Using the Zend Framework with Code Igniter (an alternative)

I want to use Code Igniter for some applications and I want to use some bits of the Zend Framework inside my Code Igniter classes. There is a tutorial explaining how to set it up. But there is a problem.

Code Igniter separates code into framework code and application code. The tutorial explains how to set up the Zend Framework as part of the application code. I find that conceptually interesting. It might even be desired at times but I’d rather opt for setting it up as framework code.

The solution outlined in the tutorial uses the hooks feature of Code Igniter to set up PHP’s include_path. This feature however is limited to application code.

Here is my take. Instead of hooks, I’m going to use a helper and the autoload mechanism of Code Igniter. A helper is usually a collection of functions that do little tasks. Like making an HTML link out of an URI. My zend_framework_helper does not define any functions, it just adds a new folder to the include_path. This folder can live anywhere you like. By old conventions I name the folder contrib. You may choose anything else here. I also put the folder inside Code Igniter’s system folder that I share with different applications that should all benefit from the Zend Framework.

Here is the folder structure, so you get the idea.

codeigniter/system
                  /cache
                  /codeigniter
                  /contrib
                          /Zend
                               /Acl
                               /Acl.php
                               /...
                  /database
                  /...

To get things going, follow these steps:

• Create codeigniter/system/helpers/zend_framework_helper.php

    <?php ini_set("include_path", ini_get("include_path").":".BASEPATH."/contrib/"); ?>

• Go to your application folder and open application/config/autoload.php for editing. Find the $autoload['helper] line and add zend_framework to the list of helpers.

    $autoload['helper'] = array("zend_framework");

• Use the Zend Framework in your classes.

class MyController extends Controller
{
    function index()
    {
        require_once "Zend/Http/Client.php";
        ...
    }
}

Done.