Constructor Optional Parameters and Indexed Adder Support

Summary: Constructor Optional Parameters and Indexed Adder Support

Date: January 13, 2026
Branch: improv_break/code/DataObjectConstructArgs_Adder
Base: 2.0

Overview

This work session implemented two major features:

1. Relaxed constraints on constructor parameters (optional parameters now allowed without #[Param])
2. Added TYPE_INDEXED_ADDER setter type for associative array handling with #[Param] support

Features Implemented

1. Optional Constructor Parameters

Modified Loader::instantiateWithParams() to allow optional constructor parameters without #[Param] attribute. These parameters use their default values.

Rule: Constructor parameters must either be optional OR have a #[Param] attribute.

2. Indexed Adder (TYPE_INDEXED_ADDER)

Added new setter type constant Setter::TYPE_INDEXED_ADDER that:

• Iterates over array items
• Passes both the key and value to the adder method
• Supports both associative and list arrays

3. Param Support in Adders

Extended #[Param] support to adder and indexed adder methods:

• For TYPE_ADDER: First parameter (value) must NOT have #[Param], additional can
• For TYPE_INDEXED_ADDER: First two parameters (index, value) must NOT have #[Param], additional can

Code Changes

Source Files Modified

File	Changes
src/Attribute/Setter.php	Added TYPE_INDEXED_ADDER = 'indexed_adder' constant
src/Loader/Loader.php	Modified instantiateWithParams(), setPropertyValue(), added callMethodWithParams()

Test Files Created/Modified

File	Description
tests/Integration/AttributeSets/SetterAndGetter/SetterGetterIntegrationTest.php	Added 3 tests for indexed adder
tests/Integration/Attributes/Param/Fixtures/*.php	Created 11 fixture files
tests/Integration/Attributes/Param/ParamIntegrationTest.php	Refactored, added 2 new tests
tests/Integration/Rules/DataObjectInstantiation/*.php	Created new test directory with 4 fixtures and 1 test class

Documentation Updated

File	Changes
docs/attributes/Setter.md	Complete rewrite: all setter types, adder, indexed adder with Param
docs/attributes/Getter.md	Complete rewrite: getter types, isser, haser
docs/attributes/Param.md	Updated rules for constructor (optional) and indexed adder
README.md	Updated Getter & Setter section with all types
EXAMPLE.md	Updated constructor example, added indexed adder example

Test Results

Tests: 397, Assertions: 986, Skipped: 4
OK (with deprecation warnings)

Key Design Decisions

1. Optional parameters use default values: When a constructor parameter is optional and has no #[Param], its default value is used directly.

2. Indexed adder preserves keys: Unlike regular adder which only passes values, indexed adder passes both keys and values, enabling associative array support.

3. Param position rules by setter type:

   • TYPE_SETTER: 1st param = value (no Param), rest = Param optional
   • TYPE_ADDER: 1st param = item value (no Param), rest = Param optional
   • TYPE_INDEXED_ADDER: 1st = key (no Param), 2nd = value (no Param), rest = Param optional

Files Summary

Created (18 files)

• 11 fixture files in tests/Integration/Attributes/Param/Fixtures/
• 5 files in tests/Integration/Rules/DataObjectInstantiation/
• 2 documentation files in docs/history/

Modified (8 files)

• 2 source files
• 1 test file
• 5 documentation files