NAME

Template::Plex - (P)erl (L)exical and (EX)tendable Templating

SYNOPSIS

Write a template:

        __DATA__        
        @{[ 
            init {
                use Time::HiRes qw<time>;
                $title="Mr.";
            }
        ]}
        Dear $title Connery,
        Ordered a $size pizza with $slices slices to share between @$people and
        myself.  That averages @{[$slices/(@$people+1)]} slices each.

Use a template:

        use Template::Plex;

        my $vars={
                size=>"large",
                slices=>8,
                people=>[qw<Kim Sam Harry Sally>]
        };

        my $template= Template::Plex->load(\*DATA, $vars);

        print $template->render;        


        #OUTPUT
        Dear Mr. Connery,
        Ordered a large pizza with 8 slices to share between Kim, Sam, Harry,
        Sally and myself.  That averages 1.6 slices each.

Change values and render it again:

        $vars->{size}="extra large";
        $vars->{slices}=12;

        print $template->render;


        #OUTPUT
        Dear Mr. Connery,
        Ordered a extra large pizza with 12 slices to share between Kim, Sam,
        Harry, Sally and myself.  That averages 2.4 slices each.

DESCRIPTION

Template::Plex facilitates the use of perl (not embedded perl) as a template language. It implements bootstrapping and a system to load, cache, inherit and render templates with minimal code.

The 'lexical' part of this module refers to the lexical aliasing of input variables into the template. This reduces the amount of markup required to reference variables and thus improves the style and readability of a template.

Templates can be extended and reused by way of inclusion, sub templates and inheritance. The template system itself can be extended by sub classing Template::Plex and implementing customised load routines and other helper methods

The short tutorial in this document plus the examples included in the distribution cover the basics to get you started. Reading through the load API options is also recommended to get a better understanding on how templates are processed.

MOTIATION

Many templating systems are available, yet none use perl as the template language? Perl already has a great text interpolation, so why not use it?

Lexical aliasing allows the input variables to be accessed directly by name (i.e. $name) instead of as a member of a hash ref (i.e.$fields->{name}) or by delimiting with custom syntax (i.e. <%=name%>)

I like the idea of Jekyll's 'Front Matter', but think its potential is limited as it can only support variables and not code. With perl's flexible syntax introducing code is doable.

TUTORIAL

Syntax Genesis

We all know how to interpolate variables into a string in perl:

        "This string $uses a $some{variables}"

But how can we easily interpolate a statement, function or method call? We can use the @{[]} construct.

        "This is a perl string interpolating @{[ map uc, qw<a b c d>]}"

If we need more statements, we can combine with a do statement. Like always the last statement executed in a do block is returned ( and interpolated into the string):

        "This is a perl string interpolating 
        @{[ do {
                my $result="STATEMENTS";
                ...
                lc $result;
            }
        ]}
        "

Combining the above examples, we make a Template::Plex template simply by removing the outer quoting operators:

        This string $uses a $some{variables}

        This is a perl string interpolating @{[ map uc, qw<a b c d>]}

        This is a perl string interpolating 
        @{[ do {
                my $result="STATEMENTS";
                lc $result;
                }
        ]}

A Template::Plex template is just perl! The above is the literal text you can save to a file and load as a template.

Specifically, a Template::Plex template it is the subset of perl that's valid between double quotation operators.

Smart Meta Data and Code

Templates can include an init{} block at the beginning which is executed (only once) during the setup stage of the template. In some ways this is similar to Jekyll 'Front Matter', but more powerful. You can manipulate input variables, define helper subroutines, or import modules:

        @{[ init {
                use Time::HiRes qw<time>;

                sub my_func{ 1+2 };

            }
        ]}

        Calculated @{[my_func]} at @{[time]}

The init block does not inject any content into a template, but manipulates the state of a template.

Each template has access to it's self, using the $self variable. This comes in very handy when loading sub templates and doing more advanced task or even extending the template system.

So far we have seen the do and init directives. General code can also be executed with a pl block. This does the same as do but does not inject the result into the template.

Loading and Rendering

There are a few ways of executing a template from your application. Each of them are accessible via class methods:

        #Load a template and render later
        my $template=Template::Plex->load($path, $vars, %options);              
        my $result=$template->render;

        #Load a template from cache and render later
        my $template=Template::Plex->cache(undef, $path, $vars, %options);
        my $result=$template->render;

        #Load from cache and render now
        my $result= Template::Plex->immediate(undef, $path,$vars,%options);

A load call returns a new template object each time, where a cache call returns a template already loaded (or loads it once), for a user defined key. The returned template is then rendered by calling the render method.

The immediate call loads and caches a template with a user define key and then immediately renders it, returning the results.

An important option when loading templates is the root option. This is the directory (relative to the working directory) which is prepended to all paths. This makes it easy for templates to refer to other templates with relative paths, regardless of the working directory.

Template Reuse

Reusing templates can reduce the repetitive nature of content. Template::Plex provides multiple facilities for template reuse.

Sub Templates

A sub template is just another template. While you can load a sub template with the class methods shown previously, it's not recommended. This is because you would need to specify all the variables and options again manually.

You normally would like to pass on the same variables and options to sub templates, so a better way is to call the same method on the $self object:

        @{[$self->load(...)]}
        @{[$self->cache(...)]}
        @{[$self->immediate(...)]}

This will automatically link the variables and relevant option to be the same as the current template.

Better still, these methods are made available within a template simply as a subroutine call:

        @{[load ... ]}
        @{[cache ... ]}
        @{[immediate ...]}

Slots and Inheritance

A sub template can be used at any location within a template. However there are special locations called slots. These are defined with the slot directive:

        @{[slot slot1=>"some text"]}

        @{[slot slot_abc=> cache "sub template"]}

        @{[slot]}

The slot name can be any string and the value can either be text or a template object. This value is the default value, which is used when no child template wants to fill the slot.

A slot named 'default' (or no name) is special and is the location at which a child template body will be rendered.

A child template can also fill other slots in the parent by explicitly using the fill_slot directive. The value can be text or a loaded template

        @{[fill_slot name=>"override content"]}
        @{[fill_slot another=>load "path to template"]}

Child can setup inheritance by using the inherit directive within a init block, specifying the template to use as the parent:

        @{[ init {
                inherit "my_parent.plex";
                }
        ]}

The following is an example showing a child template inheriting from a parent. The child will provide content to the default slot in the parent and also override the 'header' slot with another template which it loads:

Parent Template:

        @{[slot header=>"==HEADER=="]}
        More parent content...
        @{[slot]}
        @{[slot footer=>"==FOOTER=="]}

Sub template (header):

        -=-=-=Fancy header=-=-=-

Child template:

        @{[ init {
                
                inherit "parent.plex";
            }
        ]}

        @{[slot header=> load "header.plex";
        This content will render into default slot

Inclusion

Much like the C language preprocessor, including an other template or other file will do a literal copy of its contents into the calling template. The resulting text is processed again and again as long as more include statements are present:

        @{[include("...")]}

This basically makes a single large template. As such the included templates will use the same aliased variables.

In simple use cases, it is similar to loading a sub template. However it lacks the flexibility of sub templates.

Logging and Error Handling

As templates are executed, they may throw an exception. If a syntax error or file can not be red, an exception is also thrown during load.

In the case of a syntax error, die is called with a summary of template, prefixed with line numbers which caused the error. Currently 5 line before and after the error are included for context. Deliberately breaking the synopsis example gives the following error output:

        "use" not allowed in expression at (GLOB(0x7f9423a22368)) line 4, within string
        syntax error at (GLOB(0x7f9423a22368)) line 4, near "deliberate_ERROR
                use Time::HiRes "
        Type of arg 1 to init must be block or sub {} (not reference constructor) at (GLOB(0x7f9423a22368)) line 7, near "}
        ]"
        Execution of (GLOB(0x7f9423a22368)) aborted due to compilation errors.
        1  {@{[
        2      init {
        3      deliberate_ERROR
        4       use Time::HiRes qw<time>;
        5       $title="Mr.";
        6      }
        7  ]}
        8  Dear $title Connery,
        9  Ordered a $size pizza with $slices slices to share between @$people and
        10  myself.  That averages @{[$slices/(@$people+1)]} slices each.}

It is recommended to use a try/catch block to process the errors.

Currently Log::ger combined with Log::OK is utilised for logging and debugging purposes. This comes in very handy when developing sub classes.

Filters

Unlike other template system, there are no built in filters. However as Template::Plex templates are just perl you are free to use builtin string routines or import other modules in to your template.

API

`load`

        #Class method. Used by top level applciation
        Template::Plex->load($path, $vars, %opts);

        #Object method. Used within a template
        @{[$self->load($path, $vars, %opts);    

        #Subroutine. Prefered within a template. 
        @{[load $path, $vars, %opts]}                   

        #Reuse existing $vars and %opts from withing a template
        @{[load $path]}

A factory method, returning a new instance of a template, loaded from a scalar, file path or an existing file handle.

From a top level user application, the class method must be used. From within a template, either the object method form or subroutine form can be used.

If now variables or options are specified when loading a sub templates, the variables and options from the calling templates are reused.

Arguments to this function:

$path

This is a required argument.

If $path is a string, it is treated as a file path to a template file. The file is opened and slurped with the content being used as the template.

If $path is a filehandle, or GLOB ref, it is slurped with the content being used as the template. Can be used to read template stored in __DATA__ for example

If $path is an array ref, the items of the array are joined into a string, which is used directly as the template.

$vars

This is an optional argument but if present must be an empty hash ref {} or undef.

The top level items of the $vars hash are aliased into the template using the key name (key names must be valid for a variable name for this to operate). This allows an element such as $fields{name}> to be directly accessible as $name in the template and sub templates.

External modification of the items in $vars will be visible in the template. This is thee primary mechanism change inputs for subsequent renders of the template.

In addition, the $vars itself is aliased to %fields variable (note the %) and directly usable in the template like a normal hash e.g. $fields{name}

If the $vars is an empty hash ref {} or undef then no variables will be lexically aliased. The only variables accessible to the template will be via the render method call.

%options

These are non required arguments, but must be key value pairs when used.

Options are stored lexically for access in the template in the variable %options. This variable is automatically used as the options argument in recursive calls to load or plx, if no options are provided.

Currently supported options are:

root

root is a directory path, which if present, is prepended to to the $path parameter if $path is a string (file path).

no_include

Disables the uses of the preprocessor include feature. The template text will not be scanned and will prevent the include feature from operating. See include for more details

This doesn't impact recursive calls to load when dynamically/conditionally loading templates.

no_init_fix

Disables correcting missing init blocks.

If not specified or false, a template file is scanned for a @{[init{..}]} directive. If one is found, the template is not modified. Otherwise, a 'null' block is added at the beginning of the template.

The added block is not effected by the enabling/disabling of block fix mechanism.

no_block_fix

Disables removing of EOL after a @{[]}

        eg      
                
                Line 1
                @{[
                        ""
                ]}              <-- this NL removed by default
                Line 3

In the above example, the default behaviour is to remove the newline after the closing ]}. The rendered output would be:

                Line1
                Line3

If block fix was disabled (i.e. no_block_fix was true) the output would be:

                Line1

                Line3

no_eof_chomp

When this key is present and value is true, the last newline in the template file is left in place.

Most text editors insert a extra newline as the last character in a file. By default a chomp is performed before the template is prepared to avoid extra newlines in the output when using sub templates.

If you really need that newline you can specify the no_eof_chomp => 1 key or place an extra empty line at the end of your template.

package

Specifies a package to run the template in. Any our variables defined in the template will be in this package. If a package is not specified, a unique package name is created to prevent name collisions

base

Specifies the base class type of the template. If not specified, templates are of type Template::Plex. Sub classes must inherit from this class.

Sub classes should force always specify this field.

no_alias

Top level elements in a $vars hash are aliased into the template by default.

If this key is present and true, aliasing is disabled and all variables need to be accessed via the %fields.

use

An array ref of packages names (as strings) to use within a template's package. Intended to be utilised by subclasses to add features to a template.

inject

An array ref of strings, representing perl code, to be injected into the template package. Intended to be utilised for subclasses to inject small pieces of code which cannot be otherwise required/used.

Return value

The return value is Template::Plex (or subclass) object which can be rendered using the render method.

Example Usage my $hash={ name=>"bob", age=>98 };

                my $template_dir="/path/to/dir";

                my $obj=Template::Plex->load("template.plex", $hash, root=>$template_dir);
                $obj->render;
=back

`cache`

        #Class method
        Template::Plex->cache($key, $path, $vars, %options);

        #Object method
        $self->cache($key, $path, $vars, %options);

        #Subroutine
        cache $key, $path, $vars, %options;

        #Use the current line/package/template as a key

        cache undef, $path, $vars, $%opts;

This is a wrapper around the load API, to improve performance of sub templates used in loops. The first argument is a key to identity the template when loaded. Subsequent calls with the same key will return the already loaded template from active cache.

If called from the top level user application, the cache is shared. Templates have their own cache storage to prevent cross collisions.

If no key is provided, then information about the caller (including the line number, package and target template) is used generate one. This approach allows for a template which maybe rendered multiple times in a loop, to only be loaded once for example.

`immediate`

        #Class method
        Template::Plex->immediate($key, $path, $vars, %options);
        
        #Object method
        $self->immediate($key, $path, $vars, %options);

        #Subrutine
        immediate $key, $path, $vars, %options;

        #Use current line/package/template as key
        immediate undef, $path, $vars, %options;

Loads and renders a template immediately. Uses the same arguments as cache. Calls the cache API but also calls render on the returned template.

Returns the result or the rendered template.

`include`

        @{[include("path")}]

This is a special directive that replaces the directive with the literal contents of the file pointed to by path in a similar style to #include in the C preprocessor. This is a preprocessing step which happens before the template is prepared for execution.

If root was included in the options to load, then it is prepended to path if defined.

When a template is loaded by load the processing of this is subject to the no_include option. If no_include is specified, any template text that contains the @{[include("path")}] text will result in a syntax error

pl

block

        @{[ block { ... } ]}

                # or 

        @{[ pl { ... }  ]}

A subroutine which executes a block just like the built in do. However it always returns an empty string.

Only usable in a template @{[]} construct, to execute arbitrary statements. However, as an empty string is returned, perl's interpolation won't inject anything at that point in the template.

If you DO want the last statement returned into the template, use the built in do.

        eg
                
                @{[
                        # This will assign a variable for use later in the template
                        # but WILL NOT inject the value 1 into template when rendered
                        pl {
                                $i=1;
                        }

                ]}


                @{[
                        # This will assign a variable for use later in the tamplate
                        # AND immediately inject '1' into the template when rendered
                        do {
                                $i=1
                        }

                ]}

init

        @{[ init {...} ]}

It is used to configure or setup meta data for a template and return immediately. It takes a single argument which is a perl block.

Only the first init {...} block in a template will be executed.

A init {...} block is executed once, even when the template is rendered multiple times

Before the block is run, the pre_init method is called. After the block is run, the post_init method is called.

After the initialisation stages have run, a initialisation flag is set and the remainder on the template is skipped with the skip method.

This means only the first init block in a template will be executed

pre_init

Do not call this directly. It is called internally by an init block. Implemented as an empty method designed to be overridden in a subclass.

post_init

Do not call this directly. It is called internally by an init block. Implemented as an empty method designed to be overridden in a subclass.

inherit

        @{[ init {
                inherit "Path to template";
                }
        ]}

Specifies the template which will is the current template's parent. The current template will be rendered into the default slot of the parent.

slot

        @{[slot name=>$value]}

Declares a slot in a template which can be filled by a child template calling fill_slot directives.

name is the name of the slot to render into the template. If not specified, the slot is the default slot which will be rendered by the content of a child template.

$value is optional and is the default content to render in the case a child does not provide data for the slot. It can be a scalar value or a template loaded by load or cache

fill_slot

        @{[fill_slot name=>$value]}

Fills an inherited slot of name name with $value.

The default slot cannot be specified. It is filled with the rendered result of the child template.

clear

        clear;

Subject to change. Clears the cached templates

jmap

        jmap {block} $delimiter, @array

Performs a join using $delimiter between each item in the @array after they are processed through block

Very handy for rendering lists:

        eg
                <ul>
                        @{[jmap {"<li>$_</li>"} "\n", @items]}
                </ul>

Note the lack of comma after the block.

`skip`

Causes the template to immediately finish, with an empty string as result. From within a template, either the class method or template directive can be used:

        @{[$self->skip]}
        @{[skip]}

`meta`

Returns the options hash used to load the template. From within a template, it is recommended to use the %options hash instead:

        @{[$self->meta->{file}]}
                or
        @{[$options{file}]}

This can also be used outside template text to inspect a templates meta information

        $template->meta;

`args`

Returns the argument hash used to load the template. From within a template, it is recommended to use the aliased variables or the %fields hash instead:

        @{[$self->args->{my_arg}]}
                or
        @{[$fields{my_arg}]}

                or
        $my_arg

This can also be used outside template text to inspect a templates input variables

        $template->args;

parent

        $self->parent;

Returns the parent template.

render

        $template->render($fields);

This object method renders a template object created by load into a string. It takes an optional argument $fields which is a reference to a hash containing field variables. fields is aliased into the template as %fields which is directly accessible in the template

        eg
                my $more_data={
                        name=>"John",
                };

                my $string=$template->render($more_data);
                
                #Template:
                My name is $fields{John}

Note that the lexically aliased variables setup in load are independent to the %fields variable and can both be used simultaneously in a template

SUB CLASSING

Sub classing is as per the standard perl use parent. The object storage is actually an array.

Package constants are defined for the indexes of the fields along with KEY_OFFSET and KEY_COUNT to aid in adding extra fields in sub classes.

If you intend on adding additional fields in your class you will need to do the following as the object

        use parent "Template::Plex";

        use constant KEY_OFFSET=>Template::Plex::KEY_OFFSET+ Template::Plex::KEY_COUNT;

        use enum ("first_field_=".KEYOFFSET, ..., last_field_);
        use constant  KEY_COUNT=>last_field_ - first_field_ +1;

Any further sub classing will need to repeat this using using your package name.

FEATURE CHEAT SHEET

Templates can contain a initialisation state

        @{[
                init {
                        # Nomral perl code here will only execute once
                        # when templates is loaded
                }
        ]}

Templates can cache at caller location

        Sub/template is loaded only the first time in this map/loop

        @{[map {immediate undef, "path_to_template",{}} qw< a b c d e >]}
        
        And rendereds serveral times

Lexical and package variables accessed/created within templates

        @{[
                init {
                        $input_var//=1; #set default
                }

        }]
        
        Value is $input_var;

Call and create subroutines within templates:

        @{[
                init {
                        sub my_great_calc {
                                my $input=shift;
                                $input*2/5;
                        }
                }

        }]

        Result of calculation: @{[my_great_calc(12)]}

'Include' Templates within templates easily:
```
        @{[include("path_to_file")]}
```

Recursive sub template loading

        @{[load "path_to_sub_template"]}

Conditional rendering

        @{[ $flag and $var]}

        @{[ $flag?$var:""]}
        
        @{[
                pl {
                        if($flag){
                                #do stuff       
                        }
                }
        ]}

Lists/Loops/maps

        template interpolates @$lists directly
        
        Items that are ok:
         @{[
                do {
                        #Standard for loop
                        my $output;
                        for(@$items){
                                $output.=$_."\n" if /ok/;
                        }
                        $output;
                }
        }]

        More ok items:
        @{[map {/ok/?"$_\n":()} @$items]}

use other modules directly in templates:

        @{[
                init {  
                        use Time::HiRes qw<time>
                }
        ]}

        Time of day right now: @{[time]}

TIPS ON USAGE

Potential Pitfalls

Remeber to set $" locally to your requied seperator

The default is a space, however when generating HTML lists for example, a would make it easier to read:
```
        #Before executing template
        local $"="\n";

        load ...
```
Or alternatively use jmap to explicitly set the interpolation separator each time
Aliasing is a two way steet

Changes made to aliased variables external to the template are available inside the template (one of the main tenets of this module)

Changes make to aliased variables internal to the template are available outside the template.
Unbalanced Delimiter Pairs

Perl double quote operators are smart and work on balanced pairs of delimiters. This allows for the delimiters to appear in the text body without error.

However if your template doesn't have balanced pairs (i.e. a missing "}" in javascript/c/perl/etc), the template will fail to compile and give a strange error.

If you know you don't have balanced delimiters, then you can escape them with a backslash

Currently Template::Plex delimiter pair used is { }. It isn't changeable in this version.
Are you sure it's one statement?

If you are having trouble with @{[...]}, remember the result of the last statement is returned into the template.

Example of single statements
```
        @{[time]}                       #Calling a sub and injecting result
        @{[$a,$b,$c,time,my_sub]}       #injecting list
        @{[our $temp=1]}                #create a variable and inject 
        @{[our ($a,$b,$c)=(7,8,9)]}     #declaring a
```
If you are declaring a package variable, you might not want its value injected into the template at that point. So instead you could use block{..} or pl{..} to execute multiple statements and not inject the last statement:
```
        @{[ pl {our $temp=1;} }];
```

More on Input Variables

If the variables to apply to the template completely change (note: variables not values), then the aliasing setup during a load call will not reflect what you want.

However the render method call allows a hash ref containing values to be used. The hash is aliased to the %fields variable in the template.

        my $new_variables={name=>data};
        $template->render($new_variables);

However to use this data the template must be constructed to access the fields directly:

        my $template='my name is $fields{name} and I am $fields{age}';

Note that the %field is aliased so any changes to it is reflected outside the template

Interestingly the template can refer to the lexical aliases and the direct fields at the same time. The lexical aliases only refer to the data provided at preparation time, while the %fields refer to the latest data provided during a render call:

        my $template='my name is $fields{name} and I am $age

        my $base_data={name=>"jimbo", age=>10};

        my $override_data={name=>"Eva"};

        my $template=load $template, $base_data;

        my $string=$template->render($override_data);
        #string will be "my name is Eva and I am 10

As an example, this could be used to 'template a template' with global, slow changing variables stored as the aliased variables, and the fast changing, per render data being supplied as needed.

ISSUES

Templates are completely processed in memory. A template can execute sub templates and run general IO code, so in theory it would be possible to break up very large data templates and stream them to disk...

This module uses eval to generate the code for rendering. This means that your template, being perl code, is being executed. If you do not know what is in your templates, then maybe this module isn't for you.

Aliasing means that the template has write access to variables outside of it. So again if you don't know what your templates are doing, then maybe this module isn't for you

TODO

Extending the template system has been mentioned but not elaborated on. Probably need to make an other tutorial document.

REPOSITORY and BUG REPORTING

Please report any bugs and feature requests on the repo page: GitHub

AUTHOR

Ruben Westerberg, <drclaw@mac.com>

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself, or under the MIT license

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