Modules developer guide for Prestashop 1.7

Launch Prestashop 1.7 on Docker by selecting the image version, mounting volumes, and linking a MySQL container; configure host, ports, and database connection, then complete the classic installation.

install prestashop on a local or hosted server using the classic setup, including language selection, handling extensions, and configuring the database and admin details.

Explore how Prestashop 1.7 modules extend store functionality through hooks, adding configurable content blocks without touching core files, and learn migration notes from 1.6 to 1.7.

Modules extend main module class, creating derived or child classes such as the payment module. Place modules in the website/module folder to appear in the modules page and back office.

Explore install functions that control installation, including checking the ship's settings and reversing database changes, with the module class and constructors defined in the main code block.

Create and override the module install method in Prestashop 1.7, performing installation checks (multi store enabled, parent installed, hooks for left column and header) and setting configuration values.

Uninstall method removes the installation's configuration setting and index by name, applying the reverse of installation; it ensures failure stops the process and allows cleanup of database items.

Create the first hook in a Prestashop 1.7 module, register a left column or header hook, transplant it to the front office, and display module content to users.

learn how to use the prestashop configuration object to manage module settings, reading and updating values from the configuration data tables, retrieving arrays, and handling serialization.

Explore the shop object and its role in managing the multi-store feature. Learn how the feature active check enables multi-store and how to set context with shop context across stores.

Explore the Prestashop 1.7 module file structure, from the module root folder and config, to controllers, views, and templates for admin and front office.

Learn how to create the first widget in prestashop 1.7 by turning a module into a widget friendly component, register hooks and render widget across templates using the widget interface.

Master two ways to render a widget in Prestashop 1.7: trigger a hook manually or call render widget from a smart template.

Learn how to hook a widget in Prestashop 1.7 using the widget API, configure it in the admin panel, and force template recompilation to apply changes.

Learn to call a widget through the smart file by locating the active layout in the theme, rendering the widget content, disabling cache for development, and forcing template compilation.

Learn how PrestaShop 1.7 uses the classic hook system to attach widgets to events, register hooks in modules, and call hooks from controllers or themes to display content.

Enable administrators to manage a front and back page for the module dynamically. Implement a public method to get content and configuration to populate the page.

Explore updating a Prestashop 1.7 module with a configuration object and the get content method on configuration page load. Learn to handle form submissions and test updates.

Update data using a template form in a Prestashop 1.7 module, showing two approaches (helper class and tpl-based forms) and handling post submissions to update configuration.

Learn to add a security check on data submission in Prestashop 1.7 by using the shop validator to test inputs and block invalid data.

Set a default form value by configuring the input in the template and updating the configuration in the submit function, ensuring synchronization with the database and enabling autocomplete.

Update module data in Prestashop 1.7 using a new form helper, building a multi-dimensional fields array, setting the module name and token, loading current values, and saving changes.

Explore the Prestashop 1.7 object model, an active record style class that maps product data to a database, with add, save, delete operations and lifecycle hooks.

Create a simple object model in Prestashop 1.7 to define a module table, parameters, and validation, then create and save records, confirming database insertion.

Learn to create a Prestashop 1.7 front controller by organizing the module folders, naming the class and file with the module prefix, and extending the module front controller.

Explore how Prestashop 1.7 controllers use get and post requests to display or update content, and learn to override module front controllers and set templates for rendering messages.

Apply a global template to the front controller by extending the site layout and injecting content into template blocks, ensuring the styled page displays the customized message and site styling.

Learn how to create friendly URLs in Prestashop 1.7, generate a new page with attributes, and link it to the module front controller via a defined URL.

Explore the two admin controller styles in Prestashop 1.7: legacy controllers and modern Symfony-based controllers, and learn how classic approaches differ from autoloaded, Symfony-driven design.