PageBuilder is Magento 2’s drag-and-drop content editor that replaced the plain HTML textarea in admin. A custom content type lets merchants create complex layouts without HTML knowledge while giving developers full control over the output. I show the complete implementation: XML configuration, JavaScript preview in admin, and frontend rendering.
State is a behavioural pattern that allows an object to change its behaviour when its internal state changes. It looks like the object changed its class. The classic example is an order state machine – an order in “pending” status behaves differently from one in “processing”. I show an implementation in PHP and compare it with Strategy, which it superficially resembles.
PHP 8.3 is due in November 2023 and while it is a conservative release compared to 8.0-8.2, it adds several things worth knowing about before they arrive. Typed class constants close an inconsistency in the type system. json_validate() saves a decode-and-discard pattern. array_find() and array_find_key() replace clunky array_filter() idioms. The readonly amendment allows re-initialisation in cloning.
Drupal 10 is a significantly more modern platform than its reputation suggests. The rewrite to Symfony components, a proper DI container, and a composer-first approach happened years ago. Drupal 10 adds PHP 8.1+ requirements, drops old dependencies, and has CKEditor 5 and Olivero as defaults. I show Drupal 10 through the lens of a PHP developer familiar with Magento 2 and Symfony.
Laravel and Symfony are the two dominant PHP frameworks, and choosing between them is a real decision in every new project. They share a Symfony core (Laravel uses several Symfony components) but have fundamentally different philosophies: Symfony favours explicitness and flexibility, Laravel favours convention and developer ergonomics. I compare them where it matters most for a PHP developer making an architecture choice.
Magento 2 performance is a broad topic, but the high-impact improvements follow a clear priority order. OPcache configuration is free and immediate. Redis correctly configured reduces PHP cycles. N+1 queries are the single biggest source of slowness in custom code. Blackfire makes the invisible visible. I show a prioritised approach with concrete configurations and code examples.
TypeScript is to JavaScript what strict_types + PHPStan is to PHP – it adds a type system on top of a dynamically typed language and catches errors before runtime. For a PHP developer the concepts are familiar: interfaces, generics, union types. I show the most important TypeScript features from the perspective of someone who thinks in typed PHP daily.
PHP 8.2 was officially released on 8 December 2022. A month of using readonly classes in new modules and patching dynamic properties in older code gives a clear practical picture. I show what readonly classes look like in real Magento 2 code, the most common dynamic property violations and how to fix them with Rector, and a migration checklist for upgrading existing projects.
Template Method defines the skeleton of an algorithm in a base class and lets subclasses fill in specific steps. It is the backbone of inheritance-based extensibility – and one of the most widely used patterns in frameworks like Magento 2, Symfony and Laravel. I show the classic GoF implementation, the difference between abstract steps and hooks, and a comparison with Strategy.
Multi Source Inventory replaced the old single-stock Magento inventory system. MSI introduces Sources (physical locations), Stocks (virtual aggregations), and Source Selection Algorithms (how to fulfil orders). Most shops use only default configurations, but once you have multiple warehouses or need custom fulfilment logic, MSI requires deep understanding. I show the architecture and how to write a custom SSA.