Composer autoload files without running a command each time - php

This is a general question I have out of curiosity and might lead to something useful in projects of mine.
Every time I add a new file (for example a new controller or model) I have to run composer dump-autoload -o for it to include the file, not sure if i'm just doing something wrong or if that is how it works.
Is it possible for me to get composer to see the file automatically after I created the file with its contents?
My first thought was to just create a script to run the command in either a special "refresh" file but that seems to be a waste.
I am using PSR-4 to load my files.
composer.json autoload:
"autoload":{
"psr-4":{
"Website\\":"app"
}
},

You need to configure your composer.json file so that the autoloader knows where to look for specific namespaces:
"autoload": {
"psr-4": {
"App\\": "src/"
},
"files": [
"src/simpleFunctions.php"
]
}
After running composer update, the autoloader will know where to look when a script encounters a namespace that falls under these definitions automatically, without any further command to write.
You have to respect the file hierarchy and psr-4 while naming and creating your classes. In the example above, adding a App\Controller\MyController class is straightforward, you add it in the Controller folder and it will be autoloaded on your next run.
/src
/Controller
MyController.php
/Model
/Mappers
MyMapper.php
simpleFunctions.php
namespace App\Controller;
class MyController {}
Casing is important!
When seeing a namespace like Website\Controllers, the autoloader will look for there files, under the root for the namespace specified, with the same casing. That means, that if you are under a case sensitive system (like Linux distributions) you actually need to respect the case. In your case the class Website\Controllers\Front must be in app/Website/Controllers/Front.php.

Basically, Composer doesn't aware of files that you are creating, you have to run the dump-autoload command which won't download anything new. It just regenerates the list of all classes that need to be included in the project (autoload_classmap.php). Ideal for when you have a new class inside your project.
Ideally, we execute composer dump-autoload -o , for a faster load of your webpages. The only reason it is not default, is because it takes a bit longer to generate (but is only slightly noticeable)

Related

Autoloading PHP file in composer package

I'm trying to create a composer package that also contains src/functions.php with some general functions. I have the following in composer.json to make it autoload:
"autoload": {
"files": ["src/functions.php"]
}
When I import this package into a project it will try to load src/functions.php in the current project (local) in stead of the imported package. Is there a way to ensure the correct file is loaded when imported (./vendor/bla/src/functions.php)?
Autoloading is not for loading everything. If src/functions.php contains class just ensure it's properly namespaced and I see no reason why autoloader would pick your local class instead of package's. If you are using the same namespace for the package and for code in your project then basically you should stop doing so.
If src/functions.php is just bunch of functions, then I strognly suggest refactoring the code and wrap them in properly namespaced class. You can make your functions static methods so basically not much would change from usage perspective.
EDIT
Once you finish refactoring, change your composer.json from what you shown in question to:
"autoload": {
"classmap": ["src/"]
}

Strategy to override a class in a library installed with Composer

I am using Codeigniter and Composer. One of the requirements is PHPExcel. Now I need to change a function in one of the classes. What should be the best strategy to do it? Should I change the code in the vendor folder? If so, how to maintain the change across all the instances? If not how do I override that particular class. Though I mention PHPExcel I would like a generic solution.
I am not sure if this is the right forum for this question. If not i will remove this. Please let me know if any more details are needed.
Thank You.
In composer.json, under ["autoload"]["psr-4"], add an entry with namespace as the key and path as the value:
{
"autoload": {
"psr-4": {
"BuggyVendor\\Namespace\\": "myfixes/BuggyVendor/Namespace"
}
}
}
Copy files you want to override under that path (keeping sub-namespace directory structure) and edit them there. They will be picked in preference to the library package's original "classpath". It would seem that namespace->path mappings added to composer.json in this manner are considered before those added by required packages. Note: I just tried it and it worked, though I don't know if it is an intended feature or what possible gotchas are.
EDIT: found a gotcha. Sometimes when you subsequently require another package with composer require vendor/package, you will "lose" the override. If this happens, you must issue composer dump-autoload manually. This will restore the correct autoload order honoring your override.
Adding these last 2 lines to the autoload section of my composer.json is what worked for me when I wanted to override just one file within the vendors directory:
"autoload": {
"classmap": [
"database"
],
"psr-4": {
"App\\": "app/"
},
"exclude-from-classmap": ["vendor/somepackagehere/blah/Something.php"],
"files": ["app/Overrides/Something.php"]
},
Remember that the namespace within app/Overrides/Something.php needs to match whatever the original was in vendor/somepackagehere/blah/Something.php.
Remember to run composer dump-autoload after editing the composer.json.
Docs: https://getcomposer.org/doc/04-schema.md#files
There is one more option.
In case you need to rewrite the only class you can use files in composer.json like this
"autoload": {
"files": ["path/to/rewritten/Class.php"]
}
So if you want to rewrite class Some\Namespace\MyClass put it like this
#path/to/rewritten/Class.php
namespace Some\Namespace;
class MyClass {
#do whatever you want here
}
Upon each request composer will load that file into memory, so when it comes to use Some\Namespace\MyClass - implementation from path/to/rewritten/Class.php will be used.
Changing an existing class is against OOP and SOLID principles (Open to extension/Closed for modification principle specificaly). So the solution here is not to change the code directly, but to extend the code to add your functionnality.
In an ideal world you should never change a piece of code that you don't own.
In fact, with composer you can't because your change will be overrided when updating dependencies.
A solution in your case is to create a class at the application level, and extend the class you want to change (which is at the library level) to override with your code. Please look at extending a class in PHP if you don't know how.
Then typically, you load your class instead of their class, this way, you add your functionnality on top of their functionnality, and in case of an update, nothing break (in case of a non breaking update).

Organizing Laravel and autoloading sub directories

I am wanting to structure my laravel app in a way that all of my code is under the src directory. My project structure would look something like the below. How would I do this where I can still call Route::get('accounting/item/{id}','AccountingItemController#getId')
I am wanting to avoid adding every module under src to the ClassLoader. Is there a way to tell the class loader to load all sub-directories under the parent directory src?
app
app/src
app/src/accounting
app/src/accounting/controllers
app/src/accounting/models
app/src/accounting/repos
app/src/accounting/interfaces
app/src/job
app/src/job/controllers
app/src/job/models
app/src/job/repos
app/src/job/interfaces
Yes, it's called PSR-0.
You should namespace all of your code. Typically you'll have a vendor name that you'll use a the top level namespace. Your application structure should then look something like this.
app/src/Vendor/Accounting/Controllers
app/src/Vendor/Job/Controllers
Your controllers will then be namespaced accordingly.
namespace Vendor\Accounting\Controllers;
And when using them in routes.
Route::get('accounting/item/{id}','Vendor\Accounting\Controllers\ItemController#getId');
Lastly, you can register your namespace with Composer in your composer.json.
"autoload": {
"psr-0": {
"Vendor": "app/src"
}
}
Of course, if you don't want that top level Vendor namespace you can remove it, but you'll need to register each component as PSR-0.
"autoload": {
"psr-0": {
"Accounting": "app/src",
"Job": "app/src",
}
}
Once done, run composer dump-autoload once and you should be able to add new controllers, models, libraries, etc. Just make sure the directory structure aligns with the namespacing of each file.
Do you have composer installed? You should use this:
composer dump-autoload
But you can could add directories to the Laravel's classloader. Check the reference here: http://laravel.com/api/class-Illuminate.Support.ClassLoader.html

Own project via composer

I've got some libraries loaded through composer, and I'm wondering if it's possible to add my own library in the /vendor map, and then to have the composer autoloader load it? The structure would be something like /vendor/mylibrary/ and then a namespace mylibrary.
Would this be possible? Also would it be possible to add a different map to the composer autoloader? Like for example /app/src/ and then to have it load all the classes in that folder? Or do I have to make my own loader for that?
Thanks
Reading the composer documentation:
You can even add your own code to the autoloader by adding an autoload field to composer.json.
{
"autoload": {
"psr-0": {"Acme": "src/"}
}
}
Composer will register a PSR-0 autoloader for the Acme namespace.
You define a mapping from namespaces to directories. The src directory would be in your project root, on the same level as vendor directory is. An example filename would be src/Acme/Foo.php containing an Acme\Foo class.
After adding the autoload field, you have to re-run install to
re-generate the vendor/autoload.php file.
So basically, you just need to follow PSR-0, and tell composer where to find your library, by adding that line to your composer.json
Yes.You can achieve it. Configure your composer.json file as following:
{
"autoload": {
"classmap": [ "classes" ]
}
Here classes is the name of the directory where you have all your application related classes.Vendor related class should be auto detected as well. Just add the following line to achieve both at the same time:
require 'vendor/autoload.php';
And you can use the namesapce to reference your class like the following:
use classes\Model\Article;
Yes, of course it is possible to add own libraries and you should feel highly encouraged to do so. If your library is available publicly, you can simply register it at packagist.org. If not, it's a bit more complicated, but not impossible.
If your project does not follow the PSR-0 standard, composer will create a classmap for you. A custom autoloader is not supported.
I'd recommend you to read the (really excellent) documentation about all this and come back, if you're running into problems.
http://getcomposer.org/doc/

Custom code management with the Composer auto loader?

I've started a new project, where I use Composer to handle some dependencies, as well as their auto-loading.
I only keep the composer.json file in the VCS, instead of the entire vendor directory, so I don't want to start adding my code in there.
How should I handle my own project specific code, so that it auto loads as well?
This is actually very simple. Excluding vendors directory from your repository is the right approach. Your code should be stored in a separate place (like src).
Use the autoload property to make that composer recognizes your namespace(s):
{
"autoload": {
"psr-4": {
"Acme\\": "src/"
}
}
}
Assuming you have class names following the psr-4 standard, it should work. Below some example of class names and their locations on the file system:
Acme\Command\HelloCommand -> src/Command/HelloCommand.php
Acme\Form\Type\EmployeeType -> src/Form/Type/EmployeeType.php
Remember to define a namespace for each class. Here's an example of Acme\Command\HelloCommand:
<?php
namespace Acme\Command;
class HelloCommand
{
}
Don't forget to include the autoloader in your PHP controllers:
<?php
require 'vendor/autoload.php';
Read more on PSR-4 standard on PHP Framework Interoperability Group.
Note that if you edit composer.json, you need to either run install, update or dump-autoload to refresh the autoloader class paths.

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