On this page we discuss new ideas for phpDays. Post your ideas below in comments.

Models with data checking

I am learning the Python language and its Django framework. I am also learning about the Google AppEngine.

I like its models very much. We do not create a database and do not describe a database in files. We create model classes with field descriptions. At launch, our application generates a database structure and then uses it. Very simple to use!

For example, to create a model class (see more examples):

class Model_Blog extends Days_Model {
    protected $_name    = 'type: String, min: 2, max: 100, required';
    protected $_url     = 'type: String, min: 2, max: 100, required';
    protected $_owner   = 'type: User, required';
    protected $_created = 'type: DateTime, now: create, required';
    protected $_changed = 'type: DateTime, now: always, required';
}

/** Create new model based on Days base model */
class Model_User extends Days_Model_User {
    protected $_firstname = 'type: String, min: 2, max: 50';
    protected $_lastname  = 'type: String, min: 2, max: 50';
    protected $_birthdate = 'type: DateTime, min: 1950-1-1, required';
}

The base class Days_Model implements base methods for different field types.

Also the database structure is generated from this file (using reflection).

How it works

Select all users, who post comments today in blog "About life":

$comments = new Model_BlogComment('created<=:1 AND created>=:2', '2009-12-12 23:59:59', '2009-12-12 00:00:00');
$blogs = new Model_Blog('name=:1', 'About life');
// create user object
$users = new Model_Users();
// add conditions from referenced models
$users->with($comments, $blogs);

// show all users
foreach ($users as $user) {
  echo "{$user->name} wrote today<br>";
}

Find all blog posts, where current user write comment:

// find user by email
$user = new Model_Users('email=:1', 'Ilove@phpdays.org');
// find all blog comments wroted by current user
$comments = new Model_BlogComment('author=:1', $user);
// find blog posts
$blogPosts = new Model_BlogPost();
$blogPosts->with($comments);

// show all blog posts
foreach ($blogPosts as $blogPost) {
  echo "User {$user->name} wrote in blog post '{$blogPost->name}'<br>";
}

// find all blog posts, where current user is owner
// and wrote one or more comments in this post
$myBlogPosts = new Model_BlogPost();
$myBlogPosts->with($comments, $user);

Find all comments in blogs, owned by specified users only:

// find users by email
$users = new Model_Users('email=:1',
                         array(
                           'user1@phpdays.org',
                           'user2@phpdays.org',
                           'user3@phpdays.org'
                         ));
// find blogs, owned by users
$blogs = new Model_Blog('owner=:1', $users);
// find comments from this blogs
$comments = new Model_BlogComment('blog=:1', $blogs);

Development

See code of Days_Model class. This main class for implement this perfect functionality.

Please, help us implement this in this month. This need as main goal in release phpDays 1.1.

If user use call witch(model1, model2, ...) - than into model processed:

• all models cached in one array where described all models. This file saved once, and regenerated on each change in model classes
• find all pathes from current model to all specified models. If not find - throw exception
• join all model tables and set "where" conditions from passed models
• for represent ROW need use Days_Db_Row class (need to create it)
• execute statement and fill all rows for current model only. This execute only by first call __get() (and equialent) method for recive data from model

Validator

Days_Validate - check a variable by criteria and return true only if its value is valid.

$age = 21;
$mail = 'Tom@Jerry.com';
// not good format of criteria
if (Days_Validator::check($age, array('int'=>array('max'=>50, 'min'=>18))))
  echo 'You are full of strength!';
// good format of criteria
if (Days_Validator::check($age, 'int: {max: 50, min: 18}'))
  echo 'You are full of strength!';
// many criterias
if (Days_Validator::check($mail, 'str: {max: 70}, email, required'))
  echo 'Name correct!';

Tasks:

• simplify a criteria format (good if data passes as string check($age, 'int: {max: 50, min: 18}') or similar format)

Event ( issue #15 )

Days_Event - an implementation of the Observer pattern. Helps join many components to one system without changes in any component.

Days library events:

class Days_User {
  public function login($username, $password) {
    Days_Event::run('user.login.before');
    // process loginning
    if (/* logged well */) {
      Days_Event::run('user.login.success');
      ...
    }
    else {
      Days_Event::run('user.login.fail');
      ...
    }
    Days_Event::run('user.login.after');
  }
...

Your application events are in the models (add the name of your application before an event name):

class Myapp_Model_Rss {
  public function import($path) {
    Days_Event::run('myapp.rss.import.before');
    // process loginning
    if (/* data loaded from RSS */) {
      Days_Event::run('myapp.rss.import.success');
      ...
    }
    else {
      Days_Event::run('myapp.rss.import.fail');
      ...
    }
    Days_Event::run('myapp.rss.import.after');
  }
}

Now, we have to add a forum with a user authorization to the site. We use events in the forum.

// general Days event
Days_Event::add('user.login.success', 'userSuccessLogged');
// function called on success logging
function userSuccessLogged() {
  echo 'You logged successfully on site!';
}
// your application event
Days_Event::add('myapp.rss.import.fail', 'rssNotLoaded');
// callback function
function rssNotLoaded() {
  echo 'RSS not loaded. Enter correct URL adress';
}

See: Kohana events, Zend Observer.

Form

Days_Form - process html forms. If all data is passed correctly - execute a form handler.

$form = new Days_Form('user_register');
// form sended
if ($form->sended()) {
  // form valid
  if ($form->valid()) {
    // register user
  }
  // incorrect filled form
  else {
    // show form with error messages
    $this->errors = $form->errors();
  }
}

Form settings saved into file app/config/forms.yaml

user_register:
  User.name: {}
  User.email: {}
  User.posts: {disabled}
  User.role: {}