Using CakePHP without a database

I enjoy CakePHP’s structure and methods so much that I have started  using it for my non-database driven projects and for prototyping big projects.

However, when no database is present CakePHP throws a warning that it can’t connect to the database. The solution is to create a dummy database connection to convince CakePHP that all is ok. And, it’s as simple as this:

Create a new folder app/models/datasources/dbo

Create a new file at app/models/datasources/dbo/dbo_dummy_db.php and add the following:

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<?php   
    class DboDummyDb extends DboSource {         
                 function connect()  {                
                          $this->connected = true;
                          return $this->connected;
                  }
            }

In your app/config/database.php find the default connection array – a line that starts $default = array
and replace the line for the driver from
'driver' => 'mysql',
to
'driver' => 'dummy_db',

And that’s all there is to using CakePHP without a database.

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 17th, 2011 at 11:33 am and is filed under CakePHP, PHP, prototyping, Web Development. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.

4 comments

  1. andrea
    June 20, 2011 at 9:54 am

    hi, i think you should create the dbo folder as a subfolder of “datasources”
    app/models/datasources/dbo/dbo_dummy_db.php

  2. Tim
    June 20, 2011 at 10:04 am

    @andrea Thanks for picking that up. Duly updated to correct path.

  3. Patty
    November 16, 2011 at 10:08 pm

    When I use your script im getting this error:

    Fatal error: Call to undefined method DboDummyDb::_execute() in /directoryToFile/cake/libs/model/datasources/dbo_source.php on line 253

    Im basically connecting to a 3rd party API for all data operations and hence do not need a DB. I just want to use the model for validation and what not. Most of the site seems to work fine, it’s just when I pass an ‘id’ field in via the URL (/business/venue/edit/123456) or use it as the name of a form field I get this error. If I change the name of the form field and do not pass the ‘id’ via the URL I do not get the error BUT I shouldnt have to change the names right? It should just work.

    Any help would be most appreciated!

  4. Charles Jackson
    January 19, 2012 at 10:49 am

    Thanks for your help.

    For version 2 of CakePHP a slightly updated example can be seen at http://blog.webconfection.com/?p=106

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