[RESOLVED] How can this be done?

[bubu]

I'm coding my CMS in PHP4, I will release it under GPL license as son as I think the core API is stable. Right now I change it allot in the search for a better architecture.

I need an OOP way to be able to load modules at runtime. For example:

class CMS {
     function load_module($module_file) {
          // loaded module can now be used by CMS class or 
          // by any previously loaded module
     }
} 

this way i can do:

$cms = new CMS;
$cms->load_module("config.php"); //  load first module, config
$cms->load_module("database.php"); // load second module, database, it has acces to cms->config module some how
$cms->load_module("templating.php"); // load third module, templating, which can use config and database modules
// etc... 

I've been reading about Drupal architecture here (make sure to read the comments also), but Drupal is what I call, function oriented lol. It's strictly procedural (still works very well).

What I really needed is a true OOP way to do it, something like the code example above. I know about aggregate() for PHP4 and runkit for PHP5 but they are experimental and runkit doesn't even bundles with PHP. So those are a no-go for a OOS CMS (Open Source Content Management System).

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for your attention.

[bubu]

I've been trying to implement a crazy theory of mine to solve my problem, since yesterday and only now I realize this wount work and generates an infinite recusion. It's fun to see the output:

class cms
{
  var $html = 'none';

  function load_module($classname, $objname) {
    $this->$objname = new $classname(&$this);
  }
}


class module
{
    var $cms;

    function module(&$cms_instance) {
      $this->cms = &$cms_instance;
    }
    
    function write_something() {
      $this->cms->html = 'module 1';
    }
}

class module2
{
    var $cms;

    function module2(&$cms_instance) {
      $this->cms = &$cms_instance;
    }

    function write_something() {
      $this->cms->html = 'module2';
    }
}

$cms = new cms;
echo "\n\n".'$cms = new cms;'."\n";
var_dump($cms);

$cms->load_module('module', 'mod1');
echo "\n\n".'$cms->load_module(\'module\', \'mod1\');'."\n";
var_dump($cms);

$cms->mod1->write_something();
echo "\n\n".'$cms->mod1->write_something();\n'."\n";
var_dump($cms);

$cms->load_module('module2', 'mod2');
echo "\n\n".'$cms->load_module(\'module2\', \'mod2\');'."\n";
var_dump($cms);

$cms->mod1->write_something();
echo "\n\n".'$cms->mod1->write_something();'."\n";
var_dump($cms); 

Outputs:

$cms = new cms;
object(cms)(1) {
  ["html"]=>
  string(4) "none"
}


$cms->load_module('module', 'mod1');
object(cms)(2) {
  ["html"]=>
  string(4) "none"
  ["mod1"]=>
  object(module)(1) {
    ["cms"]=>
    &object(cms)(2) {
      ["html"]=>
      string(4) "none"
      ["mod1"]=>
      object(module)(1) {
        ["cms"]=>
        &object(cms)(2) {
          ["html"]=>
          string(4) "none"
          ["mod1"]=>
          *RECURSION*
        }
      }
    }
  }
}


$cms->mod1->write_something();\n
object(cms)(2) {
  ["html"]=>
  string(8) "module 1"
  ["mod1"]=>
  &object(module)(1) {
    ["cms"]=>
    &object(cms)(2) {
      ["html"]=>
      string(8) "module 1"
      ["mod1"]=>
      &object(module)(1) {
        ["cms"]=>
        &object(cms)(2) {
          ["html"]=>
          string(8) "module 1"
          ["mod1"]=>
          *RECURSION*
        }
      }
    }
  }
}


$cms->load_module('module2', 'mod2');
object(cms)(3) {
  ["html"]=>
  string(8) "module 1"
  ["mod1"]=>
  &object(module)(1) {
    ["cms"]=>
    &object(cms)(3) {
      ["html"]=>
      string(8) "module 1"
      ["mod1"]=>
      &object(module)(1) {
        ["cms"]=>
        &object(cms)(3) {
          ["html"]=>
          string(8) "module 1"
          ["mod1"]=>
          *RECURSION*
          ["mod2"]=>
          object(module2)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
        }
      }
      ["mod2"]=>
      object(module2)(1) {
        ["cms"]=>
        &object(cms)(3) {
          ["html"]=>
          string(8) "module 1"
          ["mod1"]=>
          &object(module)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
          ["mod2"]=>
          object(module2)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
  ["mod2"]=>
  object(module2)(1) {
    ["cms"]=>
    &object(cms)(3) {
      ["html"]=>
      string(8) "module 1"
      ["mod1"]=>
      &object(module)(1) {
        ["cms"]=>
        &object(cms)(3) {
          ["html"]=>
          string(8) "module 1"
          ["mod1"]=>
          &object(module)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
          ["mod2"]=>
          object(module2)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
        }
      }
      ["mod2"]=>
      object(module2)(1) {
        ["cms"]=>
        &object(cms)(3) {
          ["html"]=>
          string(8) "module 1"
          ["mod1"]=>
          &object(module)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
          ["mod2"]=>
          *RECURSION*
        }
      }
    }
  }
}


$cms->mod1->write_something();
object(cms)(3) {
  ["html"]=>
  string(8) "module 1"
  ["mod1"]=>
  &object(module)(1) {
    ["cms"]=>
    &object(cms)(3) {
      ["html"]=>
      string(8) "module 1"
      ["mod1"]=>
      &object(module)(1) {
        ["cms"]=>
        &object(cms)(3) {
          ["html"]=>
          string(8) "module 1"
          ["mod1"]=>
          *RECURSION*
          ["mod2"]=>
          object(module2)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
        }
      }
      ["mod2"]=>
      object(module2)(1) {
        ["cms"]=>
        &object(cms)(3) {
          ["html"]=>
          string(8) "module 1"
          ["mod1"]=>
          &object(module)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
          ["mod2"]=>
          object(module2)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
  ["mod2"]=>
  object(module2)(1) {
    ["cms"]=>
    &object(cms)(3) {
      ["html"]=>
      string(8) "module 1"
      ["mod1"]=>
      &object(module)(1) {
        ["cms"]=>
        &object(cms)(3) {
          ["html"]=>
          string(8) "module 1"
          ["mod1"]=>
          &object(module)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
          ["mod2"]=>
          object(module2)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
        }
      }
      ["mod2"]=>
      object(module2)(1) {
        ["cms"]=>
        &object(cms)(3) {
          ["html"]=>
          string(8) "module 1"
          ["mod1"]=>
          &object(module)(1) {
            ["cms"]=>
            *RECURSION*
          }
          ["mod2"]=>
          *RECURSION*
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Note all the *RECURSION*. LOL. Back to 0% progress. Right now I'm gonna try another crazy theory...

[bubu]

My other theory, which is based on my last one posted above, also failed by generating infinite recursion again. The main problem i'm facing is to enable access from one module to other. Like to enable access from $objmain->obj1 to $objmain->obj2. Normally obj1 doesn't know that obj2 exists and telling each one of them about the other modules in the class generates infinite recursion. Because it goes: i know you that knows me that knows you that knows me that knows you... endless.

I know i'm facing this problem from one point of view and I already know that point of view is wrong. I need to start looking at this problem from different points.

[bubu]

I solved my problem! I created a nice module loading class that let modules interact with they self using a singleton pattern. It works like a charm!

If you need it you can see the solution in my blog. I just posted it there.

Thanks for all those who read my post in CG