What functionality should go into Zend Framework modules?

Question

I'm a bit puzzled about Zend Framework modules. I mean - I understand that you would usually want to have frontend and backend module... right?

But - What else would you separate out into modules?

can someone who uses Zend Framework professionally give an example of what modules they have in their application?

Answer 1

In the Zend MVC lingo a module is an independent part of your application. For example if you want to write a Content Management System you will probably have different modules like

• Main application (user login, application bootstrap etc.)
• Blog
• News
• Admin panel
• Image gallery

Basically each of these modules could act as a separate application (although they will eventually be interconnected). The module approach also gives you an easy way for permission management (e.g. users can only pay for using certain modules).

Answer 2

As addition to Daffs answers we could try to figure out some guidelines for deciding between choosing a 'controller' or a 'module' to implement a certain bundle of functionality. Please help making this list comprehensive by commenting or editing:

When to use a 'controller':

• when there is a considerable degree of dependency on different models of the same module
• when there is a considerable degree of interaction with other controllers of the same module
• when the functionality can be covered with a few methods/actions
• when the functionality is clearly just a bundle of subordinated functionality of the given module
• when the functionality can be easily maintained together with the rest of the code (versioning, deployment, ...)

When to use a 'module':

• when there are no or almost no dependencies with the main modules controllers and models
• when the bundle of functionality can be seen as a separate (sub)application
• when the functionality can't be covered with a few methods/actions and thus has to be broken down into several controllers
• when versioning and deployment needs independence from main module