Reusing Yii3 packages

[samdark]

One of the ideas for Yii 2.2 was reusing Yii3 packages. That's a nice idea if we'll gradually move from Yii 2.0 because:

1. There will be singnficantly less maintenance for legacy code.
2. Packages such as yiisoft/db are way better in terms of testing and bugfixes than what's in Yii2 thanks to @terabytesoftw and @darkdef.
3. We'll have compatibility layer so people will be able to use what we've worked on for a long time with way easier migration path.

The hard decision here is to align PHP versions so that will require Yii 2.2 to be PHP 8.0+ at least.

[samdark]

What could be reused right away:

• https://github.com/yiisoft/cache — to replace caching.
• https://github.com/yiisoft/db — to replace database-related functionality (could be tricky and raises questions about AR which isn't yet ready).
• https://github.com/yiisoft/rbac — to replace RBAC.
• https://github.com/yiisoft/arrays — to replace array helper (partially).
• https://github.com/yiisoft/log — to replace logger.
• https://github.com/yiisoft/strings — to replace string helper (partially).
• https://github.com/yiisoft/mutex — to replace mutex.
• https://github.com/yiisoft/files — to replace file helper (partially).
• https://github.com/yiisoft/json — to replace JSON helper.
• https://github.com/yiisoft/network-utilities — to replace implementations of network-related stuff.
• https://github.com/yiisoft/http — to replace status codes.
• https://github.com/yiisoft/mailer — to replace mailer abstraction and drivers.
• https://github.com/yiisoft/translator — to replace underlying implementation of Yii::t().
• https://github.com/yiisoft/var-dumper — to replace the corresponding helper.

[lucaswitch]

It could be a flavor of Yii like we have the Basic App, the Advanced App and know you could create something like the Yii2 with some Yii3 packages.
I think the main idea is to keep yii2 packages updated alongside Yii3.

[mtangoo]

I think you missed the whole point. It is replacing the underlying packages in the framework with little to no change to user codebase. That is, instead of using Yii2's framework db, Yii will be using yii-db under the hood. Advantage is little maintenance costs as we will not be maintaining 2 dbs but one for Yii3, shared with Yii2

[fusivel]

@mtangoo The advantage would be of not touching in yii2 code and all not yet ready extensions, while not moving and rewriting to yii3 completely and, give the option to use those new packages instead, without upgrading to a "in-between" major version that will break some things. An idea, just that. Also maybe it will give less work to do... Certainly I am missing something that invalidate this. You tell.

[mtangoo]

The advantage would be of not touching in yii2 code

Yii 2.2 is all about "touching" Yii2

give the option to use those new packages instead, without upgrading to a "in-between" major version that will break some things

Well, direct upgrade to Yii3 for a huge codebase is not that easy. Yii3 is a huge leap from concept of a framework in Yii2, which was monolithic. So "in-between" version will easy the burden and smoothen the process of transitioning.

Note that there will be Yii2.2 for people who a ready to break those little things and Yii2 for the those reluctant to break anything.

Not sure if there is anything there that you missed :)

[lucaswitch]

@mtangoo Got it, will it have some kind of configuration compatibility for example?

Today we mostly use the yii\web\Request to process incoming requests.
Does yii\web\Request will be rewritten or will be replaced by Yii3 Request package alongside some kind of wrapper, so in that way we can take the desired option on the main Yii configuration file and keep the Yii3 packages enabled by default.

[jiaweipan]

In our old big application, we did not use strict mode declare(strict_types=1).
If we use the new Yii3.0 package, Does it mean that we need to refactor our application to comply with it?

[samdark]

Strict typing applies to function calls made from within the file with strict typing enabled, not to the functions declared within that file. If a file without strict typing enabled makes a call to a function that was defined in a file with strict typing, the caller's preference (coercive typing) will be respected, and the value will be coerced.

https://www.php.net/manual/en/language.types.declarations.php#language.types.declarations.strict

[xepozz]

Also we may try to integrate yii-debug and yii-dev-panel. All of we need is to write collectors and add debug bootstrap.

[tomaszkane]

Replace routing will be super-cool, but it's complicated I suppose.

[samdark]

That would be a huge BC-break since Yii3 routing is different.

[tomaszkane]

Yes, and it's much better :-)

[mtangoo]

At that point one can move to Yii3 :)

[razvanphp]

Can we at least adopt PSR 7 or 15 so that roadrunner or frankenphp can work in worker mode?

Related: https://github.com/charlesportwoodii/yii2-psr7-bridge & #11328

[mtangoo]

The hard decision here is to align PHP versions so that will require Yii 2.2 to be PHP 8.0+ at least.

No, it becomes even easier to decide. Whatever is Yii3 minimum, becomes Yii2.2 minimum. No?

[toMeloos]

I don't consider 8.0+ as a minimum requirement a bad thing given that it's also the minimum supported version of the language that everyone should be on: https://www.php.net/supported-versions.php

[mtangoo]

https://github.com/yiisoft/db — to replace database-related functionality (could be tricky and raises questions about AR which isn't yet ready).

@terabytesoftw is there an ETA for AR?

[mtangoo]

@samdark so it should not be the problem!

[samdark]

Well... I can't say so. AR is complicated, refactoring is wanted and there's no release tagged yet.

[PowerGamer1]

Yii3 AR has severe inherent issues copy-pasted from Yii2: #19788.

[samdark]

Yes. It works but basically the same way with some fixes/refactoring.

[PowerGamer1]

Yes. It works but basically the same way with some fixes/refactoring.

Yes, the same BAD way. @samdark Please come to #19788 - I am sure you don't want to inherit something like that in Yii3 (resolving it in Yii2 will automatically resolve it in Yii3).

[toMeloos]

What's the migration strategy? Can this be done without affecting applications built on top of Yii2? Can new Yii2 versions be released with these components swapped out under the hood without needing changesto our application code?

[terabytesoftw]

What do you think of opening a category on migrations from Yii2 to Yii3, i could make an example of how to migrate an app, at least the steps, the db and ar api do not vary much in this regard.

[schmunk42]

@terabytesoftw That would be nice.

Also some Apps which come to my mind to test these changes with:

• Craft CMS
• Luya
• phd5
• HumHub

[terabytesoftw]

If precisely thinking about the great Yii2 apps, we kept the db and ar api almost intact, and i like your suggestion, let's try one of them, it's a great idea.

[schmunk42]

I can do some testing with phd5.

Just let me know when you think it's ready for testing.

[terabytesoftw]

You can try the 2.2 branch, it has cleaned almost all the deprecated methods, and i added className() again, so it should work without BC with the minimum version of PHP 8.1 @schmunk42

[mtangoo]

Can we list Potential Yii3 packages that cn be used to replace current Yii2?
I believe with that list at least someone can pick one and tinker around

[mtangoo]

I missed this list by @samdark

https://github.com/yiisoft/cache — to replace caching.
https://github.com/yiisoft/db — to replace database-related functionality (could be tricky and raises questions about AR which isn't yet ready).
https://github.com/yiisoft/rbac — to replace RBAC.
https://github.com/yiisoft/arrays — to replace array helper (partially).
https://github.com/yiisoft/log — to replace logger.
https://github.com/yiisoft/strings — to replace string helper (partially).
https://github.com/yiisoft/mutex — to replace mutex.
https://github.com/yiisoft/files — to replace file helper (partially).
https://github.com/yiisoft/json — to replace JSON helper.
https://github.com/yiisoft/network-utilities — to replace implementations of network-related stuff.
https://github.com/yiisoft/http — to replace status codes.
https://github.com/yiisoft/mailer — to replace mailer abstraction and drivers.
https://github.com/yiisoft/translator — to replace underlying implementation of Yii::t().
https://github.com/yiisoft/var-dumper — to replace the corresponding helper.