Filament 4: more than an admin panel, a step towards custom enterprise apps?

We've been big fans of Filament PHP for a while now. In fact, we're sponsors, and over the last year, we've used it on pretty much every new project where we had a say in the technology. So, the news about Filament version 4 coming soon has got us thinking, not just about the new features, but about where tools like this could take us.

I see Filament 4 as more than just an update. I see it as a step towards a future where frameworks like Laravel combined with tools like Filament can build the kind of complex business systems currently dominated by giants like Odoo, SAP, or Salesforce. Most business apps boil down to managing data (CRUD) plus specific business rules. Building this core is getting much easier.

What businesses will really need, though, is deep customization. Systems should adapt to their specific way of working, not the other way around. Trying to bend SAP or Salesforce to fit unique needs has always been complex and expensive. Newer frameworks built with flexibility in mind, like Laravel and Filament, have a chance to change that game, especially as they can integrate newer tech like AI more easily than legacy systems.

So, what's actually coming in Filament 4 that makes me think this way? Based on discussions, podcasts featuring Filament's creator Dan Harrin, and community insights, here are some key things to expect:

A more unified foundation

One of the biggest changes seems to be under the hood. They're creating a new core part called 'Schema'. The idea, as Dan Harrin explained, is "trying to unify all of the packages so that they can be combined in ways that were much more difficult to do before".

Right now, making forms, tables, and info lists work together seamlessly on a custom page layout can be tricky. V4 aims to fix this. This new Schema core should let developers mix and match these components more freely on a single page. It should also lead to simpler code and clearer naming conventions.

Easier page customization

Changing the layout of standard Filament pages often meant digging into template files. V4 plans to let you adjust page structure directly in your PHP code using this new schema system, similar to how you build forms now. Want to move a section or reorder elements? You'll do it in PHP, not by copying and modifying views.

Layout tools like Sections, Grids, and Tabs will also be part of this unified schema, meaning you can use the same tools to structure forms, info lists, or whole custom pages.

Faster performance

Performance, especially with large tables, has been a focus. In V3, complex tables could sometimes feel slow. Dan Harrin mentioned that V4 tables should be "about twice as fast". They've apparently changed how tables render, using less complex components and more direct HTML generation to speed things up.

Filament 4 will also use Livewire's partial rendering. This means when something changes on the page (like filtering a table), only the necessary part updates, not the whole page. This should make interactions feel quicker and smoother.

Key feature additions

Several long-requested features are making their way into the core:

• Nested Resources: Building interfaces where one resource lives inside another (like project tasks within a project) will be supported directly, without needing extra packages or workarounds.
• Static Data Tables: You'll finally be able to use Filament's table builder with data that doesn't come from your database, like external APIs or simple arrays. This opens up a lot of possibilities.
• TipTap Editor: The default rich text editor is being replaced with TipTap. It offers more flexibility and extensibility than the old Trix editor, with better handling for things like links and image uploads.
• Better Auth: Features like secure email change verification (confirming changes via links to both old and new addresses) and improved two-factor authentication options are being built-in.

Looking ahead

Filament 4 feels like a significant step. It's not just adding features; it's refining the architecture to make it more powerful, flexible, and faster. This aligns with my view that tools like Laravel and Filament are maturing rapidly.

They are making it possible for development teams like ours at Agiledrop to build sophisticated, highly customized business applications much more efficiently than was possible before. The future isn't about forcing businesses into rigid software; it's about crafting software that flows naturally with the business. And tools like Filament 4 are making that future much more achievable.

There's no official release date yet, but with Dan Harrin scheduled to talk about V4 at Laracon EU UK in June, it feels like it's getting close – likely sometime this year. The team emphasizes backward compatibility, aiming for a smooth upgrade path from V3.

We're looking forward to getting our hands on it and seeing how it helps us build even better solutions for our clients.