Self validating models for Laravel's Eloquent Orm

Note: This package is heavily influenced by the Aware bundle for Laravel 3. https://github.com/crabideau5691/Radiant

Add "jonob/radiant": "dev-master" to the require section of your composer.json:

"require": {
	"jonob/radiant": "dev-master"
},

Now run composer update.

Add the following code to the aliases section of the app/config/app.php file

'Radiant' => 'Jonob\Radiant\Radiant',

so that it looks something like the following:

'aliases' => array(
	...
	'Radiant'       => 'Jonob\Radiant\Radiant',
	...
),

• Basic
• Validation
• Retrieving Errors
• Messages
• Save callbacks

Radiant extends the Eloquent model.

To create a new Radiant model, instead of extending the Eloquent class, simply extend the Radiant class:

class User extends Radiant {}

Radiant models use Laravel's built-in Validation. Defining validation rules for a model is simple:

class User extends Radiant {

  /**
   * Radiant validation rules
   */
  protected $rules = array(
    'name' => 'required',
    'email' => 'required|email'
  );
}

Radiant models validate themselves automatically when Radiant->save() is called.

$user = new User();
$user->name = 'John';
$user->email = 'john@doe.com';
$user->save(); // returns false if model is invalid

note: You also can validate a model at any time using the Radiant->valid() method.

When a Radiant model fails validation, an Illuminate\Messages object is attached to the Radiant object.

Retrieve all errors with $user->getErrors().

You can also set custom error messages in the model if you wish.

protected $messages = array(
	'user.required' => 'Please complete the User field.',
);

Note the callbacks have been completely removed from Radiant. This is because Laravel's Events are far more flexible and powerful. I highly recommend that you hook into the saving, saved, creating, created, updating, updated, deleting and deleted events as needed.

In fact, Radiant now uses the saving event to run the validator prior to the model being saved.