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The FarCry framework is based on a variation of the classic Model-View-Controller pattern. The COAPI (or Content Object API) is a high level name for the MVC engine inside FarCry. Without getting bogged down in the details of the framework, its good to have a high level or "helicopter" view of how things work under the hood. We'll expand on these themes gradually as you go through the course.
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Requests from users are processed by FarCry's built-in "smart controller" which automatically determines wiring based on the URL convention or the friendly URL sub-system. The COAPI always ends up calling a principal content type (a special type of class) that manages how we interact with the model and view. When thinking of views (or webskins) its important to realise that they are always executed in the context of a specific content type.
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Consider the following real world examples of composite views from the Fandango theme.
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FarCry doesn't prescribe a specific templating architecture - you can get pretty sophisticated in your approach or keep it dead simple. Fandango is a good best practice starting point. |
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Looking at our dmHTML content type in Fandango, we have at least the following views available:
- displayPageStandard
- displayTeaserStandard
- displayHeaderStandard
- displayFooterStandard
- displayBody
- displaySimpleSearchResult
Webskin Tracer
The tray that appears at the bottom of the website when you are logged in, contains a marvellous developer utility called the "Webskin Tracer". You can activate it for any page by simply selecting the webskin tracer option.
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