Discussion: building a strong code base for your site

[Ciqala]

I'm presently undertaking a rather large project of a modular site-builder in php/mysql that will allow me to dynamically create each page based upon the content i wish to display. i.e. news, reviews, articles.

i've been looking at the various ways of doing this and i'm curious which is the way others have gone about doing something similiar.

i'm presently leaning towards a class based system that generates all html output on the the fly in the php code itself but i know you can also try and separate the layout from the business logic by ways of html templates with {title} style variables which you then parse using php.

I know we have some talented coders here so this will hopefully make for interesting conversation.

Ciq

 

[MarkyMark]

Im running a php/mysql site, check out my signature. Id be happy to give you some info of the programming of it and the benefits of PHP/mysql.

 

[NameCaster]

Class based code is better in most cases.
But even classes use templates.

The answer to your question should be based on a few factors.
For an SMB you'd be better off using traditional template based code and MySQL, etc.
For a larger high traffic site you may want to consider class objects. There is a price to pay though. Objects tend to be a bit more CPU intensive.

Good Luck!

 

[Ciqala]

currently my site design is following this path...
(pseudo-code)
index.php?page=xxxx?id=xxxx
|
include(class.php);
$homepage = new $page
$homepage -> build_page()

class.php
|
class page
{
huge list of functions that perform any action i will need to make a page i.e. show_news($id), show_interviews($id), show_trailers($id)
}
class xxxx extends page
{
function build_page()
{
$this-> add_header();
$this-> show_xxxx();
$this-> show_footer();
}

this isnt exact syntax just an idea of what i'm doing

my problem is that the class.php is getting big (500 lines) and i am only about 1/3rd completed. is this a wise way of doing things?