How to instantiate a Sling Model with multiple adaptables - aem

The #Model annotation in Sling Models allows for multiple adaptables, for example
#Model(adaptables = { SlingHttpServletRequest.class, Resource.class })
However, I am not sure how to instantiate a Model with multiple adaptables from a JSP. The options shown in the Sling documentation always specify a single adaptable only: https://sling.apache.org/documentation/bundles/models.html#adaptto

When your model is adaptable from both classes it means you can use any of them, not that you have to adapt both.
So, you adapt it as any other Sling Model. Just it should work with both.
In you case you could do
<sling:adaptTo adaptable="${resource}" adaptTo="org.apache.sling.models.it.models.MyModel" var="model"/>
or
<sling:adaptTo adaptable="${slingRequest}" adaptTo="org.apache.sling.models.it.models.MyModel" var="model"/>
Still, remember that if you are using injection, not all injectors are available from both adaptables. The request supports more than the resource (anything that comes from the script bindings, currentPage,etc)

Related

What does "class Meta:" do in Django and Django REST Framework?

I am trying to figure out what class Meta: really do in Django.
I come across with the code below in DRF, but not sure why under class Meta: there is model = User and fields = [...]. Does it help to create a database?
from django.contrib.auth.models import User, Group
from rest_framework import serializers
class UserSerializer(
serializers.HyperlinkedModelSerializer):
class Meta:
model = User
fields = ['url', 'username', 'email', 'groups']
And also what is the different with the class Meta: used in Django as below.
from django.db import models
class Ox(models.Model):
horn_length = models.IntegerField()
class Meta:
ordering = ["horn_length"]
verbose_name_plural = "oxen"
I have tried to get further understanding from both Django and DRF documentation however I did not see the explanation for model = ... and fields = [...] used in DRF class Meta.
Hope someone could help to explain the functioning principle behind. Thanks!
The Meta class is merely a convenient place to group metadata (meaning data about the data) that DRF needs to adjust its configuration, but keep this separate from the attributes of the class itself. This separation allows the Django Rest Framework (and the wider Django Framework ecosystem) to avoid clashes between configuration and the actual class definitions.
The use of an inner Meta class is a common pattern throughout Django, because this allows you to both keep this configuration separate from the fields of the class and keep it connected to the class in a way that's easy to read and easy for the framework to find. A DRF selialiser class should normally have one or more fields to help turn data into a serialized form, but the HyperlinkedModelSerializer base class can generate these fields for you if you tell it what model you wanted to serialise. The fields on the Meta class tell it you want to serialize specific fields from your User model.
By putting this configuration on the inner Meta class, they are kept in a separate namespace from the main class, but at the same time remain connected to the class they are meant to configure. Imagine a model that has a field named model and fields for example. If the HyperlinkedModelSerializer required that configuration is found in the subclass itself, you could never produce a serializer that could process something with model and fields fields!
If you wanted to know what the different options are you can use on the inner Meta class, you need to read the ModelSerialiser and HyperlinkedModelSerializer documentation in the API guide section.
For Django Models, you can refer to the Model Meta chapter of the Django documentation. As I stated above, it's the same concept but here the Meta class configures the database fields that the model supports and how the model relates to other database models you may have defined.
Last but not least, there is another answer here that confuses the term Meta with Python Metaclasses, which is a very different concept. While DRF and Django model classes lean heavily on metaclasses for their internal implementation, the class Meta: definition you use to configure the framework functionality, they are not metaclasses. They are plain classes that are only used because they make for a convenient namespace.
class Meta is used in DRF serializers to configure your serializer.
model defines the model to which your serializer is linked.
fields is a list of properties that you would like to serve in your API.
Use fields = ['__all__'] to serve all properties
Use exclude = ['your_excluded_prop_1', 'your_excluded_prop_2'] to exclude properties
The concept of Meta class comes from metaprogramming. The term metaprogramming refers to manipulating itself. Python supports a form of metaprogramming for classes called metaclasses. Meta class is mainly the inner class of your main class. Meta class is basically used to change the behavior of your main class attributes. It’s completely optional to add a Meta class to your Class. But in your Django project, you have already seen this metaclass concept available in different places like models.py, serializers.py, admin.py, etc.
Actually, this Meta class changes the common behavior of its main class like the model metaclass changing behavior using verbose_name, db_table, proxy, permissions, ordering etc, and a lot of other options. Meta class in serializer also does the exact same things it tells it the model to use and what fields to serialize by using fields, exclude, and model.
Good Luck :)

#ScriptVariable resourceResolver vs #SlingObject resourceResolver

Can anyone explain to me the difference between calling resourceResolver by annotating #ScriptVariable and by annotating #SlingObject? In what context do they behave differently?
The key difference is in the way the object is retrieved. #ScriptVariable and #SlingObject are injector-specific annotations. This means that you can use them to instruct Sling Models to use a particular injector.
The injector that recognises the #ScriptVariable annotation can inject objects available as Scripting Variables. In case ot the resourceResolver, it should be the one associated with the request. Same as slingRequest.getResourceResolver().
Looking at the code, the injector that kicks in on fields annotated with #SlingObject is a bit more interesting in that it will inspect the adaptable (from which your Sling Model is being adapted) and obtain the resolver accordingly:
If the adaptable is a Resource, it'll return resource.getResourceResolver(), i.e. the resolver originally used to load the resource. This may be quite aribtrary.
If the adaptable is a SlingHttpServletRequest, it'll return request.getResourceResolver(), i.e. the resolver instantiated by Sling in association with the request and the session of the user issuing the request.
If the adaptable itself is a ResourceResolver, it will be returned directly.
In some cases, the difference between the three will be negligible, but sometimes it will be important which resolver you choose. If your model is, for example, supposed to be used outside the scope of a request (imagine it's instantiated by an OSGi service that runs on a schedule and there's no incoming request), you'll be better off using resource or resourceResolver as an adaptable.

AEM - How to pass data to a component

Usually an AEM component is retrieving its data from a JCR node, but I was wondering whether it's possible to pass data to it in HTL. Sure, there's data-sly-resource, but as far as I know this way you can only pass a JCR node.
So in an actual case I've got data in a model that's retrieved from elsewhere. Yet I'd like to use existing components. I'm aware that the data must at least match the component-types' model.
But what if the component I'd like to use is using an model that got its data injected like
#Inject
#Optional
String[] itemList;
So in my stubborn thoughts it should be possible to somehow pass a string array like
<div data-sly-resource="${myModel.aStringArray # resourceType='my/component' }"></div>
But like mentioned above this seems to be meant for passing nodes only.
Is there any way to accomplish passing data directly to a component (other than creating a template)?
You can pass additional information in the form of request attributes or selectors
Selectors
Selectors are the most straight forward of passing simple information. This is an array of strings that can be passed. This is quite useful to data that can act as flags ex:
Variant/Mode of the component
index of the component in a list if it is being included in a loop.
ID of the parent when building things like accordion, tabs
This approach is an abuse of selectors, but IMHO as long as you know what you are doing this shouldn't be a major concern.
<article data-sly-resource="${'path/to/resource' # selectors=['s1', 's2']}"></article>
You can add, replace or remove selectors while including the component. Checkout the documentation for the syntax. https://docs.adobe.com/content/help/en/experience-manager-htl/using/htl/block-statements.html#resource
Request Attributes
This option allows you to add custom request attributes to the component request. This can be used to pass objects as parameters to the component while including them.
These are standard http request attributes with convince of scoping them to a particular instance of script/resource inclusion. To use this you will end up needing a model class or use-js as there is little support to compose the data to be passed along in sightly.
<sly data-sly-use.settings="com.adobe.examples.htl.core.hashmap.Settings"
data-sly-include="${ 'productdetails.html' # requestAttributes=settings.settings}" />
https://docs.adobe.com/content/help/en/experience-manager-htl/using/htl/block-statements.html#request-attributes
There is another way. You can pass additional parameters to the Sling Model on initialization using data-sly-use. For example:
<div data-sly-use.model="${'com.model.Teaser' # test='abc'}"
You can read then the variable "test" in model from request:
#PostConstruct
private void initModel() {
String value = request.getAttribute("test");
// value is 'abc'
}
In order this to work correctly you need to make sure your Sling Model is adaptable from request #Model(adaptables = SlingHttpServletRequest.class}

MVVM Dependency Injection

I'm in the process of teaching myself the MVVM pattern by dividing the pattern into its core facets and learning those facets one by one.
My question is related to dependency injection. What is it, and why/when should I use it? I've looked at Jason Dolinger's excellent MVVM intro video and I see he uses Unity. This might be strange to ask but how would I implement dependency injection WITHOUT using Unity? I basically want to understand the concept of dependency injection and how to use it without having to implement other frameworks/tools (for now).
Thanks.
I think it's good that you want to understand DI without using a framework, the concept is not terribly difficult to wrap your head around.
Let's say you want to use some form of transportation.
interface ITransportation
{
Transport();
}
An initial implementation of a method that uses a form of transportation might look like this:
public void Move()
{
ITransportation car = new Car();
car.Transport();
}
The problem with that method is that it is now dependent on a Car class. We should pass our transportation object in for added flexibility. This is inversion of control and is closely related to DI.
public void Move(ITransportation tr)
{
tr.Transport();
}
As you can see, we don't need to know anything about a specific DI framework. You might also want to check out the ninject DI by hand tutorial.
Just to extend #Andy's answer
Dependency Injection is one of the forms of the Dependency Inversion Principle
To achieve the decoupling of dependencies (as typically found in layered architecture),
DI is commonly used for instantiation scenarios such as basic new() and patterns like Factory method. In addition to being able to inject a new dependency instance every time (e.g. like factory), containers can also be set up to inject named instances, singleton instances, etc - i.e. IoC containers usually also take on the responsibility of managing the lifespans of objects as well.
One potential 'mindset shift' is that dependencies now potentially become publicly visible on concrete classes, since DI typically injects via constructors or public Get / Set properties. This may seem strange if you are used to using OO encapsulation, where dependencies of a class are seen as implementation and should be hidden from the 'outside' i.e. class method signatures.
However, by implementing Interface / Concrete class separation (as you should, not only for decoupling but also for testing / mocking purposes), the injection constructors / property injection methods will not be on the interface, so encapsulation is again in place.
Re : "Doing DI by hand" without Unity etc
What you would need to do is to code your own IoC container, which then is responsible for 'building up' instances of classes - during each 'build up', you would scan the class for dependencies (which are configured in the container, e.g. by config, by attributes, or simply just by convention, e.g. all public settable properties, or any class parameters on a constructor will be assumed to be dependencies). You would then create (if necessary) and inject this 'dependency' instance onto the object (e.g. by using reflection). And then recursively, all dependencies of these dependencies need to be built up etc. You would then also need to provide lifespan management for each of the objects, e.g. Singletons etc.

Tell C# to use Castle to create objects

I think my question is a long shot.
Lets say I have an attribute:
public sealed class MyCustomAttribute: ActionFilterAttribute
Used on a class method
[MyCustomAttribute]
public virtual ActionResult Options(FormCollection collection)
Now, I need to add a contructor's parameter
public MyCustomAttribute(IMyDependentObject dependentObject)
{
(...)
}
(You propably notice that it's some Asp.NET MCV code)
I would like to use DI to create this attribute. Asp.NET MVC code automatically create it and I don't know how/where I could write code to use Castle istead.
Any ideas?
As far a I konw castle does not support injection of existing objects, which makes it impossible to inject attributes as their construction is not under your control. Other IoC containers such as Ninject support injection of existing objects. They inject properties of your attribut filter. See http://github.com/ninject/ninject.web.mvc for an extension that exactly does what you need.
What you can do if you want to stay on castle is to inject your own ControllerActionInvoker derived from ControllerActionInvoker (AsyncControllerActionInvoker in case of async controller) into all controllers. In your own invoker you override GetFilters. Additionally to the Filters returned by the base you add FilterInfos that are created by castle.
The decision which filters infos are created and added can be achieved with various strategies e.g.:
Add an own custom attribute that contains the information e.g. name of a binding
A configuration file/database
May you consider switching to MVC3 this makes all a bit easier. As you can register your own FilterProvider which makes all much easier. In this FilterProvider you have to decide which filter info you want to add. See again the two strategies above. See http://bradwilson.typepad.com/blog/2010/07/service-location-pt4-filters.html for information about MVC3 and filters.