Adding common methods to a class

[NotionCommotion]

I've written multiple generic methods which are not specific to any class or application.  Examples include initiating a http request, recursive searching an array, displaying a pdo query for troubleshooting, etc.  For some projects, I've tried to separate them in different classes based on what they do and have called them statically, and for other projects, I have just dumped them in a "Helper" class, and have had all other classes extend that class.  What should I be doing?

[ginerjm]

If all of these disparate functions that you have written do not logically 'fit' together, then lumping them into a helper class unnecessarily bloats any script that you use it in.  I have many many modules that I have written that I include when needed as separate functions without trying to 'class-ify' them.

[NotionCommotion]

How do you manage them?  Maybe something like the following?  I was also thinking there might be a good way to do so using composer.

 

    public function execFunction($function,array $arr)
    {
        if (!function_exists($function)) {
            require("/path/to/$function");
        }
        return $function($arr);
    }

[ginerjm]

Again - more useless code.  If you WANT a certain function available, you just include/require it.  That's my philosophy.

[Jacques1]

separate them in different classes

 

This. And an autoloader.

[NotionCommotion]

This. And an autoloader.

 

Yes, I use an autoloader.  Recommend calling them statically if they only perform a single set functionality?

 

No good reason to attempt to use composer to manage?

[Jacques1]

Recommend calling them statically if they only perform a single set functionality?

 

Yes.

 

 

 

No good reason to attempt to use composer to manage?

 

I don't see the point.

 

Since you already have an autoloader and are in an OO environment, putting the features into (static) methods is the obvious solution. Why create a parallel infrastructure?

Edited May 8, 2017 by Jacques1