What are the advantages and disadvantages of extending the Smarty class versus using a decorator pattern for implementing different template engines in PHP applications?

When implementing different template engines in PHP applications, developers often face the decision of whether to extend the Smarty class or use a decorator pattern. Extending the Smarty class allows for direct access to its methods and properties, making it easier to customize and extend functionality. However, this approach can lead to tight coupling and potential conflicts with future updates. On the other hand, using a decorator pattern allows for more flexibility and separation of concerns, as it enables the dynamic addition of new features without altering existing code. 

// Extending the Smarty class
class CustomSmarty extends Smarty {
    // Custom methods and properties can be added here
}

// Using a decorator pattern
class TemplateEngineDecorator {
    protected $templateEngine;

    public function __construct($templateEngine) {
        $this->templateEngine = $templateEngine;
    }

    // Methods to dynamically add new features
    public function render($template, $data) {
        // Custom logic before rendering
        $this->templateEngine->render($template, $data);
        // Custom logic after rendering
    }
}

// Implementation example
$smarty = new Smarty();
$customSmarty = new CustomSmarty();
$decorator = new TemplateEngineDecorator($smarty);

// Using the extended Smarty class
$customSmarty->display('template.tpl');

// Using the decorator pattern
$decorator->render('template.tpl', $data);

Keywords

Smarty class decorator pattern template engines PHP applications

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