Laravel Registry

Laravel Registry is a powerful and flexible key–value store designed for managing application settings in Laravel. It offers a unified API with support for per-model scoping, optional encryption, caching, and a modern web interface. The package also supports overriding Laravel configuration values at runtime using registry entries — enabling dynamic, environment-specific configuration.

✨ Features

• 🔑 Flexible Key-Value Storage - Store any serializable data with dot-notation keys
• 🎯 Model Scoping - Scope registry entries to specific Eloquent models
• 🔐 Encryption Support - Encrypt sensitive values with Laravel's encryption
• ⚡ Intelligent Caching - Built-in Redis/Memcached caching with configurable TTL
• 🎨 Modern Web Interface - Vue 3 + Inertia.js frontend with Windows Registry Editor-like UI
• 🔧 Runtime Config Overrides - Override Laravel config values dynamically
• 📊 Type Casting - Automatic type detection and casting (string, int, float, bool, array, object)
• 🌳 Hierarchical Keys - Organize settings in tree structures with parent/child relationships
• 🔍 Fluent API - Chainable, expressive syntax for all operations
• 🧪 Comprehensive Testing - Full test coverage with PHPUnit
• 🚀 Performance Optimized - Efficient queries with proper indexing and caching

📋 Requirements

• PHP 8.1+
• Laravel 12+
• Inertia.js 2.0+ (for frontend interface)

📦 Installation

1. Install via Composer

composer require justustheis/registry

2. Publish Configuration

php artisan vendor:publish --provider="JustusTheis\Registry\RegistryServiceProvider" --tag="config"

3. Run Migrations

php artisan migrate

4. Configure Authorization (Required)

Add the authorization gate to your AppServiceProvider:

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Gate;

public function boot()
{
    Gate::define('access-registry', function ($user) {
        return $user->isAdmin(); // Customize this logic
    });
}

🔐 Frontend Access Control

Important: Before accessing the registry frontend, you must configure authorization using Laravel Gates. By default, the registry requires users to pass the access-registry gate to access the web interface.

Setting Up Authorization

Add this to your AppServiceProvider boot method:

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Gate;

public function boot()
{
    // Define who can access the registry frontend
    Gate::define('access-registry', function ($user) {
        return $user->isAdmin(); // Adjust this logic as needed
    });
}

You can customize the gate name in the configuration:

// config/registry.php
'authorization' => [
    'enabled' => true,
    'gate' => 'access-registry', // Change this to your preferred gate name
],

To disable authorization entirely (not recommended for production):

'authorization' => [
    'enabled' => false,
],

⚙️ Configuration

The configuration file config/registry.php provides extensive customization options:

Cache Configuration

'cache' => [
    'driver' => env('REGISTRY_CACHE_DRIVER', 'redis'),
    'ttl'    => env('REGISTRY_CACHE_TTL', 86400), // 24 hours
],

User Model Configuration

'user_model'       => App\Models\User::class,
'user_name_column' => 'name', // For "updated by" tracking

Model Mappings for Route Binding

'models' => [
    'User' => App\Models\User::class,
    'Product' => App\Models\Product::class,
    // Add your models here for hierarchical key parsing
],

Type Casting Rules

'auto_cast_types' => env('REGISTRY_AUTO_CAST_TYPES', true),
'cast_rules' => [
    'boolean_true_values'  => ['true', 'yes', 'on'],
    'boolean_false_values' => ['false', 'no', 'off'],
    'null_values'          => ['null'],
    'numeric_detection'    => true,
    'array_detection'      => true,
    'object_detection'     => true,
],

Runtime Config Overrides

'override' => [
    'production' => [
        'app.name' => 'app.name', // Maps config('app.name') to registry('app.name')
    ],
    'local' => [
        'mail.default' => 'mail.driver',
    ],
],

🚀 Basic Usage

Using the Facade

use JustusTheis\Registry\Facades\Registry;

// Store a value
Registry::key('app.theme')->value('dark')->set();

// Retrieve a value
$theme = Registry::key('app.theme')->default('light')->get();

// Fluent API
$value = Registry::key('user.preferences')
    ->default(['notifications' => true])
    ->encrypt()
    ->set(['notifications' => false, 'theme' => 'dark']);

Using Helper Functions

// Simple get/set operations
registry_set('app.debug', true);
$debug = registry_get('app.debug', false);

// Delete a key
registry_delete('app.debug');

// Flexible registry() helper
$value = registry('app.name', 'Default App Name');
$registry = registry(); // Returns Registry instance

Working with Different Data Types

// String values
Registry::key('app.name')->value('My Application')->set();

// Numeric values
Registry::key('app.version')->value(1.5)->set();

// Boolean values
Registry::key('app.debug')->value(true)->set();

// Arrays and Objects
Registry::key('user.preferences')->value([
    'theme' => 'dark',
    'notifications' => true,
    'sidebar_collapsed' => false
])->set();

🎯 Model Scoping

Use the HasRegistry trait to scope registry entries to specific models:

Adding the Trait

use JustusTheis\Registry\Traits\HasRegistry;

class User extends Model
{
    use HasRegistry;
}

Scoped Operations

$user = User::find(1);

// Set user-specific settings
$user->registry()->key('preferences.theme')->value('dark')->set();

// Get user-specific settings
$theme = $user->registry()->key('preferences.theme')->default('light')->get();

// Using helper functions with model scoping
registry_set('notifications.email', true, $user);
$emailNotifications = registry_get('notifications.email', false, $user);

Relationship Access

// Access all registry entries for a model
$entries = $user->registryEntries;

// Check if user has specific settings
if ($user->registry()->key('preferences.theme')->exists()) {
    // User has custom theme
}

🎨 Frontend Web Interface

The package includes a complete Vue 3 + Inertia.js frontend that provides a Windows Registry Editor-like interface.

Features

• 🌳 Two-pane layout - Tree view on left, details on right
• 🔍 Real-time search - Filter keys as you type
• ✏️ In-place editing - Create, update, delete entries via modals
• 🔐 Encryption toggle - Visual indication and control of encrypted entries
• 📱 Responsive design - Works on desktop and mobile
• 🎨 Tailwind CSS - Modern, clean interface

Setup

1. Install Frontend Dependencies

npm install

2. Publish Assets (Optional)

php artisan vendor:publish --provider="JustusTheis\Registry\RegistryServiceProvider" --tag="registry-assets"

3. Configure Inertia.js

Ensure you have an Inertia.js app template. The package includes one you can copy:

cp vendor/justustheis/registry/resources/views/app.blade.php resources/views/app.blade.php

4. Build Assets

# Development
npm run dev

# Production
npm run build

Accessing the Interface

Visit /registry in your browser (after setting up the authorization gate).

🔐 Encryption

Encrypt sensitive data automatically:

// Encrypt a single value
Registry::key('api.secret')->value('sensitive-data')->encrypt()->set();

// Retrieve encrypted value (automatically decrypted)
$secret = Registry::key('api.secret')->get();

// Using helpers
registry_set('database.password', 'secret123', null, true); // true = encrypt
$password = registry_get('database.password', null, null, true);

🌳 Hierarchical Keys

Organize settings in tree structures:

// Create hierarchical structure
Registry::key('app.mail.driver')->value('smtp')->set();
Registry::key('app.mail.host')->value('smtp.gmail.com')->set();
Registry::key('app.mail.port')->value(587)->set();

// Work with parent/child relationships
$mailConfig = Registry::key('app.mail.driver');
$parent = $mailConfig->parent(); // Returns 'app.mail' registry
$children = $mailConfig->children(); // Collection of child registries

// Get hierarchical key for display
echo $mailConfig->getHierarchicalKey(); // "app.mail.driver"

⚡ Advanced Features

Caching

Registry entries are automatically cached for performance:

// Cache configuration in config/registry.php
'cache' => [
    'driver' => 'redis', // or 'memcached', 'file', etc.
    'ttl'    => 86400,   // 24 hours
],

Runtime Configuration Overrides

Override Laravel config values dynamically:

// In config/registry.php
'override' => [
    'production' => [
        'app.name' => 'app.name', // config('app.name') will check registry first
    ],
],

// Set override value
Registry::key('app.name')->value('Production App')->set();

// Now config('app.name') returns 'Production App'
echo config('app.name'); // "Production App"

Cascade Deletion

Automatically delete registry entries when parent models are deleted:

// In config/registry.php
'cascade_on_delete' => true,
'cascade_on_soft_delete' => false,

Type Validation and Casting

// Explicit type setting
Registry::key('count')->value(42)->type('integer')->set();
Registry::key('data')->value($array)->type('array')->set();

// Automatic type detection (default)
Registry::key('auto')->value('123')->set(); // Stored as integer 123
Registry::key('auto')->value('true')->set(); // Stored as boolean true

📚 API Reference

Core Methods

Registry::key(string $key): self

Set the registry key for the operation.

Registry::value(mixed $value): self

Set the value to be stored.

Registry::default(mixed $default): self

Set the default value if key doesn't exist.

Registry::for(Model $model): self

Scope the registry to a specific model.

Registry::encrypt(): self

Mark the value for encryption.

Registry::type(string $type): self

Explicitly set the value type.

CRUD Operations

get(?string $key = null, mixed $default = null): mixed

Retrieve a value from the registry.

set(?string $key = null, mixed $value = null): mixed

Store a value in the registry.

delete(?string $key = null): bool

Delete a key from the registry.

exists(?string $key = null): bool

Check if a key exists in the registry.

rename(string $newKey, bool $renameChildren = true): self

Rename a registry key and optionally its children.

Relationship Methods

parent(): ?self

Get the parent registry instance.

children(): Collection

Get all direct child registry instances.

💡 Usage Examples

User Preferences System

class User extends Model
{
    use HasRegistry;
}

// Set user preferences
$user = User::find(1);
$user->registry()->key('preferences')->value([
    'theme' => 'dark',
    'language' => 'en',
    'notifications' => [
        'email' => true,
        'push' => false,
        'sms' => false
    ]
])->set();

// Get specific preference
$theme = $user->registry()->key('preferences.theme')->default('light')->get();

// Update single preference
$user->registry()->key('preferences.language')->value('es')->set();

Application Configuration

// Environment-specific settings
if (app()->environment('production')) {
    Registry::key('app.debug')->value(false)->set();
    Registry::key('cache.default')->value('redis')->set();
} else {
    Registry::key('app.debug')->value(true)->set();
    Registry::key('cache.default')->value('file')->set();
}

// API configuration with encryption
Registry::key('services.stripe.secret')
    ->value('sk_test_...')
    ->encrypt()
    ->set();

Feature Flags

// Global feature flags
Registry::key('features.new_dashboard')->value(true)->set();
Registry::key('features.beta_search')->value(false)->set();

// User-specific feature overrides
$user->registry()->key('features.beta_search')->value(true)->set();

// Check feature availability
function hasFeature($feature, $user = null) {
    if ($user && $user->registry()->key("features.{$feature}")->exists()) {
        return $user->registry()->key("features.{$feature}")->get();
    }
    
    return registry_get("features.{$feature}", false);
}

🧪 Testing

Run the test suite:

# Run all tests
vendor/bin/phpunit

# Run with coverage
vendor/bin/phpunit --coverage-html coverage/

# Run specific test categories
vendor/bin/phpunit --filter RegistryCache
vendor/bin/phpunit --filter RegistryEncryption
vendor/bin/phpunit --filter RegistryScope

🔧 Artisan Commands

The package doesn't include specific Artisan commands, but you can interact with it using Tinker:

php artisan tinker

# Try some commands
Registry::key('test')->value('Hello World')->set()
Registry::key('test')->get()
registry('test', 'Default Value')

📄 License

This package is open-sourced software licensed under the MIT license.

🤝 Contributing

Please see CONTRIBUTING.md for details.

🐛 Issues

If you discover any security vulnerabilities or bugs, please report them via GitHub Issues.

📞 Support

For support, please create an issue on GitHub or contact the maintainer at justus@sharma-theis.com.