Creating logs from controllers in CakePhp - model-view-controller

What is the best way to create logs & history in CakePHP. I was thinking if there is a way to create a Helper "that accesses" one table and then I call this helper inside of each controller that I want. However, I have read that this is not MVC standard. How would it be the correct way to do that?
I appreciate your time spent answering me that. Thanks!

thats what behaviors are for.
I use the LoggableBehavior from here:
https://github.com/alkemann/CakePHP-Assets/blob/master/models/behaviors/logable.php
works like a charm. they are then fetched and displayed in the view, if you want to.

Just implement a different log engine for that purpose. The CakeLog class actually works somewhat like an observer and the log engines like listeners.
Simply use CakeLog::write() and your custom engine that could load your log model in the constructor using ClassRegistry::init() and pass the incoming data from write() to the model.
The manual will help you with that. http://book.cakephp.org/2.0/en/core-libraries/logging.html#creating-and-configuring-log-streams

Related

Laravel Create Function to be used in different Controllers/in the same Controller

It's more a general question, I want someone to point me to the direction I should go.
1) FUNCTION FOR SAME CONTROLLER: I have two methods: Store and Update in the same controller. They both should contain some complex request validation (which I can't do via validator or form request validation because it's too complex). This means for me now using the same code twice in two methods... How can I take this code, create a function and use it in both Store and Update methods just with a single line, like:
do_this_function($data);
2) FUNCTION FOR DIFF. CONTROLLERS: I have another code which I use in many different Contollers. It transliterates Russian letters into Latin ones ('Сергей' = 'Sergey' and so on). How and where should I register this function to be able using it in different Contollers?
transliterate_this($data);
I have read something about helpers. Should I use them? If you an experienced Laravel develper and say so, I will read everything about them. Or, if you advice something else - I'll read about that.:) I just don't want to spend time reading about something useless or "not right way to-do-it".
Appreciate any help!
1) You could create a form request validation or you could just create a private function that would handle the validation and return the result.
2) You can create a helpers.php file, see here, and you put your translation function inside. Then you can call it from anywhere:
In a controller transliterate_this($data);
In a view {{ transliterate_this($data); }}.
You can do complex validation even inside a FromRequest. You can override the getValidatorInstance for example, or any other method from the base class to plug your validation logic on top of the basic validation rules. Else just consider making an external class to handle that complex validation and inject it in your controllers using Laravel's IoC container.
You should create a facade to provide that feature. Then you can easily use it anywhere (and additionally create a helper method for it if that makes you feel better). Something like Transliterate::toLatin($str)
everyone! Thank you all for great answers. But I have discovered that the problem was that I didn't know anything about Object-Oriented Programming.
(Ans I was working in Laravel:)).
After I took an Object Oriented Bootcamp from Laracasts, I started 'seeing' how Laravel actually works and I know can easily create methods inside classes and use them in other classes.
https://laracasts.com/series/object-oriented-bootcamp-in-php
(of course, you can read something else on OOP, but Jeffrey Way has really outstanding explanation talent!)

Which is better in Laravel - use Input::get() in Controller or Model?

I wanted to ask, looking from the 'best practices' side, which solution is better, getting a form data in Controller and passing it to Model, or retrieving it directly in the Model?
I use the first solution, which makes your controller methods very long and ugly, but I think it is still the right choice. But recently I have seen some other projects source code where the form data is retrieved in model, but it seems that it breaks the rule, where the model should not know, where the data comes from.
So which is the better practice?
As #lukasgeiter said in the Comments, I also say this would typically be done in the controller.
You may want to have a look at the corresponding laracasts on
MVC
Models
Controllers
Basically, you already said it. Models are just kind of "storage-interfaces" while Controllers are places, where the logic happens.
Also, have a look at MassAssigment, which cannot be done within the Model itsself but in the controller. This might be of interest in your case (without knowing the details).

Why is session data only available in the controller in CakePHP?

So, I like CakePHP and use it lots. When 2.0 came out, I was pleased to see the AuthComponent be made available throughout your whole application as a static class, which makes lots of things much easier - i.e. you no longer have to pass user data as an argument to model methods.
Recently on a project, I have perceived the need to access methods of the SessionComponent from a Model. Specifically, when a user logs in, some checks are performed to see if the user has a valid subscription to the site. This is all done in the model. If the user no longer has a valid subscription, there are a few reasons why that might be. It seems easiest to return false from the model, and at the same time set a flash message giving the reason for the expired subscription. Rather than return an array something like this:
array('status' => 0, 'message' => 'You\'re not welcome here anymore')
which needs interpreting in the controller.
There are other times I have wanted to deal with sessions in models, but this is the example that came to mind.
So, I'd like to know, am I right in wanting to access the SessionComponent in models? Should I just use $_SESSION directly when I have this need? Or am I doing things wrong - are there better ways to code?
you can always use
CakeSession::read()
anywhere in your application. so also in the model.
see previous posts like Reading a session variable inside a behavior in cakephp 2
but be adviced, that you should try to avoid it if possible.
models are supposed to be as stateless as possible - mixing them with sessions makes that more and more blurry.
According to CakePHP cookbook:
Usage of the $_SESSION is generally avoided in CakePHP, and instead
usage of the Session classes is preferred.
There are several different configurations where you can store session data, f.ex. in the database. So, by using CakeSession changes to session configuration will not affect every place where you access session data.
I would advice not to use SessionComponent from the model. Better pass parameters to the model with necessary data. Take a look at Understanding Model-View-Controller.
Passing session control to the Model violates MVC. You should use the model to make the decisions and the controller to reflect those decisions to the application. In a correct MVC enviroment the Model won't even know you are using sessions much less manipulating it.
Also, using the $_SESSION var violates the framework encapsulation. If you find yourself needing to do that, yes, you went wrong somewhere.
You can write and read data in session in model by using Authcomponent and session
App::uses('AuthComponent', 'Controller/Component');
App::import('Component', 'Session');
and you can write and read data using following functions
CakeSession::write('Auth.User.id', '1');
debug(CakeSession::read());

Yii framework: How do I use CActiveRecord.beforeFind()?

I'm in a need to use beforeFind() in a child class of CActiveRecord.
Basically, I need to convert some data from before actual search in the DB is performed.
How do I alter the about-to-occur-find-operation that is about to take place, inside beforeFind()? Messing with $this attributes is not useful since its not even populated, which is a little surprise.
I've seen that the documentation mentions a "hidden CDbCriteria parameter" but I just couldn't guess how to use it... . Unfortunately, the documentation on this subject is slim.
What I need to do is rather simple: I've got a table column for storing IP addresses. The most efficient design from scalability perspective, is to use a VARBINARY(16) data type for the column. See for example this SO question page (and answers) on this.
So, the cleanest solution would be to have beforeFind(), afterFind() and beforeSave() work transparently for the users.
In the code stack, the IP addresses would be the normal dotted-quad and in the DB level, its whatever that goes into the field after utilizing PHP's inet_pton() method in those after/before hook methods.
It was supposed to be cool. and it is cool - with afterFind() and beforeSave(), where I have the ip_address attribute of the object at hand, at the mercy of my uber-manipulation powers.
Here's the point, and the need: thing is, I don't know how to achieve that on beforeFind(). I cannot do a blind mergeWith() as I need to check if ip_address attribute is part of the original criteria, and that I don't know how to do.
Help!
TIA :)
I've got this nice suggestion on yii forums.
Basically, I just need to override findByAttributes() in the child class and I'm done :)

what is the best structure for a project in codeigniter and how to use it?

I have some weeks since im using CI, but now I've found some problems about the structure of my project, I would like someone to give me some clues because I am kinda stuck, the problem is this:
I have my project MVC, so, I am dividing it into files (each per functionality) for example, there is a file with all the functions corresponding at login, and other with all related at post (it's an example), but now I am on a moment where I need to use login or posting into another part of the project, reading I found out i cannot call a controller from another, I can use the helper but still I will need to use a model, so I have to take that code and paste it into the controller where I'm calling the model and so on (and it's not good), I found out I can use modules, still I don't want to go over them until someone could give me an experience of this, i wouldnt like to change the project, is any way I could run all those controllers (i know i can use run:: I'm not sure if i can send parameters in it), any ideas please?
Thanks in advance.
Fair warning, this type of question will get shot down by many SO moderators, but I'll give you some tips regardless:
Controller actions are single-use. If you find yourself with duplicate code in multiple controllers (or, needing to call a controller function from another controller), that's a sure sign you should move that code to a model or library.
Models are object-specific, not action-specific. I wouldn't have a model dedicated to logins, unless you have multiple types of logins (most apps/sites just have member logins, but you might have administrators, etc. that are stored in a different table from the rest). Instead, have a User_model class, and make function login($email, $password) a method of that class.
Controller-to-model interaction should be very concise. If you find yourself with 30 lines of code passing data back and forth between the same controller and model, you might be trying to do too much with that one controller action.
Keep your models fat, controllers skinny, and views dumb.

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