Building a Statistics Dashboard in Your Laravel Application

Oct 4, 2023 | Data Science

Welcome to the world of Laravel Model Stats, where you can create a stunning statistics dashboard for your Laravel application with minimal fuss! Think of it as a simpler version of Grafana, seamlessly integrated into your Laravel setup. In this how-to guide, we’ll explore step-by-step instructions, as well as some troubleshooting tips to ensure you have a smooth experience.

Why Use Laravel Model Stats?

This package allows you to generate helpful statistics without needing extensive coding knowledge. With its easy-to-use web interface, you are only a few clicks away from visualizing your important data. Plus, it supports customizable code widgets for advanced users who want to display specific data from your application.

Installation Steps

To get started with Laravel Model Stats, follow these installation instructions:

composer require jhumanjlaravel-model-stats
php artisan model-stats:install
php artisan migrate

Creating No-Code Widgets

The dashboard allows you to create various widgets without writing any code. Choose your model, aggregation type, and relevant columns for the graph. Here’s a quick overview of the available widget types:

  • Daily Count: Record counts per day within a chosen timeframe.
  • Cumulated Daily Count: Total records cumulatively over a set period.
  • Period Total: New record counts generated during a specified period.
  • Group By Count: Count records based on specific column values during a defined timeframe.
  • More widget types will be added soon!

Custom Code Widgets

Your data display options expand significantly by using the custom code widget feature. This allows you to define your result set using code, which can be as straightforward as:

$result = ['a' => 10, 'b' => 20];

But beware! Utilizing custom code on a production database can pose significant risks. Imagine leaving the garage door open while hosting a party; you never know who might wander in! Here’s how to mitigate those risks:

  • Create a read-only user for your database. Check out these guides: PostgreSQL guide and MySQL guide.
  • Add a read-only connection in your config/database.php settings.
  • Set your environment variables accordingly in your .env file:
  • MODEL_STATS_CUSTOM_CODE=true
    MODEL_STATS_DB_CONNECTION=readonly
    DB_USERNAME_READONLY=username
    DB_PASSWORD_READONLY=password

Disabling and Authorizing Access to the Dashboard

In case you opt to disable custom code widgets, you can do so by setting:

MODEL_STATS_CUSTOM_CODE=false

By default, your ModelStats dashboard can only be accessed in local environments. To authorize access in others, modify the gate defined in your app’s Providers\ModelStatsServiceProvider.php. This access control ensures only designated users can view sensitive data:

Gate::define('viewModelStats', function ($user) {
    return in_array($user->email, ['taylor@laravel.com']);
});

Upgrading the Package

When you’re ready to upgrade, be sure to republish the frontend assets with:

php artisan model-stats:publish

Troubleshooting Tips

If you run into any issues during the installation or setup process, here are some helpful troubleshooting ideas:

  • Ensure all required Laravel dependencies are installed and up-to-date.
  • Double-check that your database credentials and permissions are correctly configured.
  • If custom code widgets are not working, review your code for syntax errors.
  • Review your authorization settings to confirm access is granted to the right users.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Final Thoughts

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.

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