README

Dinamically add methods to PHP classes

Using this library you can dinamcally add methods to classes, as in the following example:

use skrtdev\Prototypes\Prototypeable;

class MyClass{
    use Prototypeable;
}

MyClass::addMethod('wow', function () {
    return "What a nice way to use PHP";
});

$instance = new MyClass();

echo $instance->wow();

Output is What a nice way to use PHP

Main Features

Closures are bound to the original object, so you can access $this inside closures in the same way as you do when writing a normal method for that class.
Supports static methods too, and you can access self and static too.
A native-like \Error will be thrown when trying to call a non-existent method.
A skrtdev\Prototypes\Exception will be thrown if class method already exists, is a prototype, class does not exist or isn't Prototypeable (when using skrtdev\Prototypes\Prototypes::addMethod()).
Ability to use any kind of callables, not just Closures.
Ability to use named arguments in Prototypes methods.

Check if a Class is Prototypeable

You may need to know if a class is Prototypeable before trying to add methods to it.

You can use isPrototypeable method:

use skrtdev\Prototypes\Prototypes;

var_dump(Prototypes::isPrototypeable($instance::class)); // you must pass the class name as string (use get_class() in php7.x)
var_dump(Prototypes::isPrototypeable(MyClass::class));

Fun fact

The Prototypes class itself is Prototypeable, how strange.

Known issues

This library does not have Inheritance: you won't be able to use Prototypes methods defined for a class in his child classes. (this is going to be added soon)
You can't override already-prototyped methods, but this will be added soon.
Any kind of Error/Exception(s) look a bit strange in the Stack traces, and method name is hidden. Maybe there is a solution; if you find it, feel free to open an Issue/Pull Request.

Future scope

Use class_parent() to implement some kind of Inheritance. This may slow up calling prototypes in classes with a long hierarchy.
Maybe add the ability to add a method to a class without adding it to his children. (does it make sense?)
Allow to add all methods of a normal/anonymous class into a Prototypeable one (Using Reflection?).
Add the ability to define prototype methods that has been already defined as prototypes, overwriting them.
Add the ability to define prototypes for all the Prototypeable classes. (do you see any use cases?)

skrtdev / prototypes

Maintainers

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