blue-twilight/app/Http/Controllers/Controller.php

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use App\User;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Bus\DispatchesJobs;
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
use Illuminate\Routing\Controller as BaseController;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Validation\ValidatesRequests;
use Illuminate\Foundation\Auth\Access\AuthorizesRequests;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Artisan;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Auth;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;

class Controller extends BaseController
{
    use AuthorizesRequests, DispatchesJobs, ValidatesRequests;

    protected function authorizeAccessToAdminPanel()
    {
        // A user can access the admin panel if they are either an administrator, or are allowed to create albums
        // Further checks within the admin panel determine what a user can do within the panel
        if (!Auth::user()->can('admin-access') && !Auth::user()->can('admin-create-albums'))
        {
            App::abort(403);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Gets either the authenticated user, or a user object representing the anonymous user.
     * @return User
     */
    protected function getUser()
    {
        $user = Auth::user();
        return (is_null($user)
            ? User::anonymous()
            : $user);
    }
}