tinker-usage

name	tinker-usage
description	Laravel Tinker best practices for debugging, testing ideas, and data exploration. When and how to use safely.

Tinker Best Practices

When to Use Tinker

Use Tinker	Use Tests Instead
Quick debugging	Repeatable verification
Data exploration	Creating production data
Testing one-liners	Complex logic validation
Checking relationships	Testing side effects

Safe Usage Rules

Never Modify Production Data

// ❌ DANGEROUS in production
User::where('role', 'admin')->delete();

// ✅ Read-only exploration
User::where('role', 'admin')->count();
User::where('role', 'admin')->pluck('email');

Use Database Transactions

// Wrap experiments in transactions
DB::beginTransaction();

$user = User::factory()->create();
$user->posts()->createMany([...]);

// Inspect results...
$user->posts()->count();

// Rollback everything
DB::rollBack();

Useful Snippets

Relationship Debugging

// Check eager loading
User::with('posts')->first()->posts;

// Debug relationship SQL
DB::enableQueryLog();
User::with('posts.comments')->first();
dd(DB::getQueryLog());

Model Inspection

// Get fillable/guarded
(new Post)->getFillable();
(new Post)->getGuarded();

// Get casts
(new Post)->getCasts();

// Get relationships
collect((new ReflectionClass(Post::class))->getMethods())
    ->filter(fn($m) => $m->class === Post::class)
    ->pluck('name');

Testing Factories

// Preview factory output
Post::factory()->make();
Post::factory()->make(['title' => 'Custom']);

// Test factory states
Post::factory()->published()->make();

Configuration Check

config('app.name');
config('database.default');
config('queue.default');

Alternatives to Tinker

For Persistent Debugging

• Telescope: Full request/query/job inspection
• Debugbar: Browser-based debugging
• Ray: Desktop debugging app

For Data Operations

• Seeders: Repeatable data creation
• Feature Tests: Verify behavior with assertions
• Artisan Commands: Scripted data operations

Tinker Configuration

Auto-Imported Classes

// config/tinker.php
'alias' => [
    'User' => App\Models\User::class,
    'Post' => App\Models\Post::class,
],

Dangerous Commands Block

// config/tinker.php
'dont_alias' => [
    App\Services\PaymentService::class,
],

IDE Integration

PsySH Configuration

// ~/.config/psysh/config.php
return [
    'defaultIncludes' => [
        __DIR__.'/tinker_helpers.php',
    ],
    'historySize' => 1000,
];