Common Patterns

Entity Creation Pattern

The framework follows a consistent pattern for creating new entities:

Flow: Form → Validation → Transformation → Persistence

1. Form Binding - HTTP request data bound to structured forms
2. Validation - Input validation with clear error messages
3. Transformation - Forms converted to domain models via Molders
4. Business Logic - Maestros orchestrate the creation process
5. Persistence - Handlers save to database with transactions

This pattern ensures data integrity and consistent error handling across all entity creation operations.

Service Integration Pattern

Maestro Orchestration

Maestros coordinate multiple services to complete business operations:

• Validators ensure data meets business rules
• Molders transform input forms to domain models
• Handlers manage database operations
• Hydrators load related data when needed
• Serializers format responses

Each step is explicit and testable, making complex operations maintainable.

Query and Response Pattern

Three-Step Process: Fetch → Hydrate → Serialize

1. Fetch - Retrieve entities with filtering and pagination
2. Hydrate - Load relationships using preset patterns
3. Serialize - Convert to JSON with appropriate field selection

This separation allows for: - Performance optimization through selective loading - Security by controlling exposed data - Flexibility in response formats

Form Handling Pattern

Change Detection and Optimization

The framework tracks form changes to optimize database updates:

• Molders compare form values with existing entities
• Change lists identify modified fields
• Selective updates only modify changed columns
• Audit trails can track what changed and when

This pattern reduces database load and provides clear change history.

Error Handling Pattern

The framework provides comprehensive error handling across all layers. For detailed information on error types, response patterns, and implementation strategies, see Error Handling.

Testing Patterns

Three Levels of Testing

1. Unit Tests - Individual service testing

   • Test Fetchers, Handlers, Validators in isolation
   • Mock dependencies for focused testing

2. Functional Tests - Maestro operation testing

   • Test complete business workflows
   • Verify data transformations and persistence

3. Integration Tests - End-to-end testing

   • Test HTTP endpoints and full request cycles
   • Verify database operations and response formats

Database Patterns

Query Building

Fetchers provide a fluent interface for building queries:

• Filters - Exact matches, contains, ranges, null checks
• Ordering - Single or multiple column sorting
• Pagination - Limit and offset with count totals
• Scoping - Reusable query conditions

Relationship Loading

Hydrators manage entity relationships:

• Preset Patterns - Predefined relationship sets for different contexts
• Batch Loading - Prevent N+1 queries through efficient batching
• Selective Loading - Only load needed relationships
• Deep Loading - Navigate multi-level relationships

Performance Patterns

The framework includes several built-in performance optimizations like batch operations, change detection, and preset hydration patterns. For comprehensive performance optimization strategies, caching implementations, and monitoring techniques, see Performance Optimization and Caching Strategies.

Security Patterns

The framework implements multiple security layers including input validation, SQL injection prevention, and access control. For comprehensive security implementation including authentication, authorization, rate limiting, and security headers, see Security Implementation.

These patterns form the foundation of the framework’s architecture, promoting consistency, maintainability, and reliability across all applications built with it.