(de-)reference|link/unlink

<?PHP

    CLASS Object
    {
        public function __construct(array $__options = [])
        {
            $__options += [];
            $this->__runtimeConfig = $__options;
            if(TRUE === $this->__initConfig['__run'])
                $this->__configure();

            return $this; // important for class::__construct(), see link()!
        }

        protected function __configure()
        {
            foreach($this->__runtimeConfig as $property => &$value)
            {
                $this->{$property} =& $value;       // note: reference to property
                unset($this->__initConfig[$property]);
            }

            return $this;
        }

        /**
         * create new object from called-class with referenced runtimeConfig
         */
        public function link()
        {
            $class  = get_called_class();
            return $class::__construct($this->__runtimeConfig); // rebuild
        }

        /**
         * create new object from called-class with dereferenced runtimeConfig
         */
        public function copy()
        {
            $class = get_called_class();
            $config = $this->__runtimeConfig;   // config is a reference!
            unset($this->__runtimeConfig);      // unlink
            $this->__runtimeConfig = $config;   // re-reference from referenced properties
            return new $class($config);     // build
        }

        public function __clone()
        {
            // switch by iFace
            if($this instanceOf iLink)
                return $this->link();
            if($this instanceOf iCopy)
                return $this->copy();

            throw new \Exception('Not supported');
        }
    }


// Test

    class bar EXTENDS \ILLI\Core\Collection {};

    $a = new bar(['data' => ['bar' => 'lol']]);
    $l = $a->link();
    $c = $a->copy();


    //$baz = new baz(['data' => ['baz' => new \StdClass, 'bala' => 'foo']]);

    $aA = $a->toArray();
    $lA = $l->toArray();
    $cA = $c->toArray();
    var_dump(compact('aA', 'lA', 'cA'));

    /*
    array(3) {
      ["aA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(3) "lol"
      }
      ["lA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(3) "lol"
      }
      ["cA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(3) "lol"
      }
    }
    */


    $a['bar'] = 'new lol';

    $aA = $a->toArray();
    $lA = $l->toArray();
    $cA = $c->toArray();
    var_dump(compact('aA', 'lA', 'cA'));

    /*
    array(3) {
      ["aA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(7) "new lol"
      }
      ["lA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(7) "new lol"
      }
      ["cA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(3) "lol"
      }
    }
    */

    $l['bar'] = 'new link';

    $aA = $a->toArray();
    $lA = $l->toArray();
    $cA = $c->toArray();
    var_dump(compact('aA', 'lA', 'cA'));

    /*
    array(3) {
      ["aA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(8) "new link"
      }
      ["lA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(8) "new link"
      }
      ["cA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(3) "lol"
      }
    }
    */

    $c['bar'] = 'new copy';

    $aA = $a->toArray();
    $lA = $l->toArray();
    $cA = $c->toArray();
    var_dump(compact('aA', 'lA', 'cA'));

    /*
    array(3) {
      ["aA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(8) "new link"
      }
      ["lA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(8) "new link"
      }
      ["cA"]=>
      array(1) {
        ["bar"]=>
        string(8) "new copy"
      }
    }
    */