Chief Laravel Package

Getting Started

This assessment is for thinktomorrow/chief 0.10.0, which refactors fragments and URLs and improves multisite behavior in the core. Treat 0.10.0 as a meaningful upgrade: read the published upgrade guide first, then run the provided upgrade command to autofix common backward-compatibility issues.

Minimal first steps:

1. Review the 0.10.0 upgrade guide and PR #1258 before changing dependencies.
2. Update the package constraint and run composer update thinktomorrow/chief.
3. Run the package upgrade command from the guide in a non-production environment.
4. Clear config, route, view, and application caches.
5. Run the application test suite, especially anything covering fragments, URL generation, routing, and site scoping.

Where to look first:

• config/chief.php and any published package config.
• Package migrations and service provider bindings.
• Existing app code that queries fragment or URL models directly.
• Route definitions and URL helpers used in Blade, controllers, and redirects.
• Multisite configuration/models and middleware that establishes site context.

A good first use case after upgrading is a small multisite page: create one page backed by a fragment, resolve its URL through the package, and verify it renders correctly for each configured site. This exercises the two main refactor areas in 0.10.0: fragments and URLs, under multisite behavior.

Implementation Patterns

Upgrade workflow

• Run the upgrade in a branch with a clean working tree so autofixes are easy to review.
• Run the package upgrade command before manually editing fragment/URL code.
• Search for direct references to package models, route names, URL helpers, and fragment rendering APIs.
• Keep the upgrade command output and diff in the pull request for review.

Multisite integration

• Establish site context as early as possible, typically in middleware or a request resolver.
• Scope fragment and URL lookups by the active site rather than relying on global queries.
• Centralize site resolution in one service or context object; avoid passing site IDs ad hoc through controllers and views.
• Test cross-site behavior explicitly: same path on different sites, fallback site behavior, canonical URL generation, and admin preview URLs.
• Make cache keys site-aware anywhere cached fragments, URLs, menus, or rendered content are stored.

Fragments

• Treat fragments as reusable content units and access them through the package’s public APIs rather than raw Eloquent queries where possible.
• Validate fragment references when saving admin forms so broken references fail early.
• Render fragments through the package rendering path so future fragment refactors do not require view-by-view changes.
• Add regression tests for fragment rendering, especially if the app customizes fragment views or data access.

URLs and routing

• Generate package-managed URLs through the package helpers instead of hard-coded paths.
• Update redirects, canonical tags, sitemap generation, and menu builders to use the refactored URL APIs.
• Use route model binding carefully in multisite apps; ensure bindings are scoped to the active site.
• Snapshot or assert generated URLs in tests because URL refactors can change output without changing application logic.

Day-to-day development

• Keep custom fragment types, URL resolvers, and site resolvers behind config or small extension classes.
• Use factories and seeders that create content for more than one site so multisite regressions are visible locally.
• In queues and scheduled jobs, explicitly set site context before resolving fragments or URLs. Do not assume the web request context exists.

Gotchas and Tips

• Do not skip the upgrade guide. The fragments and URL refactor is the kind of change that can affect model APIs, rendering paths, route generation, and stored references.
• The upgrade command is not a complete migration tool. It autofixes common backward-compatibility issues, but custom code, views, tests, and hard-coded URLs still need manual review.
• Multisite context leaks are the main risk. Missing or stale site context can produce the wrong fragment, wrong URL, or content from another site. Check middleware order and any code that resolves sites manually.
• Clear caches after upgrading. Config cache, route cache, view cache, and application cache can mask new bindings or URL behavior.
• Check queued jobs and console commands. Web requests may have site context; jobs and commands often do not. Set it explicitly before using fragment or URL APIs.
• Review URL output changes. The URL refactor may alter generated paths, canonical URLs, redirects, or route names. Update tests, sitemaps, and frontend assumptions accordingly.
• Search for direct fragment/URL model usage. Direct queries are the most likely place for backward-compatibility problems after a core refactor.
• Debug multisite issues with route and config inspection. Use php artisan route:list, inspect the active site resolver, and log the resolved site ID during URL generation.
• Prefer package extension points over patching vendor code. Publish config, override documented views, and use custom fragment or site resolver classes where supported.
• Pin and stage the upgrade. Roll out 0.10.0 to staging first, run the upgrade command there, and compare generated URLs and fragment output before production.