[Solar-talk] layout generator

[Rodrigo Moraes]

Clay, Antti, Paul and all:

Have you ever seen the One True Layout? [1] Some time ago, I've forged
a couple of PHP classes to generate layouts with 1 to 4 columns based
on the One True Layout. It worked much like the interactive demo [2].
Basically, the builder receives an array of definitions to generate an
skeleton html with placeholders for content and the css for the
specified skeleton. Now I'm considering to rewrite it to use inside
Solar apps. Here's an idea:

1. replace layouts by a generic layout used by the layout generator
(based on configuration arrays);
2. save the generated css to be used statically;

Once you have a defined layout (header; 3 columns; 100% total width;
column1 width = x etc), you use named "slots" inside your actions to
define which partial template files will be inserted in each layout
"slot" (in case you want to change the default values).

Do you think it would be a good idea?

regards,
rodrigo moraes / brazil

[1] http://www.positioniseverything.net/articles/onetruelayout/
[2] http://www.fu2k.org/alex/css/onetruelayout/example/interactive

PS: I was playing with YUI Grids to show something to Paul, but I
couldn't find an use for it.  This happened before: I've tried to find
an use for it some time ago. I mean: it is too restrictive to be
useful for me in any of my projects. And if I don't have an use for
it, my motivation goes down and so I've started to look at things I've
worked with in the past and which I may be interested to further
develop.