Hi,
I have some suggestion based in other frameworks like rails, grails and play!.
#1 - When use active record to get some database data, sometimes we need convert it to xml, json, array, it will turn our life to build services too easy. So i suggest it (array i think is already implement in 2.0):
$customers = Customer::find()->asArray()->all();
$customers = Customer::find()->asXml()->all();
$customers = Customer::find()->asJson()->all();
#2 - Custom transformation data when use activerecord, like #1, but custom, example:
$customers = Customer::find()->asMyCustomConverter()->all();
$customers = Customer::find()->asPDF()->all();
#3 - Native CURL extension:
We always need integrate our website to another thing, so, we need a decent curl class to do it. That can make all type of requests (get, post, put, delete) and some of other sort of improvements and utilities using CURL (set cookies, headers, …)
#4 - Native package manager like others, example:
yiic install myExtension
yiic install-extension myExtension
yiic install-plugin myExtension
yiic install myExtension -v 1.2
yiic install myExtension -v=1.2
some of one from this list
#5 - Native interface to send mail and custom implementation
A way to send mail from a class from framework and if you need another sender/mailer (like phpmailer) you can set it.
Example:
$mailer->subject = ‘teste’;
$mailer->body = ‘teste’;
$mailer->from = array(‘my name’ => ‘my email’);
$mailer->to = array(‘one name’ => ‘one email’, …);
and
$mailer->setClass(‘extensions.phpmailer.PHPMailer’); // you can set from config too
#6 - Config files to different environments
We need urgent a way to change config files in different environments.
We can set a server var on apache/nginx for development/test environment, and if this var doesnt exists assume ‘production’
#7 - Change UI framework
I suggest BOOTSTRAP than BLUEPRINT. I test a king of UI framework, and bootstrap if complete, well documented, too many of features and a big company on maintenance.
#8 - Nice logger/profiler native support
Every application need a decent log to you know what is happening, so yii need one too. I like this too much:
http://www.yiiframework.com/extension/yii-debug-toolbar/
#9 - Clear everything from console
We need a native console command that clear all from command line (assets, runtime, cache, log, …)
#10 - A requiments command from console
Always that we need check requirements from YII we need access from browser, but i use linux and remote shell, and i need check some issues that we can prevent using requirements page. Will be more easy and usually a way to do it from command line. Example:
PHP version - Need 5.2 (Current is 5.3.5) - [OK]
Path writable (webroot/assets) - [FAIL]
#11 - GII from command line
Everything from gii generator, from command line
#12 - A better ajax form, ajax button and submit
I never do it work, i never understand it. I like too much the implementation of couponic. It is very easy to use and work for return a new content to a element, alert, custom script, json, xml, redirect and custom, and you decide if from controller return data.
#13 - The pagination class has some bugs
I get some bugs from pager class - You cannot hide some elements and change text form some elements.
#14 - A client/server for soap
We need a client and server for soap 1 and 1.2. A lot of webservices use it.
#15 - A fast utlitity class to convert numbers and date from calendar
Today i dot:
echo(Yii::app()->numberFormatter->format(Yii::app()->params[‘percentFormat’], 1234) . ‘%’);
We need a way to convert our activerecord data from our language to database automatic
#16 - Console/shell/terminal class
When use PHP i have a lot of difficult to find a correct way to create process or execute something in terminal/console
I suggest a native class to make this work. Execute for example imagemagic from command line. Like this:
Console::execute(array(‘unrar’, ‘myfile.txt’, ‘-d’, ‘/tmp/myfile.rar’));
#17 - Class to manager file and dir
We need a native class to handle files and dir.
Read and write files
List files/dir recursive
Create, delete, chmod files and dir recursive
And more
#18 - Serial class
A native class to handle serial port, like COM1 (windows) and /dev/usb1 (linux/mac)
#19 - Render an action s custom class
Render a view or content as a custom class (i think it is already done in 1.*)
$this->renderAsClass(‘ext.render.PDF’);
#20 - Some helper, utility class from here:
http://www.symfony-project.org/api/1_4/
http://api20.cakephp.org/classes
util, helpers, renders
#21 - Cron/task
A way to create tasks/jobs and it run based on a time in the job, like this:
http://grails.org/Job+Scheduling+(Quartz)
http://www.playframework.org/documentation/1.0/jobs
I think that is only this for now. Its only a suggestion.