Keep schema changes safe, testable, and reversible.
Commands
# Create model with migration + factory
sail artisan make:model Post -mfc # or: php artisan make:model Post -mfc
# Run/rollback
sail artisan migrate # or: php artisan migrate
sail artisan migrate:rollback --step=1 # or: php artisan migrate:rollback --step=1
# Fresh DB (dangerous; dev only)
sail artisan migrate:fresh --seed # or: php artisan migrate:fresh --seed
Rules
-
Pair each new model with a migration and a factory
-
If a migration was merged to
main, never edit it—add a new one -
On feature branches, you may amend migrations created on that branch (if not merged)
-
Seed realistic but minimal datasets in seeder classes; keep huge datasets external
Factories
-
Prefer state modifiers (e.g.,
->state([...])) over boolean flags -
Use relationships (e.g.,
belongsTo) in factories to build realistic graphs -
Keep factories fast; move expensive setup to seeds where possible
Testing
-
Use factories in tests; avoid manual inserts
-
For integration tests touching DB, use transactions or
RefreshDatabase