3 Catalyst::Manual::Tutorial::Intro - Catalyst Tutorial - Part 1: Introduction
8 This is B<Part 1 of 9> of the Catalyst Tutorial.
10 L<Tutorial Overview|Catalyst::Manual::Tutorial>
20 L<Catalyst Basics|Catalyst::Manual::Tutorial::CatalystBasics>
24 L<Basic CRUD|Catalyst::Manual::Tutorial::BasicCRUD>
28 L<Authentication|Catalyst::Manual::Tutorial::Authentication>
32 L<Authorization|Catalyst::Manual::Tutorial::Authorization>
36 L<Debugging|Catalyst::Manual::Tutorial::Debugging>
40 L<Testing|Catalyst::Manual::Tutorial::Testing>
44 L<Advanced CRUD|Catalyst::Manual::Tutorial::AdvancedCRUD>
48 L<Appendices|Catalyst::Manual::Tutorial::Appendices>
54 This tutorial provides a multipart introduction to the Catalyst web
55 framework. It seeks to provide a rapid overview of many of its most
56 commonly used features. The focus is on the real-world best practices
57 required in the construction of nearly all Catalyst applications.
59 Although the primary target of the tutorial is users new to the Catalyst
60 framework, experienced users may wish to review specific sections (for
61 example, how to use DBIC for their model classes or how to add
62 authentication and authorization to an existing application).
64 Subjects covered include:
70 A simple application that lists and adds books.
74 The use of L<DBIx::Class|DBIx::Class> (DBIC) for the model.
78 How to write CRUD (Create, Read, Update, and Delete) operations in
83 Authentication ("auth").
87 Role-based authorization ("authz").
91 Attempts to provide an example showing current (5.7000) Catalyst
92 practices. For example, the use of
93 L<Catalyst::Plugin::DefaultEnd|Catalyst::Plugin::DefaultEnd>,
94 DBIC, L<Catalyst::Plugin::ConfigLoader|Catalyst::Plugin::ConfigLoader>
95 with C<myapp.yml>, the use of C<lib/MyApp/Controller/Root.pm>
96 vs. C<lib/MyApp.pm>, etc.
100 The use of Template Toolkit (TT) and the
101 L<Catalyst::Helper::View::TTSite|Catalyst::Helper::View::TTSite>
106 Useful techniques for troubleshooting and debugging Catalyst
111 The use of SQLite as a database (with code also provided for MySQL and
116 The use of L<HTML::Widget|HTML::Widget> for automated form processing
121 This tutorial makes the learning process its main priority. For
122 example, the level of comments in the code found here would like be
123 considered excessive in a "normal project". Because of their contextual
124 value, this tutorial will generally favor inline comments over a
125 separate discussion in the text. It also deliberately tries to
126 demonstrate multiple approaches to various features (in general, you
127 should try to be as consistent as possible with your own production
130 Furthermore, this tutorial tries to minimize the number of controllers,
131 models, TT templates, and database tables. Although this does result in
132 things being a bit contrived at times, the concepts should be applicable
133 to more complex environments. More complete and complicated example
134 applications can be found in the C<examples> area of the Catalyst
135 Subversion repository at
136 L<http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/repos/Catalyst/trunk/examples/>.
138 B<Note:> There are a variety of other introductory materials available
139 through the Catalyst web site and at
140 L<http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/wiki/UserIntroductions> and
141 L<http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/>.
143 =head1 VERSIONS AND CONVENTIONS USED IN THIS TUTORIAL
145 This tutorial was built using the following resources. Please note that
146 you may need to make adjustments for different environments and
153 OS = CentOS 4 Linux (RHEL 4)
167 The plugins used in this tutorial all have sufficiently stable APIs that
168 you shouldn't need to worry about versions. However, there could be
169 cases where the tutorial is affected by what version of plugins you
170 use. The plugins used for this tutorial are:
176 Catalyst::Plugin::Authentication -- 0.07
180 Catalyst::Plugin::Authentication::Credential::Password -- 0.07
184 Catalyst::Plugin::Authentication::Store::DBIC -- 0.06
188 Catalyst::Plugin::Authorization::ACL -- 0.06
192 Catalyst::Plugin::Authorization::Roles -- 0.04
196 Catalyst::Plugin::ConfigLoader -- 0.07
200 Catalyst::Plugin::DefaultEnd -- 0.06
204 Catalyst::Plugin::HTML::Widget -- 1.1
208 Catalyst::Plugin::Session -- 0.05
212 Catalyst::Plugin::Session::FastMmap -- 0.12
216 Catalyst::Plugin::Session::State::Cookie -- 0.02
220 Catalyst::Plugin::Session::Store::FastMmap -- 0.02
224 Catalyst::Plugin::StackTrace -- 0.04
228 Catalyst::Plugin::Static::Simple -- 0.14
234 Since the web browser is being used on the same box where Perl and the
235 Catalyst development server is running, the URL of
236 C<http://localhost:3000> will be used (the Catalyst development server
237 defaults to port 3000). If you are running Perl on a different box than
238 where your web browser is located (or using a different port number via
239 the C<-p> I<port_number> option to the development server), then you
240 will need to update the URL you use accordingly.
244 Depending on the web browser you are using, you might need to hit
245 C<Shift+Reload> to pull a fresh page when testing your application at
246 various points. Also, the C<-k> keepalive option to the development
247 server can be necessary with some browsers (especially Internet
252 =head1 CATALYST INSTALLATION
254 Unfortunately, one of the most daunting tasks faced by newcomers to
255 Catalyst is getting it installed. Although a compelling strength of
256 Catalyst is that it can easily make use of many of the modules in the
257 vast repository that is CPAN, this can result in initial installations
258 that are both time consuming and frustrating. However, there are a
259 growing number of methods that can dramatically ease this undertaking.
260 Of these, the following are likely to be applicable to the largest
261 number of potential new users:
267 Matt Trout's C<cat-install>
269 Available at L<http://www.shadowcatsystems.co.uk/static/cat-install>,
270 C<cat-install> can be a quick and painless way to get Catalyst up and
271 running. Just download the script from the link above and type C<perl
276 Chris Laco's CatInABox
278 Download the tarball from
279 L<http://handelframework.com/downloads/CatInABox.tar.gz> and unpack it
280 on your machine. Depending on your OS platform, either run C<start.bat>
285 Pre-Built VMWare Images
287 Under the VMWare community program, work is ongoing to develop a number
288 of VMWare images where an entire Catalyst development environment has
289 already been installed, complete with database engines and a full
290 complement of Catalyst plugins.
294 For additional information and recommendations on Catalyst installation,
296 L<Catalyst::Manual::Installation|Catalyst::Manual::Installation>.
298 B<NOTE:> Step-by-step instructions to replicate the environment on
299 which this tutorial was developed can be found at
300 L<Catalyst::Manual::Installation::CentOS4|Catalyst::Manual::Installation::CentOS4>.
301 Using these instructions, you should be able to build a complete CentOS
302 4.X server with Catalyst and all the plugins required to run this
307 This tutorial will primarily focus on SQLite because of its simplicity
308 of installation and use; however, modifications in the script required
309 to support MySQL and PostgreSQL will be presented in Appendix 2.
311 B<Note:> One of the advantages of the MVC design patterns is that
312 applications become much more database independent. As such, you will
313 notice that only the C<.sql> files used to initialize the database
314 change between database systems: the Catalyst code generally remains the
317 =head1 WHERE TO GET WORKING CODE
319 Each part of the tutorial has complete code available in the main
320 Catalyst Subversion repository (see the note at the beginning of each
321 part for the appropriate svn command to use). Additionally, the final
322 code is available as a ready-to-run tarball at
323 I<TO_BE_ADDED_TO_FINAL_VERSION>.
328 Kennedy Clark, C<hkclark@gmail.com>
330 Please report any errors, issues or suggestions to the author. The
331 most recent version of the Catlayst Tutorial can be found at
332 L<http://dev.catalyst.perl.org/repos/Catalyst/trunk/Catalyst-Runtime/lib/Catalyst/Manual/Tutorial/>.
334 Copyright 2006, Kennedy Clark, under Creative Commons License
335 (L<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/>).