What do you check before installing a Laravel package? Here's my checklist.
I've been using Laravel since the 5.x days, and one thing I've learned after maintaining and upgrading applications across multiple framework versions is this:
Choosing the right package is often more important than writing the code itself.
Every composer require is a long-term commitment. The package you install today can affect future upgrades, security, debugging, onboarding, and the overall maintainability of your application.
Over the years, I've developed a checklist that I go through before adding any third-party package. It has helped me avoid abandoned packages, unnecessary dependencies, and maintenance headaches.
https://sagautam5.medium.com/12-things-i-check-before-installing-any-laravel-package-10d51fc1dc26
I'd love to hear what everyone else looks for before installing a package.
Do you look at:
- Maintainer activity?
- Test coverage?
- Release frequency?
- Number of dependencies?
- Something else that I've missed?