Laravel
A PHP framework we use to maintain, extend, and modernize existing Laravel applications and to support clients standardized on PHP — chosen for fit with an existing codebase or ecosystem, not applied as the studio's default for a new backend.
Laravel is a PHP framework we use to maintain, extend, and modernize existing Laravel applications, and to deliver backend work for clients who have standardized on PHP. It is not our default starting point for a new backend — that's Node.js/TypeScript — but where a Laravel codebase or a PHP-standardized environment already exists, we work within it competently rather than pushing toward an unnecessary rewrite.
Where it fits
Our default backend stack is Node.js and TypeScript, and that's the starting point we recommend for a new, greenfield system. Laravel enters the picture for a different reason: a business already has a Laravel application running in production, or has standardized its engineering organization on PHP, and needs a team that can work inside that codebase competently rather than push it toward a rewrite it doesn't need.
For businesses in that position, the practical question isn't which framework wins in the abstract but who can maintain, extend, and gradually modernize what we already have without introducing unnecessary risk. Laravel's conventions around routing, the Eloquent ORM, queued jobs, and authentication scaffolding make an existing Laravel codebase reasonably legible to a team picking it up, which matters more for this kind of engagement than starting from a blank slate would.
This also fits naturally with legacy modernization work: an older Laravel or plain-PHP application that has accumulated technical debt can often be improved incrementally — dependency and framework version upgrades, test coverage, API extraction, targeted refactors — rather than replaced outright. We treat that as the more common and lower-risk path, and reserve a full rewrite for cases where the existing codebase genuinely can't support the business anymore.
Taking on Laravel work does mean maintaining a second backend ecosystem alongside our JS/TS-first default, which is a deliberate trade-off we make specifically to protect an existing PHP investment — not something we do reflexively for every client. Where there's no existing PHP investment to protect, we recommend Node.js/NestJS instead.
Core capabilities
- Working within an existing Laravel codebase's conventions and structure
- Adding features, APIs, and integrations to a production Laravel application
- Eloquent ORM, migrations, and queued-job maintenance
- Laravel and PHP version upgrade paths
- Incremental refactoring and test coverage for older codebases
- Extracting APIs from monolithic Laravel applications for newer clients
- Backend delivery for organizations standardized on PHP
- Integration with existing PHP tooling, hosting, and deployment pipelines
- Authentication, authorization, and admin-panel scaffolding via Laravel's built-in tooling
Common use cases
- Maintaining and extending an existing Laravel applicationOngoing feature work, bug fixes, and integrations on a Laravel codebase already in production.
- Modernizing a legacy PHP codebaseIncremental framework and dependency upgrades, refactoring, and test coverage for an older Laravel or plain-PHP application, as part of our broader legacy modernization work.
- PHP-standardized client environmentsBackend delivery for organizations whose engineering standards, hosting, or existing team already run on PHP.
- API extraction from a Laravel monolithCarving out API endpoints from an existing Laravel application to serve a newer web or mobile client.
Architecture & integration considerations
- Codebase health assessment firstBefore committing to an approach, we assess the existing Laravel application's structure, test coverage, and framework version to decide between incremental modernization and a more significant rework.
- Upgrade path sequencingLaravel and PHP version upgrades are staged deliberately, since skipping versions or upgrading dependencies out of order is a common source of regressions in older codebases.
- Integration with modern frontendsWhere a Laravel backend needs to serve a newer JavaScript/TypeScript frontend, we design API boundaries (typically REST) that decouple the two rather than relying on Laravel's server-rendered Blade views.
- Long-term maintainabilityBecause Laravel sits outside our JS/TS-first default stack, we're explicit with clients about what continued PHP maintenance requires — on our side and on any future in-house team's.
Strengths
- Batteries-included for common backend needsRouting, ORM (Eloquent), migrations, queues, and authentication scaffolding are built in, which speeds up work on applications already built around those conventions.
- Legible conventions for existing codebasesLaravel's structure and naming conventions make a codebase built on them reasonably approachable for a team maintaining or extending it, rather than reverse-engineering a bespoke architecture.
- Mature ecosystem for PHP web applicationsA long-established package ecosystem and stable release cadence support production use without frequent breaking changes.
- A deliberate, not speculative, additionWe support Laravel specifically to protect an existing PHP investment — maintaining and modernizing applications a client already has, not picking up the framework speculatively for its own sake.
Trade-offs & limitations
- A second backend ecosystem to supportLaravel introduces PHP alongside our JS/TS-first default stack (Node.js/NestJS), which means a separate language, tooling chain, and hiring pool for us and for any client team that eventually takes the codebase in-house.
- Not our default for a new backendFor a greenfield project with no existing PHP investment, we recommend Node.js/NestJS rather than starting a new system in Laravel.
- Server-rendered conventions can fight a modern frontendLaravel's built-in Blade templating assumes server-rendered views; using it purely as an API backend for a separate JavaScript/TypeScript frontend means deliberately working around some of that convention rather than with it.
- PHP's type system is less strict by defaultEven with PHP 8's type declarations, PHP's typing discipline is generally looser than TypeScript's, which changes how we approach validation and testing compared with our default stack.
When to use it
- You already have a Laravel codebase that needs maintenance, extension, or modernization
- Your organization is standardized on PHP for hiring, hosting, or engineering process reasons
- You need APIs extracted or built on top of an existing Laravel monolith
- An older PHP application needs incremental modernization rather than a full rewrite
When another option may be more appropriate
- It's a greenfield project with no existing PHP investment — Node.js/NestJS is our default choice there
- The existing system is stable and doesn't need the kind of active maintenance or extension Laravel work implies
- The project would benefit more from TypeScript's compile-time guarantees across a shared frontend/backend codebase
- Long-term plans call for consolidating backend technology onto a single non-PHP stack
Relevant services
- Legacy System ModernizationAudit-led legacy system modernization with incremental, strangler-fig migration and phased cutover for companies across Sweden and the Nordic region.
- Custom Software DevelopmentDesign and development of secure, scalable custom software for companies across Sweden and the Nordic region.
- API Development & Systems IntegrationAPI design, partner integrations, and systems-integration engineering connecting ERP, MES, WMS, and third-party platforms into a reliable data flow.
Relevant industries
- Retail and eCommerceCustom retail and eCommerce software — omnichannel inventory, checkout, personalization and returns systems for companies across Sweden and the Nordic region.
- FinTechCustom fintech software: open banking API integration, KYC workflow automation and data platforms. North Tech Labs is not a licensed payment institution.
- HospitalityCustom hospitality software — PMS and OTA integration, guest data platforms, and staff operations tools for hotel groups and property portfolios.
Alternatives & complementary technologies
- Node.js/NestJSOur default choice for a new backend, and the better fit when there's no existing PHP codebase or PHP-standardized team to accommodate.
- SymfonyAnother mature PHP framework, relevant where an existing codebase is already built on it rather than Laravel.
- Django (Python)A reasonable alternative where an existing system or team is standardized on Python instead of PHP.
Frequently asked questions
Is Laravel your default backend choice?
No. Node.js and TypeScript are our default for a new backend. Laravel comes into play when a client already has a Laravel codebase to maintain or modernize, or is standardized on PHP for other reasons — it's a fit for existing context, not a starting-point recommendation.
Do you only take on legacy Laravel work, or new features too?
Both. Legacy modernization — upgrades, refactoring, incremental improvement of an older codebase — is a common entry point, but we also build new features and APIs on top of Laravel applications already in production.
Would you recommend starting a new project in Laravel?
Generally no, unless there's a specific reason tied to an existing PHP investment or team standardization. For a greenfield backend with no such constraint, we recommend Node.js/NestJS instead.
Can a Laravel backend serve a modern JavaScript frontend?
Yes — Laravel can serve as a pure API backend for a separate web or mobile frontend. It requires working somewhat against Laravel's server-rendered (Blade) conventions, which we account for when designing the API boundary.
Considering Laravel for your next project?
Tell us what you're building — we'll confirm whether this is the right technology choice before recommending anything.