Traversing up a PHP class structure by calling parent functions recursively - php

While building an object-based menu component i ran into a problem.
Imagine:
abstract class key {}
class key_main extends key {}
class key_submenu extends key_main {}
class key_navpoint extends key_submenu {}
These menu items can render themselves:
abstract class key {
public function render(){
return template::get('key', '/tpl/menu/');
}
}
The according templates are stored in a structurally similar scheme:
/tpl/menu/main/template.key.php
/tpl/menu/main/submenu/template.key.php
/tpl/menu/main/submenu/navpoint/template.key.php
In order for the render functions to access the correct templates, i want to introduce a function buildTemplatePath() that basically calls itself for inherited-from class up the tree, chaining classnames together:
abstract class key {
public function buildTemplatePath(){
return get_class($this) . '/' . parent::buildTemplatePath();
}
}
This function should return the correct path:
$navpoint=new key_navpoint();
$path=$navpoint->buildTemplatePath();
/* $path should be 'main/submenu/navpoint' */
The problem is that this only works if i place the buildTemplatePath() function within each child class separately. Since it contains the same code, it seems kind of a shady workaround to me, to do that.
Therefore my question is:
How do i modify buildTemplatePath() so that it works as desired without having to be defined in each subclass?
I tried various things, including using get_parent_class($this), but i cannot get this to work.

Use recursion, but you may manually remove the "key_" and namespace prefixes returned from get_parent_class and get_class.
abstract class key {
public function buildTemplatePath(){
return self::buildTemplatePathRecursion(get_class($this));
}
private static function buildTemplatePathRecursion(string $clz){
$parentClz = get_parent_class($clz);
return $parentClz ?
self::buildTemplatePathRecursion($parentClz).'/'.$clz :
'';
}
}

Related

add more methods to class using include_once [duplicate]

I want to make a PHP class, lets say Myclass.php. Now inside that class I want to define just the class itself and some instance variables. But all the methods must come from a Myclass_methods.php file. Can I just include that file into the class body?
I have good reasons why I want to seperate this. In short, I'll have a backend in which I can change the business logic of a class, while all other things must remain untouched. The system maintains all the ORM and other stuff for me.
But if this is a bad idea, it might be better to re-generate the whole class file after editing the business logic (so, the user-defined methods in this case).
Performance question: If during one request Myclass.php is included just once, actually that Myclass_methods.php should also be included just once. Might be wrong. Experts?
No. You cannot include files in the class body.
In a file defining a class, you may only include files in a method body or outside the class body.
From your description I take you want this:
<?php // MyClass.php
class MyClass
{
protected $_prop;
include 'myclass-methods.php';
}
<?php // myclass-methods.php
public function myMethod()
{
$this->$_prop = 1;
}
Running this code will result in
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_INCLUDE, expecting T_FUNCTION
What is possible though is this
<?php // MyClass.php
class MyClass
{
protected $_prop;
public function __construct() // or any other method
{
include 'some-functions.php';
foo($b); // echoes 'a';
}
}
<?php // some-functions.php
$b = 'a';
function foo($str)
{
echo $str;
}
Doing it this way, will import the contents of the include file into the method scope, not the class scope. You may include functions and variables in the include file, but not methods. You could but should not put entire scripts into it as well and change what the method does, e.g.
<?php // MyClass.php
// ...
public function __construct($someCondition)
{
// No No Code here
include ($someCondition === 'whatever') ? 'whatever.php' : 'default.php';
}
// ...
<?php // whatever.php
echo 'whatever';
<?php // default.php
echo 'foo';
However, patching the class this way to exhibit different behavior is not how you should do it in OOP. It's just plain wrong and should make your eyes bleed.
Since you want to dynamically change behavior, extending the class is also not a good option (see below why). What you really will want to do is write an interface and make your class use objects implementing this interface, thus making sure the appropriate methods are available. This is called a Strategy Pattern and works like this:
<?php // Meowing.php
interface Meowing
{
public function meow();
}
Now you got the contract that all Meowing Behaviors must obey, namely having a meow method. Next define a Meowing Behavior:
<?php // RegularMeow.php
class RegularMeow implements Meowing
{
public function meow()
{
return 'meow';
}
}
Now to use it, use:
<?php // Cat.php
class Cat
{
protected $_meowing;
public function setMeowing(Meowing $meowing)
{
$this->_meowing = $meowing;
}
public function meow()
{
$this->_meowing->meow()
}
}
By adding the Meowing TypeHint to setMeowing, you make sure that the passed param implements the Meowing interface. Let's define another Meowing Behavior:
<?php // LolkatMeow.php
class LolkatMeow implements Meowing
{
public function meow()
{
return 'lolz xD';
}
}
Now, you can easily interchange behaviors like this:
<?php
require_once 'Meowing.php';
require_once 'RegularMeow.php';
require_once 'LolkatMeow.php';
require_once 'Cat.php';
$cat = new Cat;
$cat->setMeowing(new RegularMeow);
echo $cat->meow; // outputs 'meow';
// now to change the behavior
$cat->setMeowing(new LolkatMeow);
echo $cat->meow; // outputs 'lolz xD';
While you also could have solved the above with inheritance by defining an abstract BaseCat and meow method and then deriving concrete RegularCat and Lolkat classes from that, you have to consider what you want to achieve. If your cats will never change the way they meow, go ahead and use inheritance, but if your RegularCat and Lolkat is supposed to be able to do arbitrary meows, then use the Strategy pattern.
For more design patterns in PHP, check these resources:
http://www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.patterns.php
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/os-php-designptrns/
http://www.fluffycat.com/PHP-Design-Patterns/
http://sourcemaking.com/design_patterns
Might it not be an idea to create the core class with the relevant base functionality and then extend this with the required methods - it seems like a more logical approach.
I'll start by saying I'm not too clear why this problem is not best solved using a base class containing the methods, subclasses containing the data, and dynamic class loading. I'll assume you have a good reason.
Once your provider supports PHP 5.4 you can do what you want using traits.
Code File:
if ($pet === 'dog') include 'dog.php';
elseif ($pet === 'cat') include 'cat.php';
else die('Unknown pet');
class Pet {
use PetSounds;
}
$myPet = new Pet();
$myPet->speak();
File cat.php
trait PetSounds {
function speak() { echo 'meow'; }
}
File dog.php
trait PetSounds {
function speak() { echo 'woof'; }
}
You could make this even cleaner by naming both include files the same, putting them in different subdirectories, and using set_include_path() or defining an __autoload() function to select between them. Like I said though, this same problem could be solved better using inheritance. If you have a multiple-inheritance type problem though, if for instance you have four kinds of pets with five kinds of colors with three hair types and you need a different combination of methods for each of the 60 different classes, this is the right solution.
5.4 is currently just a Release Candidate (as of 2/24/2012) and even once released most hosts will not support it for many months - mine took 18 months after 5.3 was released before they would support it. Until then you must write entirely separate and complete class files. You can however format your classes with an eventual change to traits in mind.
Right now you can partially get what you want using magic methods and have an easy upgrade to traits when they are available.
Code File:
if ($pet === 'dog') include 'dog.php';
elseif ($pet === 'cat') include 'cat.php';
else die('Unknown pet');
class Pet {
public function __call($name, array $arguments)
{
array_unshift($arguments, $this);
return call_user_func_array("TraitFunc_$name", $arguments);
}
}
$myPet = new Pet();
$myPet->speak();
File cat.php
function TraitFunc_speak(Pet $that) { echo 'meow'; }
File dog.php
function TraitFunc_speak(Pet $that) { echo 'woof'; }
You are limited however in that your functions can not access private and protected class properties and methods and you can not use this method to provide magic methods such as __get(). Traits will solve both of those limitations.
What about using traits for this? Would that be an acceptable option? This is something I am currently experimenting with and it seems to work quite while.
A simplified version of what I am doing is basically like this. I have an application with shared core files and multiple projects. Within those projects i have modules. I want to have functions that are available for the entire project on a core level but only for that specific project.
My project controller
if(is_file(PROJECT_PATH.'/project_extensions.trait.php')){
// additional functions for this specific project
require_once(PROJECT_PATH.'/project_extensions.trait.php');
}else{
// no additional functions
trait Extensions{};
}
Class Project{
USE Extensions;
// default functions shared between all projects
function shared_stuff(){
}
}
Extensions file
trait Extensions{
// project-specific extensions
function this_project_only(){
echo 'Project Only';
}
}
Module file in the project
class MyModule extends Modules{ // modules extends projects in a different class not relevant here
function do_something(){
echo $this->project_only();
}
}
Since PHP5.4 release you can create dynamic objects like this: https://github.com/ptrofimov/jslikeobject
But this is scarcely the best practice.
Reviving an old question but this is a fairly simple solution. Do you need the common function calls to be exclusive to your class? If not, simply include your common function file(s) within the same scope as your class. You will need to create methods in your class but they will only need to call the common function. Here's a simple SOAP server example:
<?php
include 'post_function.php';
$server = new SoapServer( null, array('uri' => "http://localhost/") );
$server->setClass( 'postsoapclass' );
$server->handle();
class postsoapclass
{
public function animalNoise( $animal )
{
return get_animal_noise($animal);
}
}
?>
post_function.php
<?php
function get_animal_noise($animal)
{
if(strtolower(trim($animal)) == 'pig')
{
return 'Oink';
}
else
{
return 'This animal is mute';
}
}
?>
I have had to do what you are describing in cases where I maintain a free version and a premium version of the same software. Because, as #Gordon noted, you cannot do exactly this:
class SomeClass {
premium_file = "premium.php";
if (file_exists($premium_file)) {
require($premium_file);
}
Instead I do this:
premium_file = "premium.php";
if (file_exists($premium_file)) {
require($premium_file);
}
class SomeClass {
...
For functions you want to reference, create class methods in the main class, and call the included file's method, passing the $this pointer as a parameter. So that I can tell at a glance where functions are, I will prefix the name of the included functions as shown below:
class SomeClass {
...
// Premium functions
public function showlist() {
premium_showlist($this);
}
You can include or require before declaring your class like below:
require 'path-to-file';
class myClass{
function show($uid){
}
}
The answer is yes, for example:
Into class construct, pass to the function (that's into the included file) values as params:
$this->wpd = $this->wpdopt = 'something';
include_once('/common/functions_common.php');
$this->wpdb = wpquery($sql='', $mode='', $this->wpd);
Into the included functions_common.php file:
function wpquery($sql, $mode, $wdp)
{
if(!empty($wdp))
{ return true; } else { return false; }
}
Into class methods:
$sql = "UPDATE ..... SET ... WHERE LOWER(user_email) = . ...";
$this->wpdb = wpquery($sql,'update',$this->wpd);
OR
$retval_var = $this->wpdb = wpquery($sql,'update',$this->wpd);
OR even
$this->var = $this->wpdb = wpquery($sql,'update',$this->wpd);
Cheers to all the lovely and cool people
I came across this recently, and came up with a solution, that helped in my case. I wanted many functions in a class, but the class became bloated, so wanted to separate out the class functions into groups for readability. It took a little time to accomplish, but since the functions of the class didn't rely (much) on $this, I removed "$this" from the class functions and created several helper files to include those functions. When $this was necessary, I could nevertheless move the function into a helper file, by passing $this to the function, adding public set/get functions where necessary. It's a hack, but it's sure to help someone
class myClass
{
var x;
function myClass()
{
$this->x = 0;
}
function myFunc1Group1()
{
$x = $this->x;
$x++;
$this->x = $x;
}
function myFunc2Group1(){}
function myFunc1Group2(){}
function myFunc2Group2(){}
}
can be worked around to
class myClass
{
var x;
function myClass()
{
$this->x = 0;
}
function doSomething()
{
// not called on $this but takes $this as a parameter
myFunc1Group1($this);
}
}
and helper function set 1
function myFunc1Group1($THIS_OBJECT)
{
$x = $THIS_OBJECT->getX();
$x++;
$THIS_OBJECT->setX($x);
}
function myFunc2Group1($THIS_OBJECT){}
and helper function set 2, etc.
Probably not the best route in all cases, but helped me out a lot. Basically the class functions were only to construct and delegate, and the calculations were put into helpers.

Array in an object passed by reference is empty, even though it was filled later on

In the progress of writing a little framework for a web app I came along some difficulties in making classes communicate with each other.
Environment
I have an abstract class called LizardModule, that should be extended by all the single modules of the web-app. This class has a final protected function registerController(...), that creates a new Object of the type LizardController. This is, as it sounds, based on the idea of MVC. With the final protected function registerFunction(...), modules can register functions for every controller. Those are stored using addFunction(...) on the controller object. Here is what this looks like:
Example Module:
class ModuleOverview extends LizardModule {
protected function setup() {
$this->registerController(
'overview',
'App Overview'
);
$this->registerFunction(
'overview',
'myfunction',
'My Function',
array(&$this, 'theFunctionToCall')
);
}
public function theFunctionToCall() { ... Generate Content ... }
}
Module Class:
class LizardModule {
private $controllers = array();
final public function __construct() { $this->setup(); }
abstract protected function setup();
[...]
final protected function registerController($controllerSlug, $controllerName) {
if (array_key_exists($controllerSlug, $this->controllers))
return false;
$this->controllers[$controllerSlug] = new LizardController($controllerSlug, $controllerName);
}
final protected function registerFunction($controllerSlug, $functionSlug, $functionName, callable $function) {
if (!array_key_exists($controllerSlug, $this->controllers))
return false;
$this->controllers[$controllerSlug]->addFunction($functionSlug, $functionName, $function);
}
}
This results in a lot of objects of type LizardController in different places of the app. To make all of those objects accessable, I created a singleton class LizardRouter, that should hold a reference to all of those controller objects. Therefore, the controller-object registers itself with this singleton class:
Controller Class:
class LizardController {
[...]
private $functions = array();
public function __construct($slug, $name, $menu) {
$this->slug = $slug;
$this->name = $name;
$this->menu = $menu;
LizardRouter::registerController($this);
}
public function addFunction(...) { Tested, this works. }
public function getFunctions() {
return $this->functions;
}
}
Router Class:
final class LizardRouter {
[...]
public static function getControllers() {
return static::getInstance()->controllers;
}
public static function registerController(LizardController $controller) {
static::getInstance()->controllers[] = $controller;
}
}
The Problem
The whole thing works alright for the controllers. In my interface class, I can read out all controllers and print a menu containing their names. The problem is: Whenever I access the controllers functions-array (see controller class) through the controllers-array given by the routing class, I get an empty array. I asume that somewhere a reference is not working and I am passing the actual controller object, before my module-class was able to add the functions to the controllers functions-array. But I can't figure out where exactly the problem lies. Here is an example from my interface class showing the problem:
foreach (LizardRouter::getControllers() as $controller) {
// Allways returns an empty array, even though
// the module added functions to the controller.
$controller->getFunctions();
}
Since this is a very specific case, I guess it is unlikely, that anyone will ever stumble upon the same problem. Anyway; I found the reason for the problem:
Objects are by default passed as reference since PHP5. Variables are by default passed by value.
Arrays are handled like variables, so when I pass an array containing object-references, a new copy of this array is created and passed. Object references added to the array after it was passed are therefore only added to the original array.
The solution i chose was to create my own "array-class" for holding objects. It has nothing more than a private array object, a setter and a getter. Since this custom array class is an object, it is automatically passed by reference. Later I also added some functions to conveniently access the array - a good side-effect.

PHP get child class methods

Is it possible in PHP to get the methods of an extended child class in a method declared in the parent class?
Here is a simple (maybe stupid) example:
<?php
class Vehicle{
protected function moveForward(){
// go ahead...
}// moveForward
public function getWhatCanIDo(){
$actions = get_class_methods($this);
return 'I can '.implode(', ', $actions).'<br/>';
}// getWhatCanIDo
}
class Car extends Vehicle{
protected function honk(){
// honk...
}// honk
protected function turnHeadlightsOn(){
// turn headlights on...
}// turnHeadlightsOn
protected function stopEngine(){
// stop the engine
}// stopEngine
}
class Submarine extends Vehicle{
protected function submerge(){
// sink...
}// submerge
protected function ping(){
// ping...
}// ping
protected function fireTorpedos(){
// DESTROY!!!
}// fireTorpedos
protected function stopEngine(){
// stop the engine
}// stopEngine
}
$volvo = new Car();
$uboat = new Submarine();
echo $volvo->getWhatCanIDo();
echo $uboat->getWhatCanIDo();
?>
The output what I expect is:
I can moveForward, getWhatCanIDo, honk, turnHeadlightsOn, stopEngine
I can moveForward, getWhatCanIDo, submerge, ping, fireTorpedos, stopEngine
But instead It returns the the methos of the Vehicle class only, without the methods implemented in the extended class:
I can moveForward, getWhatCanIDo
I can moveForward, getWhatCanIDo
How could I get the extanded class methods?
Additional Infos:
I have to solve this in PHP 5.2.14
The extended classes will have different numbers of methods with different method names so making Vehicle an abstract class wont help, because e.g.: I dont want Submarine to have honk method.
I know I could make the getWhatCanIDo() an abstract method, but I'd like to implement this method "centrally" in the parent class, I dont want to oblige developers to write getWhatCanIDo() method for every extended class (In the future others may join or continue this project, and Its more failsafe to not let them implement this method again and again especially when the method does exactly the same thing.)
You should declare class Vehicle abstract, because it does not really exist and the real vehicles implement it.
Then put whatCanIDo in Car and in Submarine, because you don't ask the vehicle what it can do, you ask the car.
class Car extends Vehicle{
public function getWhatCanIDo(){
$actions = get_class_methods($this);
return 'I can '.implode(', ', $actions).'<br/>';
}// getWhatCanIDo
}
Update:
A yet different approach is to use the standard PHP library ReflectionClass:
$class = new ReflectionClass('Vehicle');
$methods = $class->getMethods();
You need to overload the getWhatCanIDo() function in the Car & Submarine classes. You get the output because the function is executed in the Vehicle class.
Overloading the method causes it to be executed in either the Car or Submarine class.
You could also try get_class_methods(); More at http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.get-class-methods.php
This code is not tested, please, let me know if it works.
class MyBaseClass {
//...
public function getMethods($className) {
return get_class_methods($className);
}
public static function getMethods($myObject) {
return $myObject->getMethods(get_class($myObject));
}
//...
}
class MyInheritedClass {
//...
}
$myBaseObject = new MyBaseClass(/*...*/);
$myInheritedObject = new MyInheritedClass(/*...*/);
echo var_dump(MyBaseClass::getMethods($myBaseObject));
echo var_dump(MyBaseClass::getMethods($myInheritedObject));
Inheritance is not proper tool here. You should use composition. Example:
Have separate objects Runner, Swimmer, WorkWithEngine, Submerge. All off them implements interface with getWhatCanIDo() method.
Create your new Vehiclas by composing them from Types from point one. This object implements interface with getWhatCanIDo() method as well.
$submarine = new Submarine();
$submarine->addAblility(new Swimmer());
$submarine->addAblility(new WorkWithEngine());
$submarine->addAblility(new Submerge());
$submarine->whatCanIDo();
In any case do not use magic like get_class_methods those are constructs for frameworks creators it is not stuff for coding business logic.

Caching via static properties in PHP

I have a number of classes that extend an abstract DatabaseRecord class. Essentially, the DatabaseRecord class handles some common functions that all of the child classes use in interacting with the database (e.g. searching by id, updating, etc.).
Now, I'd like to not have to constantly go to the DB to fetch the record every time, for example, a particular user is referenced on a page load. I had a moderately ingenious idea, such that I could do the following, since PHP has late static binding.
abstract class DatabaseRecord{
static protected $cachedRecords;
public static function searchById($id){
if(!isset(static::$cachedRecords[$id])) {
// logic
static::$cachedRecords[$id] = static::constructFromDatabase($results);
}
return static::$cachedRecords[$id];
}
// ... more logic
}
Unfortunately, all the child classes share the same static $cachedRecords.
I could fix this by redeclaring static protected $cachedRecords; in all the child classes and declaring the $cachedRecords in DatabaseRecord to be private to stop me from forgetting the redeclaration, but this seems an inelegant solution.
Is there a better way of doing this so it's write-once-and-forget?
You could just add another level to the $cachedRecords array that indicates the actual class:
static public function cache( $id )
{
$class = get_called_class();
if( isset( self::$cachedRecords[$class][$id] ) )
{
return self::$cachedRecords[$class][$id];
}
else
{
return null;
}
}

Static variable assignment in descendent bubbles up to parent?

I've run into a problem and I'm not sure if this is just normal behaviour or if I wrote something wrong. I have a method in my base class that applies a global filter to a given class by way of creating a proxy for all new instances of that particular class. The way I planned to go about it is as follows:
Attach static $global_filter (the proxy) to the class I want to be filtered, which extends the base class object
Via my loading mechanism, return the proxy instead of the actual class upon new instantiations (which will mask method calls and apply filters accordingly)
However, I am getting stuck in step 1 and it seems that when I try to assign static $global_filter to the descendent class I want filtered, my base class object also gets the same assignment, which breaks everything else that extends from it.
Please see below for relevant code:
class object {
public static $global_filter;
public function _filterGlobal($class, $method, $callback) {
if ( !is_object($class::$global_filter) ) {
$class::$global_filter = new filterable(null);
# Replace the object being called with the new proxy.
}
var_dump($class);
var_dump($class::$global_filter); // `filterable`
var_dump(\core\blueprint\object::$global_filter); // Returns same as line above
die();
return $class::$global_filter->_add($method, $callback);
}
}
Both $class::$global_filter and \core\blueprint\object::$global_filter (the base class) are returning same instance. Whereas I expected object::$global_filter to be null.
I'm not using late static binding in order to preserve consistency (both single-object filters and global filters are called much in the same way non-statically).
This question seems relevant
Any help will be much appreciated :)
Edit, full example
This would be a concrete class, which extends model which extends object
<?php
use core\blueprint\model;
class modelMock extends model {
protected $schema = array();
public function method($test) {
return $test;
}
}
This would be another object (e.g a controller), which extends object aswell. It applies a filter to all new instances of model
<?php
use core\blueprint\object;
class objectMock extends object {
public function applyFilters() {
$this->_filterGlobal('core\blueprint\model', 'method', function($self, $chain) {
$chain->params[0] = 'new param'; // adjust the paramters
return $chain->next();
});
}
}
when I try to assign static $global_filter to the descendent class I want filtered, my base class object also gets the same assignment
Yes, indeed this happens. A static property in essence is a global variable, constrained within the class's namespace. Running into problems with global variables is often an indication you're not using the best solution.
To solve your problem, you could make the filter a (non-static) property:
$class->$filter = new Whatever();
But as always, there's more roads that lead to Rome, and I would advise you to look for alterative ways to do it.
I don't know if this is a help for you:
class a {
public static $type;
public static function setType($class, $newType) {
$class::$type = $newType;
var_dump($class::$type);
}
}
class b {
public static $type = 'myType';
}
var_dump(b::$type);
a::setType('b', 'yourType');
var_dump(a::$type);
May be you have not defined the static property to the concrete class.
Thanks everyone for you help, I spent some time on it this morning and managed to solve my problem. It's a bit of a workaround but here's how it goes:
public function _filterGlobal($class, $method, $callback) {
if ( !is_object($class::$global_filter[$class]) ) {
$class::$global_filter[$class] = new filterable(null);
# Replace the object being called with the new proxy.
}
return $class::$global_filter[$class]->_add($method, $callback);
}
So basically in order to get unique static variables working in child classes without having to explicitly define them, you can use an array that stores the child's class name as a key and then access these variables via a getter.

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