Why I Still Love Laravel After 10 Years of Building Stuff That Actually Works
There's a certain joy in finding a tool that fits like a glove. The kind of tool you keep coming back to, year after year, because it just works. For me, that tool is Laravel.
Now, I didn't start my developer journey with Laravel. Like most devs, I dabbled in various languages and frameworks, some I barely remember, others I wish I could forget. But when I stumbled upon Laravel, something clicked. It wasn't just a framework; it felt like a community, a philosophy, a way to build things that mattered. Ten years later, I'm still here, still choosing Laravel for everything from small side projects to fully-fledged business applications. And I don't see that changing anytime soon.
So, why stick with one framework for a decade? Let me walk you through it.
Now, I didn't start my developer journey with Laravel. Like most devs, I dabbled in various languages and frameworks, some I barely remember, others I wish I could forget. But when I stumbled upon Laravel, something clicked. It wasn't just a framework; it felt like a community, a philosophy, a way to build things that mattered. Ten years later, I'm still here, still choosing Laravel for everything from small side projects to fully-fledged business applications. And I don't see that changing anytime soon.
So, why stick with one framework for a decade? Let me walk you through it.
Developer Happiness Matters
Back when I first discovered Laravel, the idea of "developer happiness" wasn't really on my radar. I was focused on getting things done, building something functional and moving on. But Laravel brought something different to the table. It wasn't just about code; it was about crafting an experience.
From the elegant syntax to the built-in tools that made my life easier, Laravel made coding feel less like work and more like creation. Need authentication? Done. Need to send emails? Piece of cake. It felt like Laravel was always two steps ahead, anticipating what I needed and providing it on a silver platter.
It's hard to walk away from something that makes you feel like a superhero.
From the elegant syntax to the built-in tools that made my life easier, Laravel made coding feel less like work and more like creation. Need authentication? Done. Need to send emails? Piece of cake. It felt like Laravel was always two steps ahead, anticipating what I needed and providing it on a silver platter.
It's hard to walk away from something that makes you feel like a superhero.
Consistency Over Shiny New Toys
Over the years, I've watched countless frameworks rise and fall. JavaScript frameworks, in particular, seem to have a new darling every six months. And while I've dabbled in my fair share of new tools, I've always come back to Laravel.
Why? Consistency.
Laravel isn't just a flash in the pan. It's been around for over a decade, and it's only gotten better. The core team's commitment to regular updates and long-term support has made it a rock-solid choice for anyone who wants to build something that lasts. And let's be honest, isn't that the goal? To build things that don't just work today, but continue to work years down the line?
I've seen side projects turn into businesses. I've seen quick MVPs become cornerstone applications. And through it all, Laravel has stayed reliable.
Why? Consistency.
Laravel isn't just a flash in the pan. It's been around for over a decade, and it's only gotten better. The core team's commitment to regular updates and long-term support has made it a rock-solid choice for anyone who wants to build something that lasts. And let's be honest, isn't that the goal? To build things that don't just work today, but continue to work years down the line?
I've seen side projects turn into businesses. I've seen quick MVPs become cornerstone applications. And through it all, Laravel has stayed reliable.
Mastery Comes from Depth, Not Breadth
There's a lot of pressure in the dev world to constantly learn the next big thing. And while I'm all for continuous learning, there's also something to be said for sticking with one tool long enough to master it.
I've been using Laravel for a decade, and I still discover new things about it. That depth of knowledge didn't come from hopping between frameworks; it came from digging deeper into Laravel. Understanding its quirks. Learning the best ways to optimize performance. Figuring out how to make it sing.
There's a certain satisfaction in that kind of mastery. It's the difference between being a jack-of-all-trades and a true expert in your craft.
I've been using Laravel for a decade, and I still discover new things about it. That depth of knowledge didn't come from hopping between frameworks; it came from digging deeper into Laravel. Understanding its quirks. Learning the best ways to optimize performance. Figuring out how to make it sing.
There's a certain satisfaction in that kind of mastery. It's the difference between being a jack-of-all-trades and a true expert in your craft.
The Community: A Safety Net and a Springboard
One of the biggest reasons I keep coming back to Laravel is the community. It's not just about having a safety net when things go wrong (though that's invaluable). It's about being part of something bigger.
Over the years, I've seen Laravel meetups, conferences, and online forums grow into vibrant hubs of knowledge and collaboration. The ecosystem around Laravel tools like Nova, Forge, and Vapor makes it possible to take your projects to new heights without reinventing the wheel.
And let's not forget about the educational resources. The amount of high-quality Laravel tutorials, courses, and documentation out there is staggering. If you're stuck, chances are someone else has been there too and they've probably written about it.
Over the years, I've seen Laravel meetups, conferences, and online forums grow into vibrant hubs of knowledge and collaboration. The ecosystem around Laravel tools like Nova, Forge, and Vapor makes it possible to take your projects to new heights without reinventing the wheel.
And let's not forget about the educational resources. The amount of high-quality Laravel tutorials, courses, and documentation out there is staggering. If you're stuck, chances are someone else has been there too and they've probably written about it.
Building for Real Life
Here's the thing about Laravel: it's practical.
I've used it to build everything from simple content management systems to complex multi-tenant applications. And you know what? It just works. It doesn't get in the way. It doesn't make me jump through hoops to achieve common tasks.
In a world where so many tools feel like they're built for hypothetical use cases, Laravel feels like it's built for real life. It's built for developers who need to ship products that solve real problems for real users.
I've used it to build everything from simple content management systems to complex multi-tenant applications. And you know what? It just works. It doesn't get in the way. It doesn't make me jump through hoops to achieve common tasks.
In a world where so many tools feel like they're built for hypothetical use cases, Laravel feels like it's built for real life. It's built for developers who need to ship products that solve real problems for real users.
Laravel in 2025: Still Going Strong
As I write this in 2025, Laravel is still my go-to framework. It's evolved, sure. The tooling has improved. The ecosystem has expanded. But at its core, it's still the framework I fell in love with a decade ago. And that's the beauty of it.
Some things change. Some things stay the same. And some things get better with time. For me, Laravel falls into that last category.
Some things change. Some things stay the same. And some things get better with time. For me, Laravel falls into that last category.
Final Thoughts
If you're a fellow Laravel dev, I'm sure you've got your own reasons for sticking with it. Maybe it's the clean syntax. Maybe it's the robust ecosystem. Maybe it's the community.
For me, it's all of the above. But more than that, it's about building things that actually work. Things that make an impact. Things that stand the test of time.
So, here's to another decade of Laravel. Here's to building, learning, and growing. And here's to finding joy in the craft.
Because at the end of the day, isn't that what it's all about?
For me, it's all of the above. But more than that, it's about building things that actually work. Things that make an impact. Things that stand the test of time.
So, here's to another decade of Laravel. Here's to building, learning, and growing. And here's to finding joy in the craft.
Because at the end of the day, isn't that what it's all about?