- How do I install LightnCandy in a Laravel project?
- Install it with Composer using zordius/lightncandy, then add a thin Laravel adapter because the package is framework-agnostic and does not ship a Laravel service provider. In that adapter, bind a renderer interface, configure the compiled-template cache path and compile flags, and register any helpers or partials. Keep application code depending on your adapter rather than calling LightnCandy directly.
- Is LightnCandy a drop-in replacement for Laravel Blade?
- No. LightnCandy is a standalone Handlebars and Mustache compiler, not a Laravel-native view engine, so it should not replace Blade for normal application views. Use it only for isolated template families such as transactional emails, notifications, shared frontend/backend templates, or PDF/export rendering where Handlebars or Mustache compatibility is required. Keep Blade as the default and document a rollback path.
- Does LightnCandy support Laravel 11 and PHP 8.2?
- The last LightnCandy release was July 2021, so Laravel 11 and PHP 8.2 compatibility must be validated rather than assumed. Pin the package version and run a spike against your exact Laravel and PHP matrix, testing rendering, escaping, partials, helpers, OPcache interaction, and whitespace parity. Budget for patches or an internal fork if upgrade issues appear.
- How does LightnCandy make Handlebars and Mustache rendering faster?
- LightnCandy compiles Handlebars and Mustache templates into plain PHP code, removing runtime parsing overhead and producing output close to native PHP performance. In Laravel, compile templates at deploy time and pre-warm the cache instead of compiling on request hot paths. The compiled PHP files are OPcache-friendly, but you still need a consistent cache strategy across nodes.
- Can I register Handlebars helpers and partials when using LightnCandy with Laravel?
- Yes. LightnCandy supports Handlebars helpers, partials, blocks, and context, and your Laravel adapter should centralize their registration and configuration. Treat helpers as exposed PHP callables: register only approved helpers and avoid broad or user-controlled registration. For partials, enforce path controls to prevent traversal and keep partial lookup limited to trusted directories.
- How should I cache compiled LightnCandy templates in a Laravel app?
- Configure a writable cache directory outside the web root for compiled templates, and make the path and compile flags part of your Laravel config. Pre-warm templates during deployment, invalidate by template hash when templates change, and keep the same cache strategy across all nodes. Monitor disk usage and avoid runtime compilation on hot paths.
- Is LightnCandy safe for user-editable templates?
- Be cautious: compiled templates are PHP files and helpers can expose PHP callables, so user-editable templates create template-injection and code-execution risk. LightnCandy is safer when templates are developer-authored, helpers are tightly restricted, and partial paths are controlled. If templates must be user-authored, add strong sandboxing, review controls, and isolation before production use.
- How do I migrate existing Handlebars or Mustache templates to server-side rendering in Laravel?
- Move templates incrementally from client-side Handlebars or Mustache to server-side rendering while keeping the same syntax and test fixtures. Start with one low-risk template set and prove render parity, escaping behavior, partial resolution, and helper semantics before expanding. Do not rewrite Blade views; use LightnCandy only where cross-stack template reuse is a real requirement.
- What alternatives should I consider to LightnCandy for Laravel templating?
- The main alternative is to keep Blade for Laravel-native views and use LightnCandy only where Handlebars or Mustache compatibility is mandatory. If you need another Mustache or Handlebars implementation, evaluate its Laravel and PHP support, maintenance activity, escaping behavior, and helper/partial model against your requirements. The supplied context does not benchmark specific alternatives, so verify provenance and upgrade risk before choosing.
- How do I maintain LightnCandy in production after its 2021 release?
- Treat LightnCandy as vendored or fork-ready because upstream activity has been low since July 2021. Assign an internal owner, pin the version, monitor PHP and Laravel upgrade compatibility, and budget for occasional patches. Create a runbook covering cache clearing, helper and partial registration, compile failures, permission issues, and rollback to Blade.