Why Are Most Laravel Ebooks and Web Resources Focused on Laravel 4 or 5 in an Era of Laravel 8?

Laravel, a widely-used PHP framework, has seen a flurry of development and updates. As we stand at present, the most recent version is Laravel 8, making one wonder why most of the Laravel ebook tutorials and web resources still treat versions 4 and 5 as the primary focus. In this article, we'll explore the reasons behind this trend, the concept of semantic versioning, and how it impacts the development community.

The Versioning Transition: From 5.8 to Current Development

When Laravel reached version 5.8, it was considered a stable milestone. Instead of incrementing to 5.9, Laravel took a step back to version 6. This was a significant decision made to align with semantic versioning, where minor releases (e.g., 5.9 to 6.0) are overhaul releases that can make backward-incompatible changes. This transition from 5.8 to 6 marked a new era of stability and reduction in major changes, with subsequent releases being minor updates like 6, 7, and now 8.

Stability and Minor Updates

The decision to adopt semantic versioning indicates that the development team is confident in the stability of the framework. Since version 5.8, the framework has been consistently updated with minor changes rather than comprehensive overhauls. This means that many robust and well-documented features from earlier versions remain relevant and functional in the current 8 version.

Valuable Resources from 5.5 and Onwards

For those looking to learn Laravel, resources from as early as version 5.5 can still be highly valuable. Despite the passage of time, the core principles, architecture, and many core functionalities have remained consistent. As such, even a tutorial from 5.5 can be a great starting point for beginners, providing a solid foundation before delving into more recent features and improvements.

The Future of Laravel

Given the current pattern of minor releases, it's reasonable to assume that the next version (9) might see more significant changes compared to the steps between 6 and 7. However, the core principles and many functionalities will likely remain similar. This means that many resources from Laravel 5 versions can still be relevant, especially for developers who are looking to learn the framework step-by-step without the need for the latest, most cutting-edge features.

Key Takeaways

Most Laravel resources still focus on versions 4 and 5 due to their stability and the transition to semantic versioning. These earlier versions provide a solid foundation for learning Laravel, even though they might be a few years old. With the adoption of semantic versioning, the core functionalities and principles of Laravel have remained largely unchanged, making older resources still highly valuable.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the continued focus on Laravel 4 and 5 resources in an era where the latest version is 8 can be attributed to the stability of these earlier versions and the transition to semantic versioning. These resources remain valuable, offering a strong foundation for new learners and experienced developers alike. As Laravel continues to evolve, it is possible that older versions will remain highly relevant, ensuring a continuous learning and development path for the community.