What classes do you use in ALL your OO-projects.

[Tekime]

Can someone show some of their input validation classes. These would be interesting to look at. Not necessarily the code to the class, but show the code for using it.

$validate = new validate;
if(!$validate->is_username($_REQUEST['f_username']))
{
    $errors[] = 'Invalid username format';
}
etc... 

Also, could someone tell me what they find so useful about user classes?

It makes it really easy to create and edit users. My user class is a hybrid DAO/utility/display class, but it works very well for me. For example I can load, edit, and save a user record in just a few lines of code.

if($user->load('tabula'))
{
    $user->set('username', 'billgates');

    if($user->save())
    {
        $gui->dialog('You are now a very rich man!', '/index.php');
    }
    else
    {
        $gui->error($user->errors, 'index.php');
    }
} 

[Kilroy]

Off Topic:

http://wact.sourceforge.net/index.php/FormValidation

I started fixing this page, who wants to help me go through the pages and clean them up?

I'll help a bit.

[nuke_g33k]

I use Session class that handles all my session vars in a db or file, it is really useful to handle the session your own way and much reliable than php's built in session functions.

other than this a db handling class and user validation.
also for some addin widgets like dynamic nav panel, i fell comfortable doing it through a class with a defined interface.

[Ap0s7le]

I really don't use any, I plan on starting and this thread gave me some good ideas where to start.

I have a couple questions, when someone rolls their own session handling like nuke_g33k stated what does that include?

I've started a rough DB class based on the one I studied from PHPBB, and a databank class with some of the functions I had with arrays of Countries, States, Zips and Canadian provinces.

TIA

[Tekime]

I have a couple questions, when someone rolls their own session handling like nuke_g33k stated what does that include?

Depends on the implementation, but I use a session class to store, load, and modify sessions and session data in a database. For each session I store a record with the session ID, user ID, client IP address, user agent, creation time, update time, expiration, etc. This way I don't have to store any critical data in the session itself, and I can (optionally) validate the session ID against the IP address, user agent, etc for maximum security.[*]

In as many words, I say $sess = new session and I get an object that has a validated session, the user's ID, IP address, and upon instantiation automatically looks for an deletes expired sessions from the database.

[*] Validating sessions against IP address is extremely unreliable. Clients with dynamic IPs will not be able to keep a session alive. But, I have always toyed with the idea of creating a percentage based algorithm of sorts that could compare the IP address, user agent, and any other identifiable information and create a percentage validity rating for the client. The site owner could specify what level of security to use (e.g. a minimum threshold of 50% validity for sessions). For intranet sites you could crank up security if you know everyone's on a specific IP, and for pub sites you could put it back to normal. Anyway, I'm rambling now.

[sid egg]

Depends on the implementation, but I use a session class to store, load, and modify sessions and session data in a database. For each session I store a record with the session ID, user ID, client IP address, user agent, creation time, update time, expiration, etc. This way I don't have to store any critical data in the session itself, and I can (optionally) validate the session ID against the IP address, user agent, etc for maximum security.[*]

In as many words, I say $sess = new session and I get an object that has a validated session, the user's ID, IP address, and upon instantiation automatically looks for an deletes expired sessions from the database.

[*] Validating sessions against IP address is extremely unreliable. Clients with dynamic IPs will not be able to keep a session alive. But, I have always toyed with the idea of creating a percentage based algorithm of sorts that could compare the IP address, user agent, and any other identifiable information and create a percentage validity rating for the client. The site owner could specify what level of security to use (e.g. a minimum threshold of 50% validity for sessions). For intranet sites you could crank up security if you know everyone's on a specific IP, and for pub sites you could put it back to normal. Anyway, I'm rambling now.

I'm quite interested in seeing an implementation of this, however, if you don't want to share it, that's fine... :-) And your percentage based idea sounds really cool

[laura2005]

Mostly:

1. DAL Class
2. DAL::ErrorHandling Class (logs DB errors, sends emails, etc.)
3. Template Class
4. User Class (authentication functions, privilege handling, etc).

Recently I've extended the template class for my job to support "on-the-fly" dynamic handling of form requests (POST & GET), using XMLHttpRequest. Lots of intricate Javascript and DOM handling involved in it. The eval() function of Javascript makes it particularly easy though, by echo()ing Javascript in my methods. It's made our forms more effective to use on an end-user standpoint (less redirects and refreshes), plus quicker to code.. ironically. While our public forms are still former style, the interfaces that most our employees use (whose computers are all under Firefox) will be using XMLHttpRequest methods.

Although somewhat off-topic, if you haven't messed with XMLHttpRequest (in conjunction with Javascript DOM) you should. It's really awesome.

(I must also mention replacing any drop down menus that have huge lists of results, like from a query, with an XMLHttpRequest autocomplete input box is definitely the way to go. Much faster execution/render times of pages.)

For me remote scripting (XMLHttpRequest) will dominate the web interface in the future - so called rich client - the advantage is so obvious. I'm surprised that it hadn't done so yet but as for me all my future sites will use almost exclusively remote scripting (the one in my sig will serve as experimental lab). For the funny story I have implemented remote scripting solution for a friend's company in 1998 and it was published on jars.com and javaboutique (it's still there and it still even works with netscape and IE 3.0 and jdk 1.02 ) well sure at that time people really didn't see the advantage except the editor reviewer at jars.com there is really some strong inertia in software engineering to adopt novel ideas .

[Haleden]

I'm suprised only one other person mentioned a Form class. They are quite nice... Especially when it comes to when a user makes an error, its very simple just to highlight the fields which have errors.

http://www.smackjeeves.com, is currently under development, but if you go to register and make some blatant errors, you'll see what I mean.

[Ap0s7le]

Tekime, thank you for that.

I can see the benefits to having a session class. Mmm, so much work and so little time. heh

Thanks

[nuke_g33k]

i use session class to store variables and objects(in serialize form) ,

i serialize my objects and retrieve it anywhere else, this makes my code more neat and easily understandable.

[Ap0s7le]

Hello nuke_g33k, I'm learning OOP and like the idea of the whole session class.
Would you be willing to show me an example? Either here or in private, I don't mind.

Thank you for your time.

[Tekime]

I'm quite interested in seeing an implementation of this, however, if you don't want to share it, that's fine... :-) And your percentage based idea sounds really cool

I would love to, but unfortunately I have to keep most of my good code close due to licensing. It has always been a pipe dream to get my toolkit GPL or similar license... it may happen someday. I might have an old session class kicking around though, if I find anything that isn't too horrendous I'll be sure to post.

[Tekime]

Tekime, thank you for that.

You're welcome.

I can see the benefits to having a session class. Mmm, so much work and so little time. heh

You can say that again!

[mx2k]

Off Topic:

maybe we should have a class respository somewhere in conjuction with forum for example code and the bare bones of classes, nothing production grade or someone's closed source stuff, but things that just get the idea across. that way you can post links, esp for those topics that show up over and over again

[Tim_Rogovets]

Off Topic:

maybe we should have a class respository somewhere in conjuction with forum for example code and the bare bones of classes, nothing production grade or someone's closed source stuff, but things that just get the idea across. that way you can post links, esp for those topics that show up over and over again

That's an excellent IDEA! Sounds great.

[Captain Proton]

maybe we should have a class respository somewhere in conjuction with forum for example code and the bare bones of classes, nothing production grade or someone's closed source stuff, but things that just get the idea across. that way you can post links, esp for those topics that show up over and over again

Note: this is meant positively:

I'll beat Manuel to it: there are already a lot of places where you can post your classes, such as thing called phpclasses.org.

[mx2k]

Note: this is meant positively:

I'll beat Manuel to it: there are already a lot of places where you can post your classes, such as thing called phpclasses.org.

right, but phpclasses.org is for those wanting to grab for use, and some are ill written or have bad documentation, i'm thinking more on the lines where all the examples are well written with in depth documentation, that are meant more for learning than live production use. and i know of plenty of places like phpclasses

zend, phpfreaks, devshed, phpbuilders etc. and then you have to shift through tons of classes and if someone is new, its hard for them to know what is considered to well written verses what is a bad example. and as others have told me times before, we should really try to help in keeping good standards not only for ourselves but for others as well.

alot of classes that i have found have things intertwined, like emailing and error handling all in one class. which would be eaiser to learn if they were seperated into single classes.

[Tim_Rogovets]

I'm thinking: there's a number of database abstraction classes out there. And if I needed to choose one - I'd be more than glad to try out a class written by someone I've talked to on the forums, someone who has good reputation in my eyes.
And if members-powered classes reprository existed at sitepoint - that's be the first (and perhaps the last) place I'd go in search for classes.

[DougBTX]

In as many words, I say $sess = new session and I get an object that has a validated session, the user's ID, IP address, and upon instantiation automatically looks for an deletes expired sessions from the database.

Does you class do anything that you couldn't do with session_set_save_handler and friends?

Douglas

[Ap0s7le]

I like mx2k's idea. The only reason I ask questions here rather than other forums is I do respect a lot of the people here.

Now regarding PHPClasses, I hardly ever go there. I just don't like the site.

later

[asp_funda]

is there any site that show , which classes should we use in good programming.

[DarkAngelBGE]

@Tim: Maybe we should ask for something like a php Advanced subforum that holds class libraries...

[lazy_yogi]

Someone should go through this thread, take all the regularly used stuff and put it in a list for a framework to implement. Tho being open source, implementation is painfully slow and may never eventuate.

That's what i see as the prime advantage of .Net - that they build all the commonly used stuff into the framework for everyone. And then there is a common interface for these things that all .Net developers who use it know about and don't have to re-learn at each job.

Not intending to start a .net vs php thread. Just thought it would be nice if php took some of those ideas and worked them in somehow.

[asp_funda]

You should look at Prado then. Its PHP5 only though!!

[lazy_yogi]

You should look at Prado then. Its PHP5 only though!!

Wow. I guess it's almost brand new considering its PHP5.
Just wondering if this is becomming popular and used? Any idea?

Thanks for the link btw.