Challenge 1 — Solution

Task: For each of these Chapter 3 mini-framework pieces, write out the
corresponding Laravel equivalent and a one-sentence explanation:
(a) $router->get('/about', [...]), (b) require
__DIR__.'/../views/post_list.php', (c) the Post class's hand-written
find() method using PDO prepared statements.

(a) $router->get('/about', [AboutController::class, 'show'])

    Laravel equivalent: Route::get('/about', [AboutController::class, 'show']);

    Explanation: Laravel's Route::get() registers a URL-to-controller-
    method mapping in exactly the same way Chapter 3's own Router->get()
    does, just as a static facade method rather than an instance method
    on a custom object.

(b) require __DIR__ . '/../views/post_list.php';

    Laravel equivalent: return view('posts.index', ['posts' => $posts]);

    Explanation: Laravel's view() helper replaces a raw require call
    entirely - it locates and renders the matching Blade template
    (resources/views/posts/index.blade.php) and automatically passes
    the given data array into it, rather than relying on PHP's own
    variable-scope-sharing behavior across a manual require.

(c) The Post class's hand-written find() method using PDO prepared statements

    public function find(int $id): array {
        $stmt = $this->pdo->prepare("SELECT * FROM posts WHERE id = :id");
        $stmt->execute(['id' => $id]);
        return $stmt->fetch();
    }

    Laravel equivalent: Post::find($id);

    Explanation: Eloquent's Model::find() replaces this entire hand-
    written method with one line - it still runs a prepared statement
    behind the scenes (the SQL-injection protection is never bypassed),
    but the SQL itself is generated automatically from the model's
    table name and primary key convention rather than written by hand.

Notes:
- Each Laravel equivalent replaces multiple lines of hand-written
  Chapter 3 code with a single, conventions-driven call - directly
  demonstrating the chapter's own central point that Laravel automates
  work this course already did manually.
- None of these Laravel equivalents introduce a genuinely new concept -
  each one maps onto a specific role (Router, View, Model) already
  covered concretely in this course's own mini-framework.