QCodo for Beginners

2/12/2007

I want to keep a log of my learning curve, during the journey from a PHP SMARTY coding structure, into a true full fledged RAD (Rapid Application Developement) enviornment. I am honestly somewhat torn between 2 Web 2.0 style approaches. I hope to possibly merge the two concepts into one. I really enjoy writing JavaScript now, I must admit. Prototype.js has made it fun. I want to use the Trimpath.com Query, Template, and Junction to handle all of the client side stuff, because I really like the idea of keeping more data persistant and instantly available on the client for performance and fewer round trips. But at the same time I love the idea of being able to have all my functionality written and tied to the database with powerful stateful event driven hooks.. The code generator creates a PHP 5 Object Relational Model by reading your database schema and following a few useful table naming conventions. If you use INNODB tables and real foriegn keys, or like in my case MYISAM tables with an accompaning simple text file specifying the relationships. You get a solid set of fully functional CRUD backend scripts, with both a generated (and easilly re-generated) layer as well as a custom layer so you can feel safe with your own custom class modifications, created all from a single page load. But thats just the surface. It even makes a whole templated design layer of its own, with out of the box working drafts. One thing I have been confused about though is if I am suggested to leave the panel_drafts files in there and modify them? I ended up deciding on just copying all of the draft generated files into /includes/panel_classes/ and making a /includes/templates/panels/ folder for the generated templates, because I can always regenerate and get pieces from the new panel_drafts as I update the data model.

I can see how much time this architecture can save, a huge benefit in todays instantaneous demand atmosphere, it’s just a matter of shifting gears in my head from client-side to server-side. I will find a way to bring the best of both sides together.

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