As a developer, it’s easy to get caught up in writing code that just works — especially early in your career. Over time, I’ve made a fair share of mistakes that either broke systems, caused performance issues, or made future development a nightmare.
In this post, I’ll share 10 common mistakes I made as a PHP developer, what I learned from them, and how you can avoid them in your own journey.
1. Not Using Version Control from Day One
❌ What I did: Built projects without Git. Lost code. No history.
✅ What I do now: Every project starts with git init and a .gitignore.
Version control isn’t just for teams — it’s your safety net. Use Git even for solo or small-scale projects.
2. Mixing Logic with HTML
❌ What I did: Wrote PHP and HTML all mixed in .php files. Impossible to test.
✅ What I do now: Follow MVC patterns (Laravel made this easy).
Separate your concerns: keep business logic in controllers/services and views for UI.
3. Ignoring Security Best Practices
❌ What I did: Wrote raw SQL, didn’t escape inputs, and skipped CSRF tokens.
✅ What I do now: Always use prepared statements, validate inputs, and use Laravel’s security features.
Security should never be an afterthought — one exploit can cost you everything.
4. Reinventing the Wheel
❌ What I did: Wrote my own authentication system, routing, and more.
✅ What I do now: Use trusted libraries and frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, or Slim.
Unless it’s for learning purposes, use proven tools. You’ll save time and avoid bugs.
5. Not Writing Tests
❌ What I did: Assumed if it worked in the browser, it was fine.
✅ What I do now: Use PHPUnit or Pest for unit and feature tests.
Testing helps catch regressions, ensures code reliability, and builds confidence for refactoring.
6. Overusing Static Methods
❌ What I did: Turned everything into static classes and killed testability.
✅ What I do now: Use dependency injection and service classes properly.
Static methods are tempting, but they often break object-oriented principles and reduce flexibility.
7. Skipping Code Reviews and Linting
❌ What I did: Deployed code that “worked” without peer review.
✅ What I do now: Use tools like PHPStan, PHP-CS-Fixer, and get feedback from peers.
Clean code matters. Linting and reviews catch issues and improve long-term maintainability.
8. No Understanding of Composer
❌ What I did: Downloaded libraries manually.
✅ What I do now: Use Composer for all dependencies and autoloading.
Composer is a game changer. Embrace it fully if you want to work on modern PHP projects.
9. Not Using a Local Dev Environment
❌ What I did: Edited code directly on the live server (yes, really).
✅ What I do now: Use Docker or Laravel Sail for safe local dev environments.
Local development means fewer bugs, safer experimentation, and proper version control workflows.
10. Ignoring Documentation and Comments
❌ What I did: Wrote “clever” code with zero documentation.
✅ What I do now: Document functions, use PHPDoc, and write self-explanatory code.
Code is read more than it’s written — write it for humans, not just machines.
🧠 Final Thoughts
If you’re just starting your PHP journey — or even if you’re a few years in — learning from others’ mistakes can save you months of frustration. I’ve made all of these errors so you don’t have to.
👉 If you’re a beginner, start with:
Laravel
Git + GitHub
Composer
Writing clean, tested, secure code
If you’re an experienced dev, share your own mistakes too — we all grow together.
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Follow me for more PHP + Laravel tips, or drop a comment below — what mistakes have you made as a developer?
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