Bagisto

Bagisto is a full‑stack, open‑source eCommerce platform that leverages the Laravel framework to deliver a modular, extensible architecture. From a developer’s standpoint, it functions as a robust foundation for building anything from single‑store shops to complex multi‑vendor marketplaces, mobile commerce backends, and even blockchain‑enabled storefronts. The core engine exposes a clean service layer, an event bus, and a repository pattern that encourages separation of concerns while remaining tightly integrated with Laravel’s Eloquent ORM and Blade templating.

Technical Stack & Architecture

• Backend: PHP 8+, Laravel 10+ (Blade, Eloquent, Service Providers)
• Database: MySQL/MariaDB or PostgreSQL; migrations are versioned and can be swapped via configuration
• Search: ElasticSearch or Algolia integration is optional; full‑text queries are abstracted in repository classes
• Queue & Events: Laravel queues (Redis, SQS) handle order fulfillment, email, and webhook notifications
• API Layer: A RESTful API follows Laravel’s routing conventions; GraphQL support is available through a dedicated package
• Admin & Storefront: Two separate Laravel applications share the same service container, enabling a single codebase for both administrative and customer interfaces

The platform follows Laravel’s modular architecture: each feature (catalog, cart, checkout, sales, marketing) lives in its own module that can be enabled or disabled via a configuration flag. Modules expose service providers, facades, and routes, allowing developers to override or extend functionality without touching the core.

Core Capabilities & Developer APIs

• Product Management: Variants, SKUs, inventory pools, and bulk import/export via CSV or API
• Order Lifecycle: Order states, payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Braintree), shipment tracking hooks
• Marketplace Engine: Vendor dashboards, commission models, and vendor‑specific product approvals
• Headless Commerce: A lightweight API layer that can power React, Vue, or Flutter frontends; supports JSON‑API and GraphQL
• Extensibility: Hooks, events (Bagisto::order.created), and service container bindings enable custom modules; plugin marketplace available on GitHub
• Webhooks & Callbacks: Out‑of‑the‑box support for notifying external systems on order status changes, inventory updates, and customer actions

Deployment & Infrastructure

Bagisto is designed for self‑hosting on any LAMP/LEMP stack or Docker environment. The official Docker Compose file bundles PHP, Nginx, MySQL, Redis, and a worker process. For scalability:

• Horizontal scaling of workers is straightforward via Docker Swarm or Kubernetes
• Cache layers (Redis, Memcached) can be swapped per environment
• Queue workers are stateless and can run in a separate container pool
• Database replication and read replicas are recommended for high‑traffic stores

Because the codebase is pure Laravel, developers can integrate it into existing PHP monoliths or micro‑service architectures with minimal friction.

Integration & Extensibility

Bagisto’s plugin system mirrors Laravel’s package ecosystem. Developers can publish modules with php artisan vendor:publish, then customize views, routes, or database tables. The platform also offers:

• API authentication via Laravel Sanctum and Passport
• Webhook endpoints that accept JSON payloads from payment gateways or external CRMs
• Event listeners for custom business logic (e.g., loyalty points, tax calculations)
• Theme engine that lets designers swap Blade layouts without touching PHP logic

The open‑source community contributes modules for shipping carriers, tax engines, and even blockchain wallets, which can be dropped into the modules directory.

Developer Experience

• Documentation: Comprehensive devdocs (https://devdocs.bagisto.com) cover architecture, module creation, and deployment
• Community: Active forums, Discord, and a sizable GitHub contributor base ensure rapid issue resolution
• Testing: Built‑in PHPUnit support with pre‑configured factories and seeders; CI pipelines are provided as examples
• Licensing: MIT license allows commercial use without royalties, making it attractive for startups and enterprises alike

Use Cases

• Enterprise B2C: A single‑store with custom payment flows and multi‑currency support
• Marketplace: Turn a storefront into a vendor‑managed platform with commission logic and vendor dashboards
• Omni‑Channel: Synchronize inventory between an online shop, a mobile app, and a physical POS system
• Headless Commerce: Serve product data to a headless frontend (React, Next.js) while keeping business logic in PHP
• Blockchain Integration: Combine Bagisto’s product catalog with NFT marketplaces or crypto payment gateways

Advantages

• Performance: Leveraging Laravel’s caching, Eloquent eager loading, and queue workers yields fast response times even under load
• Flexibility: The modular design lets developers ship features incrementally and replace core modules with custom implementations
• Licensing & Cost: MIT license removes cost barriers; developers can host on any infrastructure
• Ecosystem: Rich set of plugins and community support accelerates feature development compared to proprietary platforms

In summary, Bagisto offers a developer‑centric, Laravel‑native eCommerce foundation that balances out‑of‑the‑box functionality with deep customizability, making it an ideal