Professional CodeIgniter

Chapter 3: A 10,000 - Foot View of CodeIgniter

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$active_record = TRUE;

$active_group = “default”;

$db[‘default’][‘hostname’] = “localhost”;

$db[‘default’][‘username’] = “db_username”;

$db[‘default’][‘password’] = “db_password”;

$db[‘default’][‘database’] = “db_name”;

$db[‘default’][‘dbdriver’] = “mysql”;

$db[‘default’][‘dbprefix’] = “”;

$db[‘default’][‘pconnect’] = TRUE;

$db[‘default’][‘db_debug’] = TRUE;

$db[‘default’][‘cache_on’] = FALSE;

$db[‘default’][‘cachedir’] = “”;

$db[‘default’][‘char_set’] = “utf8”;

$db[‘default’][‘dbcollat’] = “utf8_general_ci”;

For now, keep the default values for options after $db[‘default’][ ‘dbdriver’]. As needed, you

will be introduced to them during upcoming projects (e.g., for setting up caching or running debug

sessions).

autoload.php

The autoload.php file specifies which systems are automatically loaded by CodeIgniter. There ’ s one school

of thought that maintains that the autoloader should be kept as minimal as possible to keep the

framework lightweight and nimble, but another school of thought maintains that certain frequently used

systems should be autoloaded instead of called at the local level repeatedly.

You ’ ll find your own balance as experience and local project needs warrant, but for now, set your options

like this:

$autoload[‘libraries’] = array(‘database’,’session’,’email’,’validation’);

$autoload[‘helper’] = array(‘url’,’form’,’text’,’date’,’security’);

$autoload[‘plugin’] = array(‘captcha’);

$autoload[‘model’] = array();

$autoload[‘config’] = array();

The first $autoload option, libraries , is a list of libraries that should be loaded. You ’ re going to be using

the database, session, e - mail, and form validation libraries a lot in this (and many other) CodeIgniter

project(s), thus loading them now makes a good deal of sense. You learn more about these libraries later.

The second $autoload option, helper , is a list of helper collections that you will need to get work done.

Almost every CodeIgniter project uses the URL, form, and text helpers frequently; it ’ s not a bad idea to

have date and security autoloaded as well, particularly as you ’ ll need them to help you parse dates and

handle security features.

For the time being, keep the third $autoload option, plugin , either blank or filled in with the CAPTCHA

plugin, as you may have a need to use CAPTCHA devices in forms for your application for extra

security.