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Osm Admin: Query Formulas

2021 November Osm Admin

2 years ago ∙ 3 minutes read

After 3 days of intensive work, I've got dot syntax working!

Along the way, I refactored the query internals once again, which reminds me a heuristics saying that you've got to implement something three times to get it right :)

New query implementation uses the concept of formulas - SQL-like expressions used for selecting, filtering and sorting data. Currently, formulas are quite limited, but with time, they should be a really powerful feature.

Osm Admin: Indexing (2)

2021 November Osm Admin

2 years ago ∙ 3 minutes read

Today, I implemented computation of indexed properties during insert. The implementation dictated some changes in indexed property definitions compare to the initial design, and how indexers are reflected into the data schema.

Also, I implemented a table query class working on the top of Laravel Query\Builder. More about it next time, for now I'll review how indexed properties are computed during INSERT operation.

Osm Admin: Schema Hydration

2021 November Osm Admin

2 years ago ∙ 3 minutes read

I developed dehydrate()/hydrate() functions for a very practical need - storing the data class schema:

  • in cache - to reduce processing time spent on reflection;
  • and in database - to compare current and new database schema, and only add new tables and columns.

This article describes the information stored in the schema, and unit tests that I prepared in order to be sure that schema classes are property hydrated.

Framework: Hydration

2021 November Osm Framework

2 years ago ∙ 2 minutes read

Recently, I developed a couple of helper functions for transmitting PHP objects over the wire, and saving them in database records:

  • dehydrate() - recursively converts an instance of a PHP class to a plain untyped object. Then, store the plain object in the database, or convert it to JSON and send it to a browser.
  • hydrate() - recursively converts a plain untyped object back to a PHP class instance. Use if after decoding a JSON received from the browser, or after loading a database record.

This article describes how to use these functions.

Framework: Modal Elements

2021 November Osm Framework

2 years ago ∙ 2 minutes read

When active, modal elements - dialogs, pickers, or AJAX spinners - need to prevent user interaction with the rest of the page.

A common approach is putting an overlay <div> under the modal element covering the rest of the page, as a click shield. However, user can still navigate the page with the keyboard.

Today, I implemented a better solution by capturing mouse and keyboard events outside the modal element, and keeping focus inside.

Osm Admin: Subclasses

2021 November Osm Admin

2 years ago ∙ 1 minute read

As described in Migrations, most data objects of the same class will be stored in a database table.

But what about subclasses? In an e-commerce application, bags, dresses, and digital products, collectively known as subclasses, are all products stored in products table, and they may have bad-specific, dress-specific or digital product specific properties that should also be stored there.

This article describes how subclasses are defined and stored in Osm Admin.

Framework: Application

2021 September Osm Framework

3 years ago ∙ 4 minutes read

In Osm Framework, an application is a set of modules that you run as a whole. There are several applications defined in the project, each having its own PHP class. Mostly, deal with the main one, Osm\App\App. Beside the class name, every application also has a name, the main one is named Osm_App.

Access the current application object, and the main parts of Osm Framework, via the global $osm_app object and its properties. Add your own long-living objects there. Run an application using its HTTP or console entry point, or using Apps::run().

Note. This post is moved to Osm Framework documentation.

Framework: Modules

2021 September Osm Framework

3 years ago ∙ 4 minutes read

Modular software development is a well-known practice of dividing your application into several modules, each doing one thing, and doing it well. It increases readability and simplifies maintenance, as application concerns are fully separated from one another, easier to reason about, and to debug.

Modular development also encourages reuse. It's like a puzzle. Using one set of modules, you'll get an e-commerce application, using another set of modules - you'll get a blog application.

Note. This post is moved to Osm Framework documentation.

osm.software: Deploying Updates

2021 September osm.software Website

3 years ago ∙ 2 minutes read

After pushing changes to GitHub, osm.software website is updated without any additional manual action. On push, GitHub executes the deployment script on the production server. Most changes are done to content only, and in this case, the deployment script only updates the search index. Otherwise, with the website being on maintenance, it additionally updates Composer and Node dependencies, builds JS and CSS assets, and runs the database migrations.