[Solar-talk] a base class for generic domain models

[Rodrigo Moraes]

Hi everybody,
I've been working on a base class for models that acts like a
Solar_Sql_Row or Rowset depending on the circunstances. It uses
internally methods from Solar_Sql_Table, so many things are automated.
There are some interesting results so far, like this example to
populate a form with row data:

    $nodes = Solar::factory('Tipos_Model_Nodes');
    $node = $nodes->fetch(1);
    // create a form object populated with the node data
    $form = $node->form(); <--- You call the form directly from the row! :-D

....or the rowset equivalent:

    $nodes = Solar::factory('Tipos_Model_Nodes');
    $list = $nodes->fetchAll();
    foreach($list as $node) {
        // create a form object populated with the node data
        $form = $node->form();
    }

Inside the method form(), you can restrict the columns you want to use
and set the form field properties, much like in
Solar_Content_Abstract, but in a more generic way (works for any
table) and called directly from the result.

You can also set custom methods in the models that uses the row/rowset
data directly:

    public function getArea()
    {
        $areas = Solar::factory('Tipos_Model_Areas');
        return $areas->fetch($this->area_id);
    }

    $node = $nodes->fetch(1);
    $area = $node->getArea();

This is the basic idea: a base class for generic domain models. I
would like to know if you have worked on something related and to hear
your thoughts.

cheers,
rodrigo