README

Job action control through dynamic workflows, for CodeIgniter 4

Quick Start

1. Install with Composer: > composer require tatter/workflows
2. Update the database: > php spark migrate -all
3. Register actions: > php spark actions:register
4. Start your first workflow: https://[yourdomain.com]/workflows

Features

Workflows functions as a super-controller for CodeIgniter 4, allowing developers to write their own actions as classes and then string them together for job flow controls.

Installation

Install easily via Composer to take advantage of CodeIgniter 4's autoloading capabilities and always be up-to-date:

> composer require tatter/workflows

Or, install manually by downloading the source files and adding the directory to app/Config/Autoload.php.

Once the files are downloaded and included in the autoload, run any library migrations to ensure the database is setup correctly:

> php spark migrate -all

Configuration (optional)

The library's default behavior can be altered by extending its config file. Copy examples/Workflows.php to app/Config/ and follow the instructions in the comments. If no config file is found in app/Config/ the library will use its own.

Workflows uses Tatter\Users to work with user records. Follow the instructions to verify you have a compatible authentication library with classes that implement the UserEntity and HasPermission interfaces.

Usage

The CLI command spark actions:list will search all namespaces for valid action files and display them. Action files are identified as follows:

• Located in the Actions subfolder within the root of a namespace
• Extends Tatter\Workflows\BaseAction
• Supplies a unique HANDLER_ID and descriptive ATTRIBUTES class constants

You may write your own actions or import them from existing packages. Once actions are available you can create workflows from a series of those actions by visiting the /workflows route.

Job control

Runner.php is the central controller that handles job flow. By default this intercepts routes that match /jobs/, but this can be changed in the config file.

Action permissions

You may limit access to individual Actions using the role attribute of its definition. By default an empty role is available to everyone. Actions will use the UserEntity with HasPermission interface to test for allowed users.

Logging

Jobs track their activity through two supplemental database tables and their entities.

Joblogs are created automatically any time a job changes stages, and will record:

• The stage the job leaves (null for new jobs)
• The stage the job enters (null for completed jobs)
• The ID of the current user (if available)
• The timestamp of the activity

Since jobs may progress and regress through a stage multiple times, Joblogs are not a good indicator of status. Jobflags are set by the developer and represent a definitive job state. A flag is a string key and CodeIgniter\I18n\Time timestamp value. Flags are managed from the Job entity methods:

• getFlags(): array
• getFlag($name): Time
• setFlag($name)
• clearFlag($name)
• clearFlags()

For example, an Action may require a user to accept the "Terms of Service" agreement before proceeding. Its code may look like this:

public function get()
{
	if (! $this->job->getFlag('accepted'))
	{
		return $this->render('accept_form');
	}

	// Null returns indicate "Action complete"
	return null;
}

public function post()
{
	$this->job->setFlag('accepted');

	return null;
}