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What are modules, why should I use them?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Module

What is Modular HMVC, why should I use it?

Modular HMVC = Multiple MVC triads

This is most useful when you need to load a view and its data within a view. Think about adding a shopping cart to a page. The shopping cart needs its own controller which may call a model to get cart data. Then the controller needs to load the data into a view. So instead of the main controller handling the page and the shopping cart, the shopping cart MVC can be loaded directly in the page. The main controller doesn’t need to know about it, and is totally isolated from it.

In CI we can’t call more than 1 controller per request. Therefore, to achieve HMVC, we have to simulate controllers. It can be done with libraries, or with this “Modular HMVC” contribution.

EDIT:
The differences between using a library and a “Modular HMVC” HMVC class is:
1) No need to get and use the CI instance within an HMVC class
2) HMVC classes are stored in a modules directory as opposed to the libraries directory.

Is Modular HMVC the same as matchbox?

Nope.

Modular HMVC means modular MVC triads. Matchbox allows related controllers, models, libraries, views, etc. to be grouped together as a module - like a mini application.

Nitpicking:

The CI_Modules class should be a helper or a static class. All it does is load a HMVC class and run a method within that class. To create an instance of CI_Modules is unnecessary and calling it within a view is more verbose and less portable

$this->modules->run('module',$data,'method');
//vs a helper
module_run('module',$data,'method');
// or a static class (which can be a file in helpers and loaded just like a helper)
module::run('module',$data,'method');

edit: edited helper to be consistent

Thanks Rick, in fact the whole library could be a helper. I’ll check out it’s functionality as a static helper.

Modular HMVC now provides static functions to load and instantiate modules. Current version is now 2.0

Thanks Rick Jolly. 😉

$this->load->helper('modules');

...

modules::load('widget');

...

modules::run('widget', $data, $method);

Where is the latest library? Maybe you should create a wiki page or a page on your own server for more exposure   and easier access to the latest code.

Check the first page of this thread again, I’m a bit slow doing updates tonight. 😉

I don’t have a site (horror), and the wiki is so dis-organised things become obscure easily.

The firehouse/the furnace repository needs to be born soon 😛

very interesting! could you add more help in the documentation like usage and where to place modules

The introduction has been modified to explain installation and usage. Thanks. 😉

im getting some weird error

Fatal error: Class ‘odtest’ not found in W:\www\labs\app\helpers\modules_helper.php on line 57

controller:

function index()
    {
        $this->load->helper('modules');
        modules::load('Modtest');
        $this->load->view('welcome_message');
    }

module

class Modtest extends Modules
{
    function Modtest()
    {
        parent::Modules();   
    }
}

am i doing wrong here?

thanks

modules extend the HMVC class

class Modtest extends HMVC
{
    function Modtest()
    {
        parent::HMVC();   
    }
}

Also make sure you have the most recent version. (like get it now)

changed the modules to

class Modtest extends HMVC
{
    function Modtest()
    {
        parent::HMVC();   
    }
}

but i still get

Fatal error: Class ‘odtest’ not found in W:\www\labs\app\helpers\modules_helper.php on line 57

Grab the latest version 2.0.2, I have changed the path extraction code

thanks, works great now! and make sure you add “?>” on the end of code 😛

Where is the wiki/documentation page for this? I want to know how to install and use it. 

Sometimes its very hard to know what code is up to date, or find the latest versions.