PHP, object values and resilience design

Leeds PHP Meetup returns to AutoProtect's offices at Leeds Dock on Wednesday 17 June 2026 for two back-to-back talks covering PHP value objects and database resilience design.

The first talk, PHP, Value Objects and You, is delivered by Daniel Leech. Value objects are a modelling pattern that can make PHP code more expressive, maintainable and deterministic — but they're frequently misunderstood or overlooked. Leech's session covers how to spot value objects in an existing codebase, what properties define them, and how to write your own. It's aimed at PHP developers who want to tighten up their domain modelling without reaching for a framework.

The second talk, Resilience Design, comes from Brian Walker. It covers non-functional resilience concepts for database systems running on IaaS or on-premise infrastructure — the kind of thing that tends to get skipped in sprint planning until something falls over at 2am. Walker's session addresses that gap with practical design principles for teams responsible for their own database hosting.

The format is straightforward: arrive from 18:30, grab pizza, hear two talks with a break in between, then walk to The Adelphi for drinks. The event is free and open to all — no prior registration on Meetup is needed, but the organiser has moved sign-ups to Luma (luma.com/yu2pa6he). Accentrix is sponsoring the evening; AutoProtect is providing the space.

Leeds PHP Meetup has been running regular evenings for PHP developers across the city for several years. Events typically mix technical talks with informal networking, and the community spans freelancers, agency developers and engineers at larger Leeds-based tech firms. The group is hosted by Irene and keeps a presence on LinkedIn and its own site at leedsphp.org.

Why attend

Daniel Leech's value objects talk is the kind of session that pays off immediately — it's a concrete pattern with clear rules, and most PHP developers have written code that would benefit from it without knowing the name. If you've ever inherited a codebase full of primitive obsession, this is the evening for it.

Brian Walker's resilience design talk covers database infrastructure concerns that are easy to defer and expensive to ignore. Both sessions are followed by a walk to The Adelphi, which is where most of the useful conversations tend to happen. The event is free, central and done by 20:35.

Agenda

• 18:30 – Arrive, networking and pizzas
• 19:05 – Intro to Leeds PHP and sponsors
• 19:15 – PHP, Value Objects and You — Daniel Leech
• 19:55 – Break
• 20:00 – Resilience Design — Brian Walker
• 20:35 – Tidy up and walk to The Adelphi

Speakers

• Daniel Leech — speaking on PHP value objects: how to identify, understand and implement them in your domain modelling
• Brian Walker — speaking on resilience design concepts for database systems on IaaS and on-premise infrastructure