[FIXED] How to modularize a plugin/extension feature for a php app?

Issue

I'm working on a task management application for use at my company. Part of the spec is to create a plugin system that lets users customize and extend the functionality as they need, or as their department requires. I'd love to do this in a really elegant and modularized way, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how.

Consider a view that's a task list: each iteration of the generating loop adds a pre_task() and post_task() call on either end, which builds the interactive pieces on either end of the task title (Complete checkbox, comments link, etc). Now, when the system detects and includes the plugin file plugin_time_tracking.php, the plugin should add functionality to post_task() - adding a "track time" button in addition to everything else.

What I'd like to accomplish is making the plugin "hook" onto pre_task() or post_task() - let it do all the legwork by attaching itself to the proper functions and extending them, instead of having the core sort plugins and herd their functions to the right places. Does PHP offer such functionality? Am I going about this the wrong way? Let me know if I need to clarify at all - thanks for the help!

Solution

The boys of Qafoo gave a talk about modularity on the 2012 edition of the PHPBenelux conference. They presented various options to create modular applications such as hooks, patching and inheritance.

You could check out the slides of that presentation here.

Answered By - pderaaij

Answer Checked By - Terry (PHPFixing Volunteer)