[TYPO3-dev] Dmitrys Simple MVC

[Dmitry Dulepov]

Hi!

Elmar Hinz wrote:
> since a few weeks you are publishing your framework SimpleMVC on github.
>
> https://github.com/dmitryd/typo3-simplemvc
>
> I have some hopes that this could become the missing link between
> tslib_pibase on the one end and extbase/fluid on the other. It is
> especially interesting that it comes with twig as a template engine.
>
> Would you share the your thoughts and experiences with us.
> What kind of projects did you use it for?

I had a high-load web site built on TYPO3. It handles several thousands 
online users on a single server. The site includes highly customized 
forums, mail, photo galleries, blogs for people, news, search (using Sphinx 
engine), favorites, etc. In other words, it is an active community portal.

It is used in production every day for about 2.5 years now. In addition it 
powers a site for the big ice show company in Russia (friends of mine) + a 
couple of projects at my work because it would speed up the development by 
about 30% and let me avoid repeating myself.

Simplemvc was created for several reasons:
- I needed a framework to develop rapidly. Simplemvc does most of routine 
stuff for me (such as config loading, merging with flexforms, language 
handling, header files inclusion with just TS, etc). With this framework I 
created a whole new community sites with more than 10 extensions working 
for 3 months only in the evenings (1-2h). I would not achieve such speed 
with any other framework because all other frameworks require more effort 
from the developer for such simple things as extracting a field from he model.
- I needed database models that I could create quickly without defining all 
properties. In the simplest case I should be able to just define a new 
class with a single attribute inside it (a table name) and use the class 
for loading&storing data. I did not want to bother describing every 
property. See below for an example.
- I needed ajax support because the site was heavily ajaxed. So there is an 
ajax controller with language/configration/action support. Just like the 
regular FE controler but very lightweight.
- Speed, speed, speed. Due to thousands of users, I needed a solution of 
VERY high performance. So I tuned and optimized for a lot of time and the 
result is very fast!
- The framework must be very easy to use

An example of a typical database model class would be:

class AlbumModel extends AbstractModel {
	static protected $tableName = 'tx_myext_album';
  	static protected $className = __CLASS__;
}

Yes, this is the whole model with all fields. And later in the controller 
you do:

$album = AlbumModel::getById($this->getPostParameter('album_id'));
$album->setFooBar($this->getPostParameter('foo_bar'));
$album->save();

setFooBar() call will set a field named foo_bar in the database. Magic! :)

There is no repository because I believe it is not needed. It would mean 
coding an extra class and spending more time for the developer.

Regarding the missing link: this ext does not use PiBase/Extbase/FLUID and 
it never will. It is a separate piece of code.

> How far is the 6.x branch?

It is being converted from 4.x plus I am adding Twig (Symphony's templating 
engine) for easier templating. Most of the work is pure backporting. I 
expect the branch will be ready soon for real use.

One thing, which is missing is a kickstarter. That would be the next step. 
Currently I use the good old kickstarter to create tables and add classes 
manually. There is very little overhead, so adding files manually is 
automated with PhpStorm file templates.

> Is it possible to start with the stable 4.x branch and switch later?

Yes, it is mostly compatible. All methods are the same or very close. Class 
names in 6.x branch use 6.x conventions, so small changes will be needed. 
Also Twig will be the default templating engine, so you may want to adjust 
templates. But you can still use 4.x methods :)

-- 
Dmitry Dulepov
TYPO3 CMS core & security teams member