Performance has always been one of the most discussed topics in Laravel, yet it has brought fresh perspectives to many PHP developers. Let’s optimize this framework once again.

Fundamentals (Common Knowledge)

• Use Redis drivers for caching, sessions, and queues
• Framework built-in caching:
  • Route caching: php artisan route:cache
  • Configuration caching: php artisan config:cache
• Implement caching based on API idempotency

Upgrades

• OPcache:
  • Enable it without hesitation
  • Set opcache.validate_timestamps=0 to prevent automatic code updates in production (similar to compiled languages). Restart php-fpm after each deployment
  • Reference: Best Config for Zend OPcache

Remove Unnecessary Middleware

• Remove CORS middleware if your API only serves mobile apps
• Remove default API rate limiting middleware if unsuitable for your scenario

Reduce Service Providers

• Disable unnecessary services for pure API projects:
  • View services
  • Session services
  • Password reset services

Let’s focus on hybrid projects containing both API and Admin interfaces (using full-stack frameworks like Laravel-admin or Dcat Admin).

Since Laravel 5.5 introduced package auto-discovery, we can optimize service providers by:

1. List registered service providers:

php artisan package:discover

Discovered Package: dcat/laravel-admin
Discovered Package: facade/ignition
...

2. Disable auto-discovery for specific packages in composer.json:

"extra": {
    "laravel": {
        "dont-discover": ["dcat/laravel-admin"]
    }
}

3. Conditionally register service providers in AppServiceProvider.php:

public function boot()
{
    if (config('admin.enable')) {
        AliasLoader::getInstance()->alias('Admin', Admin::class);
        $this->app->register(AdminServiceProvider::class);
    }
}

This optimization achieved 40% performance improvement (tested on 2vCPU/4GB machine with OPcache enabled):

Q&A: Disabling View Services

1. Comment out in config/app.php:

// Illuminate\View\ViewServiceProvider::class,
// Illuminate\Notifications\NotificationServiceProvider::class,
// Illuminate\Pagination\PaginationServiceProvider::class

2. Modify Exceptions/Handler.php for API error handling:

public function render($request, Exception $exception)
{
    if ($request->is('api*')) {
        return (new Response(json_encode([
            'code' => 500,
            'msg' => $exception->getMessage()
        ])))->withHeaders(['Content-Type' => 'application/json']);
    }
    
    return parent::render($request, $exception);
}