1 This files describes API changes in core libraries and APIs,
2 information provided here is intended especially for developers.
6 * Use new methods from core_component class instead of get_core_subsystems(), get_plugin_types(),
7 get_plugin_list(), get_plugin_list_with_class(), get_plugin_directory(), normalize_component(),
8 get_component_directory() and get_plugin_list_with_file(). The names of the new methods are
9 exactly the same, the only differences are that core_component::get_plugin_types() now always returns
10 full paths and core_component::get_plugin_list() does not accept empty parameter any more.
11 * Use core_text::* instead of textlib:: and also core_collator::* instead of collatorlib::*.
12 * Use new function moodleform::mock_submit() to simulate form submission in unit tests (backported).
13 * New $CFG->localcachedir setting useful for cluster nodes. Admins have to update X-Sendfile aliases if used.
14 * MS SQL Server drivers are now using NVARCHAR(MAX) instead of NTEXT and VARBINARY(MAX) instead of IMAGE,
15 this change should be fully transparent and it should help significantly with add-on compatibility.
16 * The string manager classes were renamed. Note that they should not be modified or used directly,
17 always use get_string_manager() to get instance of the string manager.
18 * The ability to use an 'insecure' rc4encrypt/rc4decrypt key has been removed.
19 * Use $CFG->debugdeveloper instead of debugging('', DEBUG_DEVELOPER).
20 * Use set_debugging(DEBUG_xxx) when changing debugging level for current request.
21 * Function moveto_module() does not modify $mod argument and instead now returns the new module visibility value.
22 * Use behat_selectors::get_allowed_text_selectors() and behat_selectors::get_allowed_selectors() instead of
23 behat_command::$allowedtextselectors and behat_command::$allowedselectors
24 * Subplugins are supported in admin tools and local plugins.
25 * file_packer/zip_packer API has been modified so that key functions support a new file_progress interface
26 to report progress during long operations. Related to this, zip_archive now supports an estimated_count()
27 function that returns an approximate number of entries in the zip faster than the count() function.
28 * Class cm_info no longer extends stdClass. All properties are read-only and calculated on first request only.
29 * Class course_modinfo no longer extends stdClass. All properties are read-only.
30 * Database fields modinfo and sectioncache in table course are removed. Application cache core/coursemodinfo
31 is used instead. Course cache is still reset, rebuilt and retrieved using function rebuild_course_cache() and
32 get_fast_modinfo(). Purging all caches and every core upgrade purges course modinfo cache as well.
33 If function get_fast_modinfo() is called for multiple courses make sure to include field cacherev in course
35 * Internal (noreply and support) user support has been added for sending/receiving message.
36 Use core_user::get_noreply_user() and core_user::get_support_user() to get noreply and support user's respectively.
37 Real users can be used as noreply/support users by setting $CFG->noreplyuserid and $CFG->supportuserid
38 * New function readfile_allow_large() in filelib.php for use when very large files may need sending to user.
39 * Use plugin_manager::reset_caches() when changing visibility of plugins.
40 * Implement new method get_enabled_plugins() method in subplugin info classes.
41 * Each plugin should include version information in version.php.
44 Various previously deprecated functions have now been altered to throw DEBUG_DEVELOPER debugging notices
45 and will be removed in a future release (target: 2.8), a summary follows:
48 * get_context_instance() -> context_xxxx::instance()
49 * get_context_instance_by_id() -> context::instance_by_id($id)
50 * get_system_context() -> context_system::instance()
51 * context_moved() -> context::update_moved()
52 * preload_course_contexts() -> context_helper::preload_course()
53 * context_instance_preload() -> context_helper::preload_from_record()
54 * context_instance_preload_sql() -> context_helper::get_preload_record_columns_sql()
55 * get_contextlevel_name() -> context_helper::get_level_name()
56 * create_contexts() -> context_helper::create_instances()
57 * cleanup_contexts() -> context_helper::cleanup_instances()
58 * build_context_path() -> context_helper::build_all_paths()
59 * print_context_name() -> $context->get_context_name()
60 * mark_context_dirty() -> $context->mark_dirty()
61 * delete_context() -> $context->delete_content() or context_helper::delete_instance()
62 * get_context_url() -> $context->get_url()
63 * get_course_context() -> $context->get_course_context()
64 * get_parent_contexts() -> $context->get_parent_context_ids()
65 * get_parent_contextid() -> $context->get_parent_context()
66 * get_child_contexts() -> $context->get_child_contexts()
67 * rebuild_contexts() -> $context->reset_paths()
68 * get_user_courses_bycap() -> enrol_get_users_courses()
69 * get_courseid_from_context() -> $context->get_course_context(false)
70 * get_role_context_caps() -> (no replacement)
71 * load_temp_role() -> (no replacement)
72 * remove_temp_roles() -> (no replacement)
73 * get_related_contexts_string() -> $context->get_parent_context_ids(true)
74 * get_recent_enrolments() -> (no replacement)
77 * get_course_participants() -> get_enrolled_users()
78 * is_course_participant() -> is_enrolled()
81 * current_theme() -> $PAGE->theme->name
82 * skip_main_destination() -> $OUTPUT->skip_link_target()
83 * print_container() -> $OUTPUT->container()
84 * print_container_start() -> $OUTPUT->container_start()
85 * print_container_end() -> $OUTPUT->container_end()
86 * print_continue() -> $OUTPUT->continue_button()
87 * print_header() -> $PAGE methods
88 * print_header_simple() -> $PAGE methods
89 * print_side_block() -> $OUTPUT->block()
90 * print_arrow() -> $OUTPUT->arrow()
91 * print_scale_menu_helpbutton() -> $OUTPUT->help_icon_scale($courseid, $scale)
92 * print_checkbox() -> html_writer::checkbox()
95 * print_navigation() -> $OUTPUT->navbar()
96 * build_navigation() -> $PAGE->navbar methods
97 * navmenu() -> (no replacement)
100 * add_event() -> calendar_event::create()
101 * update_event() -> calendar_event->update()
102 * delete_event() -> calendar_event->delete()
103 * hide_event() -> calendar_event->toggle_visibility(false)
104 * show_event() -> calendar_event->toggle_visibility(true)
107 * filter_text() -> format_text(), format_string()...
108 * httpsrequired() -> $PAGE->https_required()
109 * detect_munged_arguments() -> clean_param([...], PARAM_FILE)
110 * mygroupid() -> groups_get_all_groups()
111 * js_minify() -> core_minify::js_files()
112 * css_minify_css() -> core_minify::css_files()
113 * course_modinfo::build_section_cache() -> (no replacement)
114 * generate_email_supportuser() -> core_user::get_support_user()
117 * session_get_instance()->xxx() -> \core\session\manager::xxx()
118 * session_kill_all() -> \core\session\manager::kill_all_sessions()
119 * session_touch() -> \core\session\manager::touch_session()
120 * session_kill() -> \core\session\manager::kill_session()
121 * session_kill_user() -> \core\session\manager::kill_user_sessions()
122 * session_gc() -> \core\session\manager::gc()
123 * session_set_user() -> \core\session\manager::set_user()
124 * session_is_loggedinas() -> \core\session\manager::is_loggedinas()
125 * session_get_realuser() -> \core\session\manager::get_realuser()
126 * session_loginas() -> \core\session\manager::loginas()
128 User-agent related functions:
129 * check_browser_operating_system() -> core_useragent::check_browser_operating_system()
130 * check_browser_version() -> core_useragent::check_browser_version()
131 * get_device_type() -> core_useragent::get_device_type()
132 * get_device_type_list() -> core_useragent::get_device_type_list()
133 * get_selected_theme_for_device_type() -> core_useragent::get_device_type_theme()
134 * get_device_cfg_var_name() -> core_useragent::get_device_type_cfg_var_name()
135 * set_user_device_type() -> core_useragent::set_user_device_type()
136 * get_user_device_type() -> core_useragent::get_user_device_type()
137 * get_browser_version_classes() -> core_useragent::get_browser_version_classes()
140 * moodle-core-notification has been deprecated with a recommendation of
141 using its subclasses instead. This is to allow for reduced page
142 transport costs. Current subclasses include:
149 Event triggering and event handlers:
150 * All existing events and event handlers should be replaced by new
151 event classes and matching new event observers.
152 * See http://docs.moodle.org/dev/Event_2 for more information.
153 * The following events will be entirely removed, though they can still
154 be captured using handlers, but they should not be used any more.
155 * groups_members_removed -> \core\event\group_member_removed
156 * groups_groupings_groups_removed -> (no replacement)
157 * groups_groups_deleted -> \core\event\group_deleted
158 * groups_groupings_deleted -> \core\event\grouping_deleted
159 * edit_module_post_actions() does not trigger events any more.
163 * New get_course() function for use when obtaining the course record from database. Will
164 reuse existing $COURSE or $SITE globals if possible to improve performance.
168 * The database drivers (moodle_database and subclasses) aren't using anymore the ::columns property
169 for caching database metadata. MUC (databasemeta) is used instead. Any custom DB driver should
170 apply for that change.
171 * The cron output has been changed to include time and memory usage (see cron_trace_time_and_memory()),
172 so any custom utility relying on the old output may require modification.
173 * Function get_max_file_sizes now returns an option for (for example) "Course limit (500MB)" or
174 "Site limit (200MB)" when appropriate with the option set to 0. This function no longer returns
175 an option for 0 bytes. Existing code that was replacing the 0 option in the return
176 from this function with a more sensible message, can now use the return from this function directly.
177 * Functions responsible for output in course/lib.php are deprecated, the code is moved to
178 appropriate renderers: print_section(), print_section_add_menus(), get_print_section_cm_text(),
179 make_editing_buttons()
180 See functions' phpdocs in lib/deprecatedlib.php
181 * Function get_print_section_cm_text() is deprecated, replaced with methods in cm_info
182 * zip_packer may create empty zip archives, there is a new option to ignore
183 problematic files when creating archive
184 * The function delete_course_module was deprecated and has been replaced with
185 course_delete_module. The reason for this was because the function delete_course_module
186 only partially deletes data, so wherever it was called extra code was needed to
187 perform the whole deletion process. The function course_delete_module now takes care
188 of the whole process.
189 * curl::setopt() does not accept constant values any more. As it never worked properly,
190 we decided to make the type check stricter. Now, the keys of the array pass must be a string
191 corresponding to the curl constant name.
192 * Function get_users_listing now return list of users except guest and deleted users. Previously
193 deleted users were excluded by get_users_listing. As guest user is not expected while browsing users,
194 and not included in get_user function, it will not be returned by get_users_listing.
195 * The add_* functions in course/dnduploadlib.php have been deprecated. Plugins should be using the
196 MODNAME_dndupload_register callback instead.
197 * The signature of the add() method of classes implementing the parentable_part_of_admin_tree
198 interface (such as admin_category) has been extended. The new parameter allows the caller
199 to prepend the new node before an existing sibling in the admin tree.
200 * condition_info:get_condition_user_fields($formatoptions) now accepts the optional
201 param $formatoptions, that will determine if the field names are processed by
202 format_string() with the passed options.
203 * remove all references to $CFG->gdversion, GD PHP extension is now required
204 * Formslib will now throw a developer warning if a PARAM_ type hasn't been set for elements which
205 need it. Please set PARAM_RAW explicitly if you do not want any cleaning.
206 * Functions responsible for managing and accessing course categories are moved to class coursecat
207 in lib/coursecatlib.php, functions responsible for rendering courses and categories lists are
208 moved to course/renderer.php. The following global functions are deprecated: make_categories_list(),
209 category_delete_move(), category_delete_full(), move_category(), course_category_hide(),
210 course_category_show(), get_course_category(), create_course_category(), get_all_subcategories(),
211 get_child_categories(), get_categories(), print_my_moodle(), print_remote_course(),
212 print_remote_host(), print_whole_category_list(), print_category_info(), get_course_category_tree(),
213 print_courses(), print_course(), get_category_courses_array(), get_category_courses_array_recursively(),
214 get_courses_wmanagers()
215 See http://docs.moodle.org/dev/Courses_lists_upgrade_to_2.5
216 * $core_renderer->block_move_target() changed to support more verbose move-block-here descriptions.
217 * Additional (optional) param $onlyactive has been added to get_enrolled_users, count_enrolled_users
218 functions to get information for only active (excluding suspended enrolments) users. Included two
219 helper functions extract_suspended_users, get_suspended_userids to extract suspended user information.
220 * The plugin_manager class now provides two new helper methods for getting information
221 about known plugins: get_plugins_of_type() and get_subplugins_of_plugin().
222 * The get_uninstall_url() method of all subclasses of plugininfo_base class is now expected
223 to always return moodle_url. Subclasses can use the new method is_uninstall_allowed()
224 to control the availability of the 'Uninstall' link at the Plugins overview page (previously
225 they would do it by get_uninstall_url() returning null). By default, URL to a new general plugin
226 uninstall tool is returned. Unless the plugin type needs extra steps that can't be handled by
227 plugininfo_xxx::uninstall() method or xmldb_xxx_uninstall() function, this default URL should
228 satisfy all plugin types.
230 Database (DML) layer:
231 * $DB->sql_empty() is deprecated, you have to use sql parameters with empty values instead,
232 please note hardcoding of empty strings in SQL queries breaks execution in Oracle database.
233 * Indexes must not be defined on the same columns as keys, this is now reported as fatal problem.
234 Please note that internally we create indexes instead of foreign keys.
237 * M.util.help_icon has been deprecated. Code should be updated to use moodle-core-popuphelp
238 instead. To do so, remove any existing JS calls to M.util.help_icon from your PHP and ensure
239 that your help link is placed in a span which has the class 'helplink'.
243 * Pagelib: Numerous deprecated functions were removed as classes page_base, page_course
244 and page_generic_activity.
245 * use $CFG->googlemapkey3 instead of removed $CFG->googlemapkey and migrate to Google Maps API V3
246 * Function settings_navigation::add_course_editing_links() is completely removed
247 * function global_navigation::format_display_course_content() is removed completely (the
248 functionality is moved to course format class)
249 * in the function global_navigation::load_generic_course_sections() the argument $courseformat is
251 * New component and itemid columns in groups_members table - this allows plugin to create protected
252 group memberships using 'xx_yy_allow_group_member_remove' callback and there is also a new restore
253 callback 'xx_yy_restore_group_member()'.
254 * New general role assignment restore plugin callback 'xx_yy_restore_role_assignment()'.
255 * functions get_generic_section_name(), get_all_sections(), add_mod_to_section(), get_all_mods()
256 are deprecated. See their phpdocs in lib/deprecatedlib.php on how to replace them
259 * moodle-enrol-notification has been renamed to moodle-core-notification
260 * YUI2 code must now use 2in3, see http://yuilibrary.com/yui/docs/yui/yui-yui2.html
261 * M.util.init_select_autosubmit() and M.util.init_url_select() have been deprecated. Code using this should be updated
262 to use moodle-core-formautosubmit
264 Unit testing changes:
265 * output debugging() is not sent to standard output any more,
266 use $this->assertDebuggingCalled(), $this->assertDebuggingNotCalled(),
267 $this->getDebuggingMessages() or $this->assertResetDebugging() instead.
271 Database layer changes:
272 * objects are not allowed in paramters of DML functions, use explicit casting to strings if necessary
275 * DDL and DML methods which were deprecated in 2.0 have now been removed, they will no longer produce
276 debug messages and will produce fatal errors
280 * send_stored_file() has changed its interface
281 * deleted several resourcelib_embed_* functions from resourcelib.php
285 removed unused libraries:
286 * odbc, base32, CodeSniffer, overlib, apd profiling, kses, Smarty, PEAR Console, swfobject, cssshover.htc, md5.js
289 * new admin/tool plugin type
290 * new context API - old API is still available
291 * deleted users do not have context any more
292 * removed global search
298 * basic suport for restore from 1.9
299 * new mobile devices API
306 * new DML API - http://docs.moodle.org/dev/DML_functions
307 * new DDL API - http://docs.moodle.org/dev/DDL_functions
308 * new file API - http://docs.moodle.org/dev/File_API
309 * new $PAGE and $OUTPUT API
311 * new theme API - http://docs.moodle.org/dev/Theme_changes_in_2.0
312 * new javascript API - http://docs.moodle.org/dev/JavaScript_usage_guide
314 * new local plugin type
315 * new translation support - http://lang.moodle.org
316 * new web service API
323 * new backup/restore API
326 * improved plugin support (aka Frankenstyle)
327 * new registration and hub API
328 * new course completion API
331 * new text editor API
332 * new my moodle and profiles API
