(Report::class)`; default owner attribute is `user_id`, override via `Valkyrie::ownedVia(Report::class, 'author_id')` or a closure. Attribute rules only match actors of the auth user model; other actor types (service accounts) need a closure - deleting an actor removes its grants and role assignments (on `forceDelete()` for soft-deleting models); add `Signl\Valkyrie\Concerns\IsAccessScope` to scope models so deleting one removes everything scoped to it - multi-tenancy: Valkyrie ships no tenancy layer. - database-per-tenant works unchanged; cache keys include the name and database of the connection the models use, so no cache configuration is needed. If the default connection stays central while a separate tenant connection switches, point the models at it with subclasses that set `$connection` - single database, shared tables: scope rows through extended models (add your tenancy package's trait, publish the migration for the `tenant_id` column) and set `valkyrie.cache.partition` to a class implementing `Signl\Valkyrie\Contracts\CachePartition` that returns the active tenant's key - organizations inside one app: use scopes instead of a tenancy package ### 5. Extend models (when needed) - subclass `Signl\Valkyrie\Models\{Role,Ability,Permission,AssignedRole}` and register the subclass under `valkyrie.models.*`; class attributes (`#[Fillable]`, `#[UseFactory]`) are inherited, so only add what changes (e.g. `#[ObservedBy]` for auditing, or a tenancy trait) - listen to the after-commit events in `Signl\Valkyrie\Events` (`AbilityGranted`, `AbilityForbidden`, `AbilityRevoked`, `RoleAssigned`, `RoleRetracted`) for audit/logging ### 6. Operate - `php artisan valkyrie:grant-superuser {email}` — idempotent lockout guard granting the configured superuser role (`valkyrie.superuser.role`) with everything - querying actors: `User::whereCan('view', Report::class)`, `User::whereIs('manager', $office)`; `whereCan` excludes owner-only grants by design - cache is versioned and self-invalidating (commit-safe, per-actor precision, rollback-safe); model writes outside the facade are covered by model events; after mass queries on `valkyrie_*` tables call `Valkyrie::refresh()`; `Valkyrie::refreshFor($actor)` invalidates one actor; toggle the store layer via `VALKYRIE_CACHE` env ## Rules, References, and Templates Read before executing: Paths are inside the installed package (`vendor/signl-no/laravel-valkyrie/`): - `CHEATSHEET.md` — one-page summary of setup, checks and which rule wins - `docs/reference/api.md` — every public method by class; `docs/reference/configuration.md` — config keys, env vars, publish tags - `docs/how-to/` — task recipes: scopes, ownership, routes and views, querying actors, multi-tenancy, schema, extending models, testing - `docs/explanation/rule-resolution.md` — forbid-wins resolution, entity and scope matching - `docs/explanation/known-limitations.md` — deliberate trade-offs and workarounds ## Examples - gate an admin panel: `Valkyrie::role('system-admin')`, `Valkyrie::allow($role)->everything()`, `$user->assign('system-admin')`, protect routes with `->middleware('role:system-admin')` - per-office managers: `$user->assign('manager', $office)` plus `Report implements ScopedEntity` returning its office — `$user->can('update', $report)` then checks inside the report's office automatically; add `IsAccessScope` to `Office` so deleting an office removes its scoped rules - service-account ownership: `Valkyrie::ownedVia(Job::class, fn (Job $job, Model $actor): bool => $actor instanceof ServiceAccount && $job->service_account_id === $actor->getKey())` - tests in a consuming app: create rules with the shipped factories (`Role::factory()->scopedTo($office)`, `Permission::factory()->grantedTo($user)->forbidden()`) or grant via the facade, then assert with `$user->can(...)` ## Anti-patterns - do not write `valkyrie_*` rows by hand when the facade/trait API covers it; direct model writes bypass events (a safety net still fixes the cache), and mass queries bypass both - do not change `valkyrie.morphs.*` once permission rows exist — role grants store the alias in `entity_type` - do not configure a `valkyrie.models.*` class that does not extend the package base model (it throws) - do not rely on `whereCan` to find actors whose only access is an owner-only grant - do not protect per-organization routes with `role:...,any` or `@role('...', 'any')`; check the role in its scope - do not expect an attribute ownership rule (`user_id`, `author_id`) to match non-user actors; use a closure - do not document or use package internals (`AbilityResolver`, `AbilityCache`) from app code; the facade and trait are the public surface

Laravel Valkyrie

Use this skill when a Laravel application needs to integrate the Laravel Valkyrie package: database-backed roles and abilities answered through the Gate, with forbids that beat allows, scoped grants, and ownership grants.

Primary Goal

apply the signl-no/laravel-valkyrie package's public API in the smallest correct way

Workflow

1. Install and wire up

composer require signl-no/laravel-valkyrie then php artisan migrate (creates the four valkyrie_* tables; provider and Valkyrie facade alias are auto-discovered)
add Signl\Valkyrie\Concerns\HasRolesAndAbilities to each actor model (usually User); the Gate bridge activates automatically for models using the trait
publish config only when a default must change: php artisan vendor:publish --tag=laravel-valkyrie-config
schema changes (e.g. adding a tenant_id column): php artisan vendor:publish --tag=laravel-valkyrie-migrations, then set valkyrie.migrations => false; the published file keeps its original filename, so nothing runs twice. Table renames need only the config, never the migration.

2. Grant, assign, check

grant: $user->allow()->to('export-reports'), ->to(['view','update'], Report::class), ->toManage(Report::class, except: [...]), ->toOwn(Report::class, only: [...]), ->everything()
forbid (always beats allows): $user->forbid()->to('delete', Report::class); remove rows with Valkyrie::disallow(...) / Valkyrie::unforbid(...) (removing an unknown ability is a no-op)
roles: Valkyrie::role('manager', 'Manager'), Valkyrie::allow($role)->toManage(Report::class), $user->assign('manager'), $user->retract('manager')
check through Laravel's own surface — $user->can(...), Gate::allows(...), @can, $this->authorize(...), route ->can(...) — or explicitly via Valkyrie::can($user, 'approve', on: $office); Valkyrie::check() returns the raw tri-state (true|false|null, null falls through to policies)
role checks: $user->isA('manager') (any scope), $user->isA('manager', $office) (globally or in that scope), Valkyrie::holdsGlobalRole($user, 'manager') (global assignments only)

3. Protect routes and views

middleware (pre-registered aliases, any-of semantics): ->middleware('role:system-admin'), ->middleware('ability:view-posts,edit-posts'); guests get 401, denied users 403 via AuthorizationException
scope caveat: role: counts only global assignments; a trailing any (role:manager,any) also accepts assignments in any scope — never protect cross-organization routes with role:...,any when roles are assigned per scope; check isA($role, $scope) explicitly instead. ability: matches only global (scope-null) grants
Blade: @role('manager') ... @else ... @endrole (global assignments only; @role('manager', $office) checks globally or in that scope, @role('manager', 'any') any scope), @unlessrole('manager') ... @endrole; use the built-in @can for abilities

4. Scopes, ownership, tenancy (when needed)

scope any grant/assignment to one model: Valkyrie::allow($user, $office)->to('approve'), $user->assign('manager', $office); matching is exact, never inherited
let an entity carry its own scope by implementing Signl\Valkyrie\Contracts\ScopedEntity::accessScope(); it always replaces on:, and null means global
ownership: $user->allow()->toOwn(Report::class); default owner attribute is user_id, override via Valkyrie::ownedVia(Report::class, 'author_id') or a closure. Attribute rules only match actors of the auth user model; other actor types (service accounts) need a closure
deleting an actor removes its grants and role assignments (on forceDelete() for soft-deleting models); add Signl\Valkyrie\Concerns\IsAccessScope to scope models so deleting one removes everything scoped to it
multi-tenancy: Valkyrie ships no tenancy layer.
- database-per-tenant works unchanged; cache keys include the name and database of the connection the models use, so no cache configuration is needed. If the default connection stays central while a separate tenant connection switches, point the models at it with subclasses that set $connection
- single database, shared tables: scope rows through extended models (add your tenancy package's trait, publish the migration for the tenant_id column) and set valkyrie.cache.partition to a class implementing Signl\Valkyrie\Contracts\CachePartition that returns the active tenant's key
- organizations inside one app: use scopes instead of a tenancy package

5. Extend models (when needed)

subclass Signl\Valkyrie\Models\{Role,Ability,Permission,AssignedRole} and register the subclass under valkyrie.models.*; class attributes (#[Fillable], #[UseFactory]) are inherited, so only add what changes (e.g. #[ObservedBy] for auditing, or a tenancy trait)
listen to the after-commit events in Signl\Valkyrie\Events (AbilityGranted, AbilityForbidden, AbilityRevoked, RoleAssigned, RoleRetracted) for audit/logging

6. Operate

php artisan valkyrie:grant-superuser {email} — idempotent lockout guard granting the configured superuser role (valkyrie.superuser.role) with everything
querying actors: User::whereCan('view', Report::class), User::whereIs('manager', $office); whereCan excludes owner-only grants by design
cache is versioned and self-invalidating (commit-safe, per-actor precision, rollback-safe); model writes outside the facade are covered by model events; after mass queries on valkyrie_* tables call Valkyrie::refresh(); Valkyrie::refreshFor($actor) invalidates one actor; toggle the store layer via VALKYRIE_CACHE env

Rules, References, and Templates

Read before executing:

Paths are inside the installed package (vendor/signl-no/laravel-valkyrie/):

CHEATSHEET.md — one-page summary of setup, checks and which rule wins
docs/reference/api.md — every public method by class; docs/reference/configuration.md — config keys, env vars, publish tags
docs/how-to/ — task recipes: scopes, ownership, routes and views, querying actors, multi-tenancy, schema, extending models, testing
docs/explanation/rule-resolution.md — forbid-wins resolution, entity and scope matching
docs/explanation/known-limitations.md — deliberate trade-offs and workarounds

Examples

gate an admin panel: Valkyrie::role('system-admin'), Valkyrie::allow($role)->everything(), $user->assign('system-admin'), protect routes with ->middleware('role:system-admin')
per-office managers: $user->assign('manager', $office) plus Report implements ScopedEntity returning its office — $user->can('update', $report) then checks inside the report's office automatically; add IsAccessScope to Office so deleting an office removes its scoped rules
service-account ownership: Valkyrie::ownedVia(Job::class, fn (Job $job, Model $actor): bool => $actor instanceof ServiceAccount && $job->service_account_id === $actor->getKey())
tests in a consuming app: create rules with the shipped factories (Role::factory()->scopedTo($office), Permission::factory()->grantedTo($user)->forbidden()) or grant via the facade, then assert with $user->can(...)

Anti-patterns

do not write valkyrie_* rows by hand when the facade/trait API covers it; direct model writes bypass events (a safety net still fixes the cache), and mass queries bypass both
do not change valkyrie.morphs.* once permission rows exist — role grants store the alias in entity_type
do not configure a valkyrie.models.* class that does not extend the package base model (it throws)
do not rely on whereCan to find actors whose only access is an owner-only grant
do not protect per-organization routes with role:...,any or @role('...', 'any'); check the role in its scope
do not expect an attribute ownership rule (user_id, author_id) to match non-user actors; use a closure
do not document or use package internals (AbilityResolver, AbilityCache) from app code; the facade and trait are the public surface