On Wednesday 30th April, we hosted another exciting edition of PHP Berkshire, a leading PHP developer meetup in Reading, UK. Organised by Humand Talent, this monthly gathering brings together software developers, PHP engineers, and web development professionals from all backgrounds.
This session was particularly memorable as we welcomed two highly respected international speakers: Dave Liddament and Rob Allen. Both have spoken at major PHP conferences worldwide and brought exceptional insights to our local developer community. We were proud to host such experienced voices in the open-source space.
👨💻 Talk 1: Custom PHPStan Rules – Automate Standards and Save Time
Speaker: Dave Liddament, Director & Developer @ Lamp Bristol
📑 View Dave’s slides
PHPStan, one of the most widely adopted static analysis tools for PHP, is already a go-to for spotting bugs before they hit production. But Dave Liddament showed attendees how to extend PHPStan with custom rules that go far beyond basic bug detection.
By building custom static analysis rules, developers can:
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Enforce custom PHP coding standards
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Automate time-consuming parts of code review
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Improve code quality and reduce technical debt
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Align codebases with internal best practices across teams
This session was a practical, step-by-step walkthrough of building these rules – making it a standout topic for teams using Laravel, Symfony, WordPress, or any modern PHP framework.
🔐 Talk 2: OAuth 2.1 – The Future of API Security
Speaker: Rob Allen, Owner @ Nineteen Feet
📑 View Rob’s slides
Rob Allen tackled a topic every web API developer needs to understand: OAuth 2.1 – the next evolution in API authentication and security standards. Rob shared how OAuth 2.1 consolidates years of learning from 2.0, offering more secure defaults and simplified implementation.
Highlights included:
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Why PKCE (Proof Key for Code Exchange) is now essential for all clients
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The removal of outdated and insecure grant types
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Best practices for secure API authentication in 2025 and beyond
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Real-world tips for migrating to OAuth 2.1 compliant applications
This talk was a must-see for developers building or maintaining secure APIs in PHP, JavaScript, or mobile environments.
🍻 Community Vibes: Developer Networking in Reading
As always, PHP Berkshire wasn’t just about the talks. Attendees enjoyed casual networking, developer Q&As, and plenty of conversation over drinks. Whether you’re new to coding or a senior PHP developer, this is a welcoming place to connect with like-minded people and share what you’re building.
🎤 Become a PHP Meetup Speaker
Want to speak at a future event? We’re always looking for new voices to share tools, techniques, or experiences from real-world development projects.
📩 Email rebecca@humand.co.uk to pitch your talk.
📅 Next PHP Berkshire Event: June 18th – RSVP Now
We’re back at Zerodegrees in Reading on Wednesday 18th June for another evening of technical talks, community learning, and PHP goodness. Whether you work with Laravel, WordPress, Symfony or custom frameworks, you’ll find something relevant and valuable.
Come and join one of the most active PHP developer communities in the UK. 🐘
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