Squareetlabs/LaravelSimplePermissions

A comprehensive and flexible Laravel package for advanced permission management. This package provides a robust system for managing roles, permissions, groups, and entity-specific abilities.

Core Functionality:

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Define custom roles with specific permission sets. Roles can be assigned to users to manage access levels efficiently.

• Permission System: Implement fine-grained permissions using a code-based system (e.g., posts.create, users.edit). Permissions are global entities that can be assigned to roles and groups. Supports wildcard permissions for flexible access patterns.

• Group Management: Organize users into groups. Groups can have their own permission sets, allowing for efficient permission management when multiple users need the same access level.

• Entity-Specific Abilities: Grant or deny permissions for specific model instances (e.g., allowing a user to edit a particular post but not others). This provides the most granular level of access control.

• Caching & Performance: Intelligent caching system to optimize permission checks, reducing database queries and improving application performance.

• Audit Logging: Optional comprehensive audit trail that logs all permission-related actions including role assignments and permission changes.

• Laravel Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Laravel's built-in authorization system, including Policies, Blade directives, and middleware for route protection.

Key Features

• ✅ Roles & Permissions: Flexible role system with granular permissions
• ✅ Groups: Organize users into groups with shared permissions
• ✅ Abilities: Entity-specific permissions for individual models
• ✅ Smart Caching: Caching system to optimize permission checks
• ✅ Audit Logging: Complete action logging (optional)
• ✅ Blade Directives: Blade directives for permission checks in views
• ✅ Policies: Integration with Laravel's Policy system
• ✅ Middleware: Middleware for route protection
• ✅ Artisan Commands: CLI tools for management
• ✅ Events: Event system for permission changes (RoleAssigned, RoleRemoved, AbilityGranted, AbilityRevoked)
• ✅ Validation: Automatic validation of permission codes
• ✅ Performance: Optimized queries with eager loading

Requirements

• PHP >= 8.1
• Laravel 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x or 12.x

Installation

1. Install the Package

composer require squareetlabs/laravel-simple-permissions

2. Publish Configuration and Migrations

php artisan vendor:publish --provider="Squareetlabs\LaravelSimplePermissions\SimplePermissionsServiceProvider"

This will publish:

• config/simple-permissions.php - Configuration file
• Database migrations

3. Configure the User Model

Add the HasPermissions trait to your User model:

<?php

namespace App\Models;

use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
use Squareetlabs\LaravelSimplePermissions\Traits\HasPermissions;

class User extends Model
{
    use HasPermissions;
    
    // ... rest of your code
}

4. Run Migrations

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Always do backups before running migrations.

php artisan migrate

Note

If you wish to use custom foreign keys and table names, modify config/simple-permissions.php before running migrations.

5. Optional Configuration

Enable Caching

To improve performance, enable caching in .env:

SIMPLE_PERMISSIONS_CACHE_ENABLED=true
SIMPLE_PERMISSIONS_CACHE_DRIVER=redis
SIMPLE_PERMISSIONS_CACHE_TTL=3600

Enable Audit Logging

To log all permission actions:

SIMPLE_PERMISSIONS_AUDIT_ENABLED=true
SIMPLE_PERMISSIONS_AUDIT_LOG_CHANNEL=stack

Configuration

The configuration file config/simple-permissions.php contains all options:

Custom Models

'models' => [
    'user' => App\Models\User::class,
    // ... other models
],

Cache

'cache' => [
    'enabled' => env('SIMPLE_PERMISSIONS_CACHE_ENABLED', true),
    'driver' => env('SIMPLE_PERMISSIONS_CACHE_DRIVER', 'redis'),
    'ttl' => env('SIMPLE_PERMISSIONS_CACHE_TTL', 3600),
    'prefix' => 'simple_permissions',
    'tags' => true,
],

Basic Usage

Creating Roles and Permissions

use Squareetlabs\LaravelSimplePermissions\Support\Facades\SimplePermissions;

// Create permissions
$viewPost = SimplePermissions::model('permission')::create(['code' => 'posts.view', 'name' => 'View Posts']);
$createPost = SimplePermissions::model('permission')::create(['code' => 'posts.create', 'name' => 'Create Posts']);

// Create role
$adminRole = SimplePermissions::model('role')::create(['code' => 'admin', 'name' => 'Administrator']);

// Assign permissions to role
$adminRole->permissions()->attach([$viewPost->id, $createPost->id]);

Assigning Roles to Users

// Assign role to user
$user->assignRole('admin');

// Remove role from user
$user->removeRole('admin');

// Sync roles (replaces all existing roles)
$user->syncRoles(['admin', 'editor']);

Checking Permissions

// Check if user has a permission (direct or via role/group)
if ($user->hasPermission('posts.create')) {
    // User can create posts
}

// Check if user has a role
if ($user->hasRole('admin')) {
    // User is admin
}

// Check specific ability on an entity
if ($user->hasAbility('edit', $post)) {
    // User can edit this specific post
}

Users

The HasPermissions trait provides the following methods:

// Check if user has a role (or roles)
// $require = true: all roles are required
// $require = false: at least one of the roles
$user->hasRole('admin', $require = false)
$user->hasRole(['admin', 'editor'], $require = false)

// Check if user has a permission (or permissions)
// $require = true: all permissions are required
// $require = false: at least one of the permissions
$user->hasPermission('posts.create', $require = false)
$user->hasPermission(['posts.create', 'posts.edit'], $require = false)

// Check if user has an ability on an entity
$user->hasAbility('posts.edit', $post)

// Allow ability for user on an entity
$user->allowAbility('posts.edit', $post)

// Forbid ability for user on an entity
$user->forbidAbility('posts.edit', $post)

// Remove ability from user
$user->removeAbility('posts.edit', $post)

Roles & Permissions

Wildcard Permissions

You can use wildcards for permissions:

• posts.* - All permissions starting with posts.
• * - All permissions (if enabled in config)

Checking Permissions

// Check multiple permissions (OR)
if ($user->hasPermission(['posts.create', 'posts.edit'], false)) {
    // User can create OR edit posts
}

// Check multiple permissions (AND)
if ($user->hasPermission(['posts.create', 'posts.edit'], true)) {
    // User can create AND edit posts
}

Abilities

Abilities allow specific permissions for individual entities.

Creating and Assigning Abilities

You can use helper methods for easier ability management:

// Allow user to edit a specific post
$user->allowAbility('posts.edit', $post);

// Forbid user to edit a specific post
$user->forbidAbility('posts.edit', $post);

// Remove ability from user
$user->removeAbility('posts.edit', $post);

Or use the direct approach:

use Squareetlabs\LaravelSimplePermissions\Support\Facades\SimplePermissions;

// Create a permission first
$permission = SimplePermissions::model('permission')::create(['code' => 'posts.edit']);

// Create an ability for a specific entity
$ability = SimplePermissions::model('ability')::create([
    'permission_id' => $permission->id,
    'title' => 'Edit Post #1',
    'entity_id' => $post->id,
    'entity_type' => get_class($post),
]);

// Allow user to edit a specific post
$ability->users()->attach($user, ['forbidden' => false]);

// Forbid user to edit a specific post
$ability->users()->attach($user, ['forbidden' => true]);

// Remove ability from user
$ability->users()->detach($user);

Checking an Ability

if ($user->hasAbility('posts.edit', $post)) {
    // User can edit this specific post
}

Groups

Groups allow organizing users with shared permissions.

Creating and Managing Groups

use Squareetlabs\LaravelSimplePermissions\Support\Facades\SimplePermissions;

// Create group
$group = SimplePermissions::model('group')::create(['code' => 'moderators', 'name' => 'Moderators']);

// Assign permissions to group
$permission = SimplePermissions::model('permission')::where('code', 'posts.moderate')->first();
$group->permissions()->attach($permission);

// Add users to group
$group->users()->attach($user);

// Remove users from group
$group->users()->detach($user);

Middleware

The package provides middleware for route protection.

Usage in Routes

// Check role
Route::middleware(['role:admin'])->group(function () {
    Route::get('/admin', [AdminController::class, 'index']);
});

// Check permission
Route::middleware(['permission:posts.create'])->group(function () {
    Route::post('/posts', [PostController::class, 'store']);
});

// Check ability
// Format: ability:action,entity_class,route_parameter_name
Route::middleware(['ability:edit,App\Models\Post,post_id'])->group(function () {
    Route::put('/posts/{post_id}', [PostController::class, 'update']);
});

OR Operations

// User must have admin OR root
Route::middleware(['role:admin|root'])->group(function () {
    // ...
});

Blade Directives

The package includes Blade directives for permission checks in views:

{{-- Check role --}}
@role('admin')
    <button>Admin Panel</button>
@endrole

{{-- Check permission --}}
@permission('posts.create')
    <a href="{{ route('posts.create') }}">New Post</a>
@endpermission

{{-- Check ability --}}
@ability('edit', $post)
    <button>Edit Post</button>
@endability

Policies

The package integrates with Laravel's Policy system.

Generate a Policy

php artisan permissions:policy PostPolicy --model=Post

Using the Policy

// In a controller
if ($user->can('view', $post)) {
    // User can view the post
}

// In a view
@can('update', $post)
    <button>Edit</button>
@endcan

Events

The package dispatches events when permissions change, allowing you to hook into these actions:

Available Events

• RoleAssigned: Dispatched when a role is assigned to a user
• RoleRemoved: Dispatched when a role is removed from a user
• AbilityGranted: Dispatched when an ability is granted to a user
• AbilityRevoked: Dispatched when an ability is revoked from a user

Listening to Events

use Squareetlabs\LaravelSimplePermissions\Events\RoleAssigned;
use Squareetlabs\LaravelSimplePermissions\Events\AbilityGranted;

// In your EventServiceProvider
protected $listen = [
    RoleAssigned::class => [
        // Your listeners here
    ],
    AbilityGranted::class => [
        // Your listeners here
    ],
];

Example Listener

use Squareetlabs\LaravelSimplePermissions\Events\RoleAssigned;

class LogRoleAssignment
{
    public function handle(RoleAssigned $event)
    {
        // Log the role assignment
        Log::info("User {$event->user->id} was assigned role {$event->role->code}");
    }
}

Artisan Commands

The package includes several useful commands:

Management

// List all roles
php artisan permissions:roles

// Show role details
php artisan permissions:show-role {role}

// List all permissions
php artisan permissions:list

// Sync permissions from configuration
php artisan permissions:sync

// Export permissions
php artisan permissions:export --format=json

// Import permissions
php artisan permissions:import --file=permissions.json

// Clear permissions cache
php artisan permissions:clear-cache

// Generate a policy
php artisan permissions:policy PostPolicy --model=Post