As a senior Laravel developer juggling SaaS builds, content creation, and community engagement, I’ve embraced AI not just as a tool—but as a teammate. These 9 AI tools have radically transformed how I work, helping me ship faster, debug smarter, and create content that resonates.
1. Claude AI – My Laravel Debugging Assistant
Claude is my go-to for interpreting Telescope logs, Horizon metrics, and exception traces. I’ve built a Claude-powered MCP plugin that lets me ask:
“Why did the checkout job fail yesterday?” Claude replies with root cause, retry history, and even suggests fixes. It’s like having a senior dev pair with me 24/7.
2. GitHub Copilot – Code Autocomplete That Understands Laravel
Copilot isn’t just autocomplete—it understands Laravel conventions. Whether I’m writing custom validation rules, service classes, or API resources, Copilot speeds up boilerplate and even suggests edge-case handling.
Daily use:
- Writing form requests
- Generating test cases
- Refactoring legacy controllers
3. Cursor – AI-Powered IDE for Laravel + JS
Cursor is my new favorite IDE. It lets me chat with my codebase, refactor intelligently, and even generate migrations from model definitions. It’s especially powerful when switching between Laravel and Vue/React.
Why it’s a win:
- Context-aware suggestions
- Seamless Laravel + JS workflows
- Claude integration for deeper reasoning
4. Sora 2 (Video AI) – Content Creation for Devs
I use Sora 2 to generate faceless dev explainers, product demos, and carousel animations. It’s perfect for turning blog posts into short videos that perform well on LinkedIn and X.
Workflow:
- Write blog → Generate script → Feed to Sora → Publish
5. Notion AI – Planning, Docs, and Content Drafting
From sprint planning to blog outlines, Notion AI helps me structure ideas fast. I use it to:
- Draft Laravel tutorials
- Plan SaaS feature roadmaps
- Organize content funnels
It’s my second brain for everything non-code.
6. Whimsical AI – Diagrams and Architecture Planning
Whether I’m mapping out queue workflows or SaaS onboarding funnels, Whimsical AI helps me visualize complex systems. It’s especially useful for:
- Laravel job pipelines
- Middleware flowcharts
- API architecture diagrams
7. Raycast AI – Instant Answers in My Dev Workflow
Raycast’s AI search is my shortcut to Laravel docs, PHP quirks, and even regex help. It’s like having Stack Overflow baked into my desktop.
Use cases:
- Quick syntax lookups
- Laravel config tips
- Bash scripting help
8. ChatGPT (with Code Interpreter) – Data Crunching & File Analysis
I use ChatGPT’s code interpreter to:
- Analyze Telescope logs
- Parse CSV exports from SaaS dashboards
- Generate charts for blog posts
It’s my go-to for anything involving data.
9. Midjourney + DALL·E – Visual Branding for Dev Content
From Medium covers to LinkedIn carousels, I use AI image tools to create:
- Faceless, high-impact banners
- Minimalist icons for Laravel features
- Branded assets for SaaS launches
These tools help me stand out visually without hiring a designer.
Final Thoughts
In 2026, being a senior Laravel developer isn’t just about writing elegant PHP—it’s about orchestrating tools that multiply your output. These 9 AI tools help me:
- Ship faster
- Debug smarter
- Create content that connects
If you’re building SaaS, writing dev content, or scaling Laravel apps, these tools aren’t optional—they’re your unfair advantage.