Documentation for \core\clock interface

docs/apis/core/clock/index.md

@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+---
+title: Clock
+tags:
+  - Time
+  - PSR-20
+  - PSR
+  - Unit testing
+  - Testing
+description: Fetching the current time
+---
+
+import {
+    Since,
+    ValidExample,
+    InvalidExample,
+} from '@site/src/components';
+
+<Since version="4.4" issueNumber="MDL-80838" />
+
+Moodle supports use of a [PSR-20](https://php-fig.org/psr/psr20/) compatible Clock interface, which should be accessed using Dependency Injection.
+
+This should be used instead of `time()` to fetch the current time. This allows unit tests to mock time and therefore to test a variety of cases such as events happening at the same time, or setting an explicit time.
+
+:::tip Recommended usage
+
+We recommend that the Clock Interface is used consistently in your code instead of using the standard `time()` method.
+
+:::
+
+## Usage
+
+The usage of the Clock extends the PSR-20 Clock Interface and adds a new convenience method, `\core\clock::time(): int`, to simplify replacement of the global `time()` method.
+
+### Usage in standard classes
+
+Where the calling code is not instantiated via Dependency Injection itself, the simplest way to fetch the clock is using `\core\di::get(\core\clock::class)`, for example:
+
+```php title="Usage in legacy code"
+$clock = \core\di::get(\core\clock::class);
+
+// Fetch the current time as a \DateTimeImmutable.
+$clock->now();
+
+// Fetch the current time as a Unix Time Stamp.
+$clock->time();
+```
+
+### Usage via Constructor Injection
+
+The recommended approach is to have the Dependency Injector inject into the constructor of a class.
+
+```php title="Usage in injected classes"
+namespace mod_example;
+
+class post {
+    public function __construct(
+        protected readonly \core\clock $clock,
+        protected readonly \moodle_database $db,
+    )
+
+    public function create_thing(\stdClass $data): \stdClass {
+        $data->timecreated = $this->clock->time();
+
+        $data->id = $this->db->insert_record('example_thing', $data);
+
+        return $data;
+    }
+}
+```
+
+When using DI to fetch the class, the dependencies will automatically added to the constructor arguments:
+
+```php title="Obtaining the injected class"
+$post = \core\di::get(post::class);
+```
+
+## Unit testing
+
+One of the most useful benefits to making consistent use of the Clock interface is to mock data within unit tests.
+
+When testing code which makes use of the Clock interface, you can replace the standard system clock implementation with a testing clock which suits your needs.
+
+:::tip Container Reset
+
+The DI container is automatically reset at the end of every test, which ensures that your clock does not bleed into subsequent tests.
+
+:::
+
+Moodle provides two standard test clocks, but you are welcome to create any other, as long as it implements the `\core\clock` interface.
+
+:::warning
+
+When mocking the clock, you _must_ do so _before_ fetching your service.
+
+Any injected value within your service will persist for the lifetime of that service.
+
+Replacing the clock after fetching your service will have *no* effect.
+
+:::
+
+### Incrementing clock
+
+The incrementing clock increases the time by one second every time it is called. It can also be instantiated with a specific start time if preferred.
+
+A helper method, `mock_clock_with_incrementing(?int $starttime = null): \core\clock`, is provided within the standard testcase:
+
+```php title="Obtaining the incrementing clock"
+class my_test extends \advanced_testcase {
+    public function test_create_thing(): void {
+        // This class inserts data into the database.
+        $this->resetAfterTest(true);
+
+        $clock = $this->mock_clock_with_incrementing();
+
+        $post = \core\di::get(post::class);
+        $posta = $post->create_thing((object) [
+            'name' => 'a',
+        ]);
+        $postb = $post->create_thing((object) [
+            'name' => 'a',
+        ]);
+
+        // The incrementing clock automatically advanced by one second each time it is called.
+        $this->assertGreaterThan($postb->timecreated, $posta->timecreated);
+        $this->assertLessThan($clock->time(), $postb->timecreated);
+    }
+}
+```
+
+It is also possible to specify a start time for the clock;
+
+```php title="Setting the start time"
+$clock = $this->mock_clock_with_incrementing(12345678);
+```
+
+### Frozen clock
+
+The frozen clock uses a time which does not change, unless manually set. This can be useful when testing code which must handle time-based resolutions.
+
+A helper method, `mock_clock_with_frozen(?int $time = null): \core\clock`, is provided within the standard testcase:
+
+```php title="Obtaining and using the frozen clock"
+class my_test extends \advanced_testcase {
+    public function test_create_thing(): void {
+        // This class inserts data into the database.
+        $this->resetAfterTest(true);
+
+        $clock = $this->mock_clock_with_frozen();
+
+        $post = \core\di::get(post::class);
+        $posta = $post->create_thing((object) [
+            'name' => 'a',
+        ]);
+        $postb = $post->create_thing((object) [
+            'name' => 'a',
+        ]);
+
+        // The frozen clock keeps the same time.
+        $this->assertEquals($postb->timecreated, $posta->timecreated);
+        $this->assertEquals($clock->time(), $postb->timecreated);
+
+        // The time can be manually set.
+        $clock->set_to(12345678);
+        $postc = $post->create_thing((object) [
+            'name' => 'a',
+        ]);
+
+        // The frozen clock keeps the same time.
+        $this->assertEquals(12345678, $postc->timecreated);
+
+        // And can also be bumped.
+        $clock->set_to(0);
+        $this->assertEquals(0, $clock->time());
+
+        // Bump the current time by 1 second.
+        $clock->bump();
+        $this->assertEquals(1, $clock->time());
+
+        // Bump by 4 seconds.
+        $clock->bump(4);
+        $this->assertEquals(5, $clock->time());
+    }
+}
+```
+
+### Custom clock
+
+If the standard cases are not suitable for you, then you can create a custom clock and inject it into the DI container.
+
+```php title="Creating a custom clock"
+class my_clock implements \core\clock {
+    public int $time;
+
+    public function __construct() {
+        $this->time = time();
+    }
+
+    public function now(): \DateTimeImmutable {
+        $time = new \DateTimeImmutable('@' . $this->time);
+        $this->time = $this->time += 5;
+
+        return $time;
+    }
+
+    public function time(): int {
+        return $this->now()->getTimestamp();
+    }
+}
+
+class my_test extends \advanced_testcase {
+    public function test_my_thing(): void {
+        $clock = new my_clock();
+        \core\di:set(\core\clock::class, $clock);
+
+        $post = \core\di::get(post::class);
+        $posta = $post->create_thing((object) [
+            'name' => 'a',
+        ]);
+    }
+}
+```

docs/devupdate.md

@@ -422,6 +422,14 @@ This functionality is intended to simplify deprecation of features such as const
 
 This functionality does not replace the phpdoc `@deprecated` docblock.
 
+### Clock interface
+
+<Since version="4.4" issueNumber="MDL-80838" />
+
+Moodle now supports use of a PSR-20 compliant Clock Interface, accessed via Dependency Injection.
+
+See the [detailed documentation](./apis/core/clock/index.md) on how to use this new interface.
+
 ## Enrolment
 
 ### Support for multiple instances in csv course upload