gistfile1.txt

// Use Reflection

// if by_val === true (or by_reference === false)

extract :
	$data = array();
	for every elements in object
		getter = getElementName

		if element is scalar (object or primitive type)
			$data[getElementName] = clone getter();
		else
			// we can't clone collection
			$data[getElementName] = getter();

	return $data;


hydrating :

	$object = tryToConvertDataToObject();

	for every value in posted data
		if field is scalar
			setter = setSomething
			object->setter($value)
		if field is collection
			adder = addSomethings;
			remover = removeSomethings;

			$coll = create collection from posted data
			$oldColl = get existing collection by ref
			$addDiff = compute add diff
			$removeDiff = compute remove diff

			if is_callable($adder)
				object->adder($addDiff);
			if is_callable($remover)
				object->remover($addDiff)