Autoload classes from different folders

Question

This is how I autoload all the classes in my controllers folder,

# auto load controller classes
    function __autoload($class_name) 
    {
             


        

Answer 1

I have to mention something about "good" autoload scripts and code structure, so read the following CAREFULLY

---

Keep in Mind:

• Classname === Filename
• Only ONE class per file

e.g: Example.php contains

class Example {}

• Namespace === Directory structure

e.g: /Path1/Path2/Example.php matches

namespace Path1\Path2;
class Example {}

• There SHOULD be a Root-Namespace to avoid collisions

e.g: /Path1/Path2/Example.php with root:

namespace APP\Path1\Path2;
class Example {}

• NEVER use manually defined path or directory lists, just point the loader to the top most directory
• Keep the loader AS FAST AS POSSIBLE (because including a file is expensive enough)

---

With this in mind, i produced the following script:

function Loader( $Class ) {
    // Cut Root-Namespace
    $Class = str_replace( __NAMESPACE__.'\\', '', $Class );
    // Correct DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR
    $Class = str_replace( array( '\\', '/' ), DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR, __DIR__.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.$Class.'.php' );
    // Get file real path
    if( false === ( $Class = realpath( $Class ) ) ) {
        // File not found
        return false;
    } else {
        require_once( $Class );
        return true;
    }
}

---

Where to place it..

• /Loader.php <-- there goes the loader
• /Controller/... <-- put ur stuff here
• /Model/... <-- or here, etc
• /...

---

Remeber:

• if you use a root namespace, the loader has to be in this namespace too
• you may prefix $Class to match your needs (controller_base {} -> class_controller_base.php)
• you may change __DIR__ to an absolute path containing your class files (e.g. "/var/www/classes")
• if you don't use namespaces, all files has to be in the same directory together with the loader (bad!)

---

Happy coding ;-)

---

A little review at other answers: THIS IS JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION - NO OFFENSE INTENDED!

https://stackoverflow.com/a/5280353/626731 @alex good solution, but don't make you class names pay for bad file structures ;-) this is job for namespaces

https://stackoverflow.com/a/5280510/626731 @Mark-Eirich it works, but its pretty nasty/ugly/slow/stiff[..] style to do it this way..

https://stackoverflow.com/a/5284095/626731 @tealou for his problem to be solved this is the most clear approach so far :-) ..

https://stackoverflow.com/a/9628060/626731 @br3nt this reflects my point of view, but please(!) .. dont use strtr!! .. which brings me to:

https://stackoverflow.com/a/11866307/626731 @Iscariot .. to you, a little "you-know-bullshit-benchmark:

Time        sprintf preg_replace strtr    str_replace v1 str_replace v2
08:00:00 AM 1.1334  2.0955       48.1423  1.2109         1.4819
08:40:00 AM 1.0436  2.0326       64.3492  1.7948         2.2337
11:30:00 AM 1.1841  2.5524       62.0114  1.5931         1.9200
02:00:00 PM 0.9783  2.4832       52.6339  1.3966         1.4845
03:00:00 PM 1.0463  2.6164       52.7829  1.1828         1.4981
Average     1.0771  2.3560       55.9839  1.4357         1.7237


Method         Times Slower (than sprintf)
preg_replace   2.19
strtr          51.97
str_replace v1 1.33
str_replace v2 1.6

Source: http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=175031.0

Questions?.. (But he is in fact right about full path including)

https://stackoverflow.com/a/12548558/626731 @Sunil-Kartikey https://stackoverflow.com/a/17286804/626731 @jurrien

NEVER loop in time critical environment! Don't search for files on os! - SLOW

https://stackoverflow.com/a/21221590/626731 @sagits .. much better than Marks ;-)