Pros of Laravel Permission

• More actively maintained with frequent updates
• Better documentation and extensive examples
• Supports caching for improved performance

Cons of Laravel Permission

• Slightly steeper learning curve for beginners
• Less flexible role inheritance system

Code Comparison

Laratrust:

$user->attachRole('admin');
$user->can('edit-post');

Laravel Permission:

$user->assignRole('admin');
$user->hasPermissionTo('edit-post');

Both packages offer similar functionality for managing roles and permissions in Laravel applications. Laravel Permission has gained popularity due to its active development and comprehensive documentation. It also provides built-in caching support, which can be beneficial for larger applications.

On the other hand, Laratrust has a simpler API that might be easier for beginners to grasp. It also offers a more flexible role inheritance system, allowing for more complex hierarchies.

In terms of code, both packages have similar syntax for assigning roles and checking permissions. The main differences lie in method names and some additional features specific to each package.

Ultimately, the choice between Laratrust and Laravel Permission depends on your specific project requirements, team expertise, and preference for documentation and community support.

Pros of Sentinel

• More comprehensive user management features, including throttling and activation
• Built-in support for social authentication
• More extensive documentation and examples

Cons of Sentinel

• Steeper learning curve due to more complex architecture
• Paid product, which may not be suitable for all projects
• Less frequent updates compared to Laratrust

Code Comparison

Sentinel:

Sentinel::register([
    'email'    => 'john.doe@example.com',
    'password' => 'password',
    'first_name' => 'John',
    'last_name'  => 'Doe',
]);

Laratrust:

$user = User::create([
    'name' => 'John Doe',
    'email' => 'john.doe@example.com',
    'password' => bcrypt('password'),
]);
$user->attachRole('admin');

Both packages offer role-based access control for Laravel applications, but they differ in their approach and feature set. Sentinel provides a more comprehensive user management system with additional features like throttling and social authentication. However, it comes at the cost of being a paid product with a steeper learning curve.

Laratrust, on the other hand, is a free and open-source package that focuses primarily on role and permission management. It's simpler to set up and use, making it a good choice for projects that don't require the advanced features offered by Sentinel. Laratrust also benefits from more frequent updates and community contributions.

Pros of Entrust

• More established project with longer history and larger user base
• Simpler setup process for basic role-based permissions
• Lightweight and focused solely on roles and permissions

Cons of Entrust

• No longer actively maintained (last commit in 2017)
• Lacks some advanced features like teams and ownership
• Not compatible with newer Laravel versions (5.0+)

Code Comparison

Entrust:

$user->hasRole('admin');
$user->can('edit-post');
$user->attachRole('moderator');

Laratrust:

$user->hasRole('admin');
$user->isAbleTo('edit-post');
$user->attachRole('moderator');
$user->syncRoles(['admin', 'moderator']);
$user->attachPermission('edit-post');

Laratrust offers more flexibility and advanced features, such as syncing multiple roles and directly attaching permissions to users. It also provides better support for newer Laravel versions and is actively maintained, making it a more suitable choice for modern Laravel applications. However, Entrust may still be preferable for simpler projects or those requiring minimal setup for basic role-based permissions.