Cache Bundle Laravel Package

Product Decisions This Supports

• Platform modernization roadmap: The package now requires PHP 8.1+ and Symfony 6, making it a forcing function for upgrading your runtime and dependency stack. This release directly informs decisions about when to schedule PHP 8.1 migration, whether to support older PHP versions in your own product, and how to sequence Symfony 4 → 6 transitions.
• Caching backend strategy: Dropping Memcache support means any product or infrastructure relying on Memcache via this package must migrate to Memcached (or another backend). This is a build-vs-buy and infrastructure decision: invest in migrating cache backends now or defer by pinning to the previous major version.
• Feature eligibility and support matrices: If your product’s compatibility matrix includes PHP 8.0 or Symfony 4, this release signals that the ecosystem is moving on. PMs should update support policies, documentation, and customer-facing requirements accordingly.
• Dependency risk management: Major version 6.0.0 is a breaking release. This supports decisions about upgrade timing, regression testing scope, and whether to adopt early versus wait for ecosystem stability (e.g., Laravel/Symfony integration updates).
• Use-case validation: Confirm whether this package still fits your caching or integration use cases after Memcache removal. If your architecture depends on Memcache, this is a signal to reassess the package against alternatives.

When to Consider This Package

Consider adopting/upgrading when:

• Your application runs on PHP 8.1 or later and uses Symfony 6 (or Laravel with Symfony 6 components).
• You need a maintained caching abstraction that aligns with modern PHP types and language features.
• You are not dependent on Memcache as a backend; Memcached or other supported backends meet your needs.
• You are planning a broader platform upgrade and want dependencies that are actively tracking current framework versions.

Look elsewhere or defer when:

• You are still on PHP 8.0 or earlier, or Symfony 4/5, and cannot upgrade soon — pin to the prior major version and plan migration.
• Your infrastructure or product requirements mandate Memcache support — this release removes it, so either stay on the old version or evaluate an alternative package/backend.
• You need long-term support for legacy stacks; this release’s BC breaks indicate the package is optimizing for modern environments, not backward compatibility.

How to Pitch It (Stakeholders)

For executives: This release modernizes the package to require PHP 8.1 and Symfony 6 and removes outdated Memcache support. It keeps our dependency stack current, improves security and performance by leveraging modern PHP features, and reduces long-term maintenance burden. The trade-off is a planned upgrade effort: we must ensure our runtime is on PHP 8.1+, migrate any Memcache usage, and regression-test before adopting version 6.

For engineering: Version 6.0.0 is a breaking change: PHP 8.1+ is required, Symfony 4 support is dropped, Memcache is no longer supported, and the code now uses PHP 8.1 types and features. Plan the upgrade as part of a platform modernization sprint. Validate that no services depend on Memcache through this package, update composer constraints, run the full test suite, and check upstream Laravel/Symfony integration compatibility. If immediate upgrade is not feasible, pin to the previous major and schedule migration.