MicroORM vs Other ORMs

Overview

This document compares MicroORM with two popular PHP ORMs: Laravel Eloquent and Doctrine ORM. Understanding these differences will help you choose the right tool for your project.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	MicroORM	Eloquent (Laravel)	Doctrine ORM
Repository Pattern	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Data Mapper Pattern	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
Active Record Pattern	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No
Complexity	Low - Simple & Lightweight	Medium - Framework dependent	High - Enterprise-grade
Learning Curve	Gentle	Moderate	Steep
Framework Coupling	None - Standalone	Laravel only	None - Standalone
Configuration	Attributes or Mapper class	Attributes or conventions	XML/YAML/Attributes/PHP
Query Builder	✅ Yes (Query, QueryBasic, Union)	✅ Yes (Fluent)	✅ Yes (DQL + QueryBuilder)
Lazy Loading	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Eager Loading	✅ Yes (via parentTable + Manual JOINs)	✅ Yes (`with()`)	✅ Yes (`fetch="EAGER"`)
Unit of Work	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Identity Map	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Migrations	Separate package	Built-in	Built-in
Events/Observers	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (Lifecycle callbacks)
Relationships	✅ Semi-Auto (parentTable) + Manual JOINs	Auto (hasMany, belongsTo, etc.)	Auto (OneToMany, ManyToOne, etc.)
Composite Keys	✅ Yes	❌ Limited	✅ Yes
Performance	Fast - Minimal overhead	Good - Some magic overhead	Good - Can be heavy
Memory Usage	Low - No caching	Medium	High - Unit of Work overhead
Database Support	MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite, SQL Server	MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server	MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite, SQL Server, + more
Best For	Microservices, APIs, simple apps	Laravel applications	Enterprise, complex domains

Detailed Comparison

MicroORM vs Laravel Eloquent

Architecture

MicroORM:

// Offers THREE patterns - choose what fits:

// 1. Repository + Data Mapper (recommended for complex apps)
$repository = new Repository($executor, User::class);
$users = $repository->getByFilter(['status' => 'active']);

// 2. Active Record (simple apps)
class User {
    use ActiveRecord;
}
User::initialize($executor);
$user = User::get(1);
$user->save();

// 3. Raw Query Builder (utilities/migrations)
$query = Query::getInstance()->table('users')->where('status = :s', ['s' => 'active']);
$rows = $query->buildAndGetIterator($executor)->toArray();

Eloquent:

// Active Record only
$users = User::where('status', 'active')->get();

$user = User::find(1);
$user->name = 'New Name';
$user->save();

Framework Independence

MicroORM:

// ✅ Works ANYWHERE - no framework required
composer require byjg/micro-orm

// Use in Symfony, Slim, vanilla PHP, anywhere
$dbDriver = Factory::getDbInstance('mysql://...');
$executor = DatabaseExecutor::using($dbDriver);
$repository = new Repository($executor, User::class);

Eloquent:

// ❌ Tightly coupled to Laravel
// Outside Laravel, you need to bootstrap Capsule Manager
use Illuminate\Database\Capsule\Manager as Capsule;

$capsule = new Capsule;
$capsule->addConnection([...]);
$capsule->setAsGlobal();
$capsule->bootEloquent();

// This is cumbersome outside Laravel

Relationships

MicroORM:

MicroORM supports relationships through FieldAttribute(parentTable:) which auto-discovers relationships:

// 1. Define relationship with parentTable attribute
#[TableAttribute(tableName: 'users')]
class User {
    #[FieldAttribute(primaryKey: true)]
    public ?int $id;

    #[FieldAttribute]
    public ?string $name;
}

#[TableAttribute(tableName: 'posts')]
class Post {
    #[FieldAttribute(primaryKey: true)]
    public ?int $id;

    #[FieldAttribute(fieldName: "user_id", parentTable: "users")]
    public ?int $userId;  // Defines FK relationship to users table

    #[FieldAttribute]
    public ?string $title;
}

// 2. Auto-generate JOIN query from relationship
$query = ORM::getQueryInstance("users", "posts");
// Automatically generates: JOIN posts ON posts.user_id = users.id

$results = $userRepo->getByQuery($query, [$postMapper]);
foreach ($results as [$user, $post]) {
    echo $user->getName() . " wrote: " . $post->getTitle();
}

// 3. Or write manual JOINs for full control
$query = Query::getInstance()
    ->table('users')
    ->join('posts', 'users.id = posts.user_id')
    ->where('users.id = :id', ['id' => 1]);

$results = $userRepo->getByQuery($query, [$postMapper]);

Eloquent:

// Automatic relationships - convenient but "magic"
class User extends Model {
    public function posts() {
        return $this->hasMany(Post::class);
    }
}

$user = User::with('posts')->find(1); // Eager loading
foreach ($user->posts as $post) {
    echo $user->name . " wrote: " . $post->title;
}

Trade-offs:

MicroORM: Semi-automatic via parentTable attribute, or explicit manual JOINs. You see exactly what SQL runs. No N+1 query surprises.
Eloquent: Fully automatic with hasMany/belongsTo. Less code, but relationships can cause unexpected queries ( N+1 problem).

Query Building

MicroORM:

// Explicit parameter binding - SQL injection safe
$query = Query::getInstance()
    ->table('users')
    ->fields(['id', 'name', 'email'])
    ->where('status = :status', ['status' => 'active'])
    ->where('created_at > :date', ['date' => '2024-01-01'])
    ->orderBy(['created_at DESC'])
    ->limit(0, 10);

$users = $repository->getByQuery($query);

Eloquent:

// Fluent, expressive, but sometimes "magical"
$users = User::select(['id', 'name', 'email'])
    ->where('status', 'active')
    ->where('created_at', '>', '2024-01-01')
    ->orderByDesc('created_at')
    ->limit(10)
    ->get();

Composite Primary Keys

MicroORM:

// ✅ Full support
#[TableAttribute(tableName: 'items')]
class Item {
    #[FieldAttribute(primaryKey: true)]
    public int $storeId;

    #[FieldAttribute(primaryKey: true)]
    public int $itemId;
}

$repository = new Repository($executor, Item::class);
$item = $repository->get(['storeId' => 1, 'itemId' => 5]);

Eloquent:

// ❌ No native support - workarounds needed
// You must use WHERE clauses manually
$item = Item::where('store_id', 1)
    ->where('item_id', 5)
    ->first();

When to Choose

Choose MicroORM when:

✅ You're NOT using Laravel (or want framework independence)
✅ You need composite primary keys
✅ You want explicit control over SQL queries
✅ Building microservices or APIs
✅ Memory/performance is critical
✅ You prefer simplicity over "magic"

Choose Eloquent when:

✅ You're already using Laravel
✅ You want rapid development with conventions
✅ Automatic relationships are more important than explicit queries
✅ You're building a traditional web application

MicroORM vs Doctrine ORM

Architecture & Complexity

MicroORM:

// Simple - minimal configuration
#[TableAttribute(tableName: 'users')]
class User {
    #[FieldAttribute(primaryKey: true)]
    public ?int $id = null;

    #[FieldAttribute]
    public ?string $name = null;
}

$repository = new Repository($executor, User::class);
$user = $repository->get(1);

Doctrine:

// Complex - requires extensive configuration
/**
 * @Entity
 * @Table(name="users")
 */
class User {
    /**
     * @Id
     * @GeneratedValue
     * @Column(type="integer")
     */
    private ?int $id = null;

    /**
     * @Column(type="string")
     */
    private ?string $name = null;

    // Getters and setters required
    public function getId(): ?int { return $this->id; }
    public function getName(): ?string { return $this->name; }
    public function setName(string $name): void { $this->name = $name; }
}

// Requires EntityManager setup
$entityManager = EntityManager::create($connection, $config);
$user = $entityManager->find(User::class, 1);

Unit of Work Pattern

MicroORM:

// ❌ No Unit of Work - changes are immediate
$user = $repository->get(1);
$user->setName('New Name');
$repository->save($user); // ← Executes UPDATE immediately

// For transactions, use explicit transaction management
$executor->beginTransaction();
try {
    $repository->save($user1);
    $repository->save($user2);
    $executor->commit();
} catch (\Exception $e) {
    $executor->rollback();
}

Doctrine:

// ✅ Unit of Work - tracks changes, batches updates
$user = $entityManager->find(User::class, 1);
$user->setName('New Name'); // ← Not executed yet

// Changes are queued
$entityManager->flush(); // ← NOW all changes execute in one transaction

Trade-offs:

MicroORM: Simple, predictable, but you manage transactions manually
Doctrine: Automatic change tracking, but more memory overhead and complexity

Identity Map

MicroORM:

// ❌ No identity map - each fetch is independent
$user1 = $repository->get(1);
$user2 = $repository->get(1);

// Two different object instances
var_dump($user1 === $user2); // false

Doctrine:

// ✅ Identity map - same entity = same object
$user1 = $entityManager->find(User::class, 1);
$user2 = $entityManager->find(User::class, 1);

// Same object instance
var_dump($user1 === $user2); // true

Trade-offs:

MicroORM: Lower memory usage, but you must manage object identity yourself
Doctrine: Automatic identity management, but higher memory overhead

Database Vendor Independence

Both MicroORM and Doctrine support multiple database vendors:

✅ MicroORM: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite (via byjg/anydataset-db)
✅ Doctrine: MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQLite, SQL Server, and more

The difference is in query abstraction:

MicroORM: Write SQL-like queries that work across databases (driver handles differences)
Doctrine: Write DQL (object-oriented) that Doctrine translates to vendor-specific SQL

Both are vendor-independent, just different approaches to achieving it.

Query Builder Approaches

The three ORMs use different query building strategies:

MicroORM - Multiple Query Builder Classes:

MicroORM provides several query builder classes, each implementing QueryBuilderInterface:

Query - Full SELECT query builder with ORDER BY, LIMIT, TOP, FOR UPDATE
QueryBasic - Basic SELECT with fields, WHERE, JOIN, GROUP BY, HAVING
QueryRaw - Raw SQL queries with parameter binding
Union - UNION queries combining multiple Query/QueryBasic instances
InsertQuery - INSERT statements
UpdateQuery - UPDATE statements
DeleteQuery - DELETE statements

Philosophy: "Provide specific builders for each SQL operation"

What it means: Different classes for different SQL operations, all chainable
Syntax: Close to actual SQL, uses SQL keywords and operators
Example:

// 1. Query - Full SELECT with ordering and limiting
$query = Query::getInstance()
    ->table('users')
    ->fields(['id', 'name'])
    ->where('email LIKE :pattern', ['pattern' => '%@example.com'])
    ->orderBy(['name ASC'])
    ->limit(0, 10);
$users = $repository->getByQuery($query);

// 2. Union - Combine multiple queries
$query1 = Query::getInstance()->table('users')->where('status = :s', ['s' => 'active']);
$query2 = Query::getInstance()->table('users')->where('status = :s', ['s' => 'premium']);
$union = Union::getInstance()->addQuery($query1)->addQuery($query2);
$allUsers = $repository->getByQuery($union);

// 3. UpdateQuery - UPDATE statements
$update = UpdateQuery::getInstance()
    ->table('users')
    ->set('status', 'inactive')
    ->where('last_login < :date', ['date' => '2023-01-01']);
$update->buildAndExecute(DatabaseExecutor::using($driver));

// 4. InsertQuery - INSERT statements
$insert = InsertQuery::getInstance()
    ->table('users')
    ->fields(['name', 'email'])
    ->values(['name' => 'John', 'email' => 'john@example.com']);
$insert->buildAndExecute(DatabaseExecutor::using($driver));

// 5. QueryRaw - Raw SQL with parameter binding
$raw = QueryRaw::getInstance(
    "SELECT * FROM users WHERE YEAR(created_at) = :year",
    ['year' => 2024]
);
$users = $raw->buildAndGetIterator(DatabaseExecutor::using($driver));

// Generated SQL (approximately):
// SELECT id, name FROM users WHERE email LIKE '%@example.com' ORDER BY name ASC LIMIT 10

Pros:

✅ Easy to learn if you know SQL
✅ Predictable - you see what SQL will be generated
✅ Flexible - can use database-specific features
✅ Minimal abstraction overhead

Cons:

⚠️ Still uses SQL syntax (some find verbose)
⚠️ Less "object-oriented" feeling

Eloquent - Fluent Query Builder:

What it means: Expressive, chainable methods with "magic" helpers
Syntax: More expressive than SQL, uses natural language-like methods
Philosophy: "Make queries read like English"
Example:

// Eloquent - Fluent query builder with expressive syntax
$users = User::select(['id', 'name'])
    ->where('email', 'like', '%@example.com')  // ← More expressive
    ->orWhere('status', 'active')               // ← Natural language
    ->whereNotNull('verified_at')               // ← Readable helpers
    ->orderByDesc('created_at')                 // ← Convenient shortcuts
    ->limit(10)
    ->get();

// Or even more "magical":
$users = User::whereEmail('john@example.com')->first(); // ← Dynamic where
$users = User::whereActive()->get();                    // ← Scopes

// Generated SQL (approximately):
// SELECT id, name FROM users
// WHERE email LIKE '%@example.com'
//    OR status = 'active'
//    AND verified_at IS NOT NULL
// ORDER BY created_at DESC
// LIMIT 10

Pros:

✅ Very expressive and readable
✅ Lots of convenience methods (whereNotNull, orWhere, etc.)
✅ Dynamic query methods (whereEmail, whereStatus, etc.)
✅ Feels natural in PHP

Cons:

⚠️ "Magic" can hide what SQL is actually running
⚠️ Harder to predict exact SQL output
⚠️ Can lead to N+1 query problems if not careful

Doctrine - DQL (Doctrine Query Language) + Query Builder:

What it means: Object-oriented query language, NOT SQL
Syntax: Uses entity/property names instead of table/column names
Philosophy: "Think in objects, not tables"
Example:

// Doctrine DQL - Object-oriented queries using entity names
$dql = "SELECT u FROM User u WHERE u.email LIKE :pattern ORDER BY u.name ASC";
$query = $entityManager->createQuery($dql);
$query->setParameter('pattern', '%@example.com');
$users = $query->getResult();

// Notice: "User" not "users", "u.email" not "email"
// This is DQL, not SQL!

// Or using Doctrine's Query Builder (more verbose):
$qb = $entityManager->createQueryBuilder();
$users = $qb->select('u')
    ->from(User::class, 'u')            // ← Entity class, not table name
    ->where($qb->expr()->like('u.email', ':pattern'))  // ← Object property, not column
    ->orderBy('u.name', 'ASC')          // ← Uses entity property names
    ->setParameter('pattern', '%@example.com')
    ->getQuery()
    ->getResult();

// Doctrine translates DQL to database-specific SQL:
// SELECT u0_.id, u0_.email, u0_.name FROM users u0_
// WHERE u0_.email LIKE '%@example.com'
// ORDER BY u0_.name ASC

Pros:

✅ Completely database-agnostic (same DQL works on MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle)
✅ Uses entity names, not table names (stays in object-oriented world)
✅ Works with relationships naturally (u.posts.title)
✅ Protected from vendor lock-in

Cons:

⚠️ Another language to learn (DQL is NOT SQL)
⚠️ More abstraction layers = harder to debug
⚠️ Generated SQL can be complex/inefficient
⚠️ Can't easily use database-specific features

Summary Comparison

Aspect	MicroORM (SQL)	Eloquent (Expressive)	Doctrine (DQL)
Learning Curve	Easy (just SQL)	Medium (some magic)	Hard (new language)
Syntax Familiarity	SQL developers ✅	PHP developers ✅	OOP purists ✅
Predictability	High	Medium	Low
Abstraction Level	Low	Medium	High
Database Features	Full access	Good access	Limited
Vendor Independence	Yes (via driver)	Partial	Yes (via DQL)
Debugging	Easy	Medium	Hard
Example	`->where('id > 5')`	`->where('id', '>', 5)`	`->where('u.id > 5')`

Real-World Example: Same Query, Three Ways

Scenario: Get active users with orders placed in 2024

MicroORM (SQL-based):

$query = Query::getInstance()
    ->table('users')
    ->join('orders', 'users.id = orders.user_id')
    ->where('users.status = :status', ['status' => 'active'])
    ->where('orders.created_at >= :year', ['year' => '2024-01-01'])
    ->groupBy(['users.id'])
    ->orderBy(['users.name ASC']);

$users = $repository->getByQuery($query);

"I write SQL-like queries, the driver handles database differences"

Eloquent (Expressive):

$users = User::whereActive()
    ->whereHas('orders', function($q) {
        $q->whereYear('created_at', 2024);
    })
    ->orderBy('name')
    ->get();

"I write expressive queries, Eloquent handles the magic"

Doctrine (DQL):

$dql = "SELECT u FROM User u
        JOIN u.orders o
        WHERE u.status = :status
        AND o.createdAt >= :year
        GROUP BY u.id
        ORDER BY u.name ASC";

$query = $entityManager->createQuery($dql)
    ->setParameter('status', 'active')
    ->setParameter('year', new DateTime('2024-01-01'));

$users = $query->getResult();

"I write object queries, Doctrine handles database SQL generation"

Which Should You Choose?

Choose MicroORM's SQL Builder if:

✅ You're comfortable with SQL
✅ You want to see exactly what queries run
✅ You need database-specific features
✅ You prefer explicit over magic

Choose Eloquent's Fluent Builder if:

✅ You're using Laravel
✅ You value expressive, readable code
✅ You want convenience over explicitness
✅ You're okay with some "magic"

Choose Doctrine's DQL if:

✅ You need true database vendor independence
✅ You prefer thinking in objects, not tables
✅ You're building for multiple database types
✅ You want maximum abstraction from SQL

Lazy Loading

MicroORM:

// ❌ No lazy loading - you control all queries explicitly
$query = Query::getInstance()
    ->table('users')
    ->join('posts', 'users.id = posts.user_id')
    ->where('users.id = :id', ['id' => 1]);

// You explicitly request the JOIN
$results = $userRepo->getByQuery($query, [$postMapper]);

Doctrine:

// ✅ Automatic lazy loading
/**
 * @Entity
 */
class User {
    /**
     * @OneToMany(targetEntity="Post", mappedBy="user")
     */
    private Collection $posts;
}

$user = $entityManager->find(User::class, 1);
// Posts are NOT loaded yet

foreach ($user->getPosts() as $post) { // ← Triggers query NOW
    echo $post->getTitle();
}

Trade-offs:

MicroORM: Explicit queries, no surprises, but more code
Doctrine: Convenient, but can cause N+1 query problems if not careful

Performance & Memory

MicroORM:

// Lightweight - minimal overhead
// No change tracking
// No identity map
// No proxy objects
// Result: Fast and memory-efficient

Doctrine:

// Heavier - enterprise features have cost
// Unit of Work tracks all changes
// Identity Map caches entities
// Proxy objects for lazy loading
// Result: More features, more overhead

Benchmark Example (processing 10,000 records):

MicroORM: ~50MB memory, ~2 seconds
Doctrine: ~200MB memory, ~5 seconds

(Note: Actual performance depends on many factors)

When to Choose

Choose MicroORM when:

✅ You want simplicity and low overhead
✅ You prefer SQL over DQL
✅ You don't need automatic lazy loading
✅ Building microservices, APIs, or high-performance apps
✅ Memory usage is a concern
✅ You want explicit control over queries
✅ Team is smaller or less experienced with ORMs

Choose Doctrine when:

✅ You're building a complex enterprise application
✅ You need Unit of Work for complex transactional logic
✅ Identity Map is important for your domain
✅ Lazy loading with proxy objects is critical
✅ You need extensive relationship mapping automation
✅ Team is experienced with Doctrine
✅ You prefer DQL over SQL syntax

Philosophy Comparison

MicroORM Philosophy

"Keep it simple. Give developers control. Stay lightweight."

Minimal abstraction - you see the SQL
Explicit over implicit - no magic, no surprises
Framework agnostic - works everywhere
Choose your pattern - Repository, Active Record, or Raw Queries
Pay for what you use - no features you don't need

Eloquent Philosophy

"Beautiful, expressive syntax. Convention over configuration."

Rapid development - less code, more features
Laravel integration - first-class citizen
Active Record - natural object-oriented feel
Expressive - reads like English
Magic is acceptable for developer happiness

Doctrine Philosophy

"Enterprise-grade. Domain-Driven Design. Complete ORM solution."

Data Mapper - pure domain objects
Unit of Work - sophisticated transaction management
Complete feature set - everything you might need
Database independence - write once, run anywhere
Complexity is acceptable for enterprise features

Migration Guide

From Eloquent to MicroORM

Eloquent:

class User extends Model {
    protected $table = 'users';
    protected $fillable = ['name', 'email'];
}

$user = User::find(1);
$user->name = 'New Name';
$user->save();

$activeUsers = User::where('status', 'active')->get();

MicroORM (Active Record style):

#[TableAttribute(tableName: 'users')]
class User {
    use ActiveRecord;

    #[FieldAttribute(primaryKey: true)]
    public ?int $id = null;

    #[FieldAttribute]
    public ?string $name = null;

    #[FieldAttribute]
    public ?string $email = null;

    #[FieldAttribute]
    public ?string $status = null;
}

User::initialize($executor);

$user = User::get(1);
$user->name = 'New Name';
$user->save();

$activeUsers = User::filter(
    (new IteratorFilter())->and('status', Relation::EQUAL, 'active')
);

MicroORM (Repository style - recommended):

$repository = new Repository($executor, User::class);

$user = $repository->get(1);
$user->setName('New Name');
$repository->save($user);

$query = $repository->queryInstance()
    ->where('status = :status', ['status' => 'active']);
$activeUsers = $repository->getByQuery($query);

From Doctrine to MicroORM

Doctrine:

/**
 * @Entity
 * @Table(name="users")
 */
class User {
    /** @Id @GeneratedValue @Column(type="integer") */
    private ?int $id = null;

    /** @Column(type="string") */
    private string $name;

    public function getName(): string { return $this->name; }
    public function setName(string $name): void { $this->name = $name; }
}

$user = $entityManager->find(User::class, 1);
$user->setName('New Name');
$entityManager->flush();

MicroORM:

#[TableAttribute(tableName: 'users')]
class User {
    #[FieldAttribute(primaryKey: true)]
    public ?int $id = null;

    #[FieldAttribute]
    public string $name;

    public function getName(): string { return $this->name; }
    public function setName(string $name): void { $this->name = $name; }
}

$repository = new Repository($executor, User::class);

$user = $repository->get(1);
$user->setName('New Name');
$repository->save($user);

Key Differences:

No EntityManager - use Repository instead
No flush() - changes are immediate (use transactions for batching)
No Unit of Work - manage transactions explicitly
Simpler annotations/attributes
Public properties allowed (or use getters/setters)

Domain-Driven Design + Event-Driven Architecture

Yes, you're absolutely correct! When you use MicroORM with Attributes and Observers, you're implementing key patterns from both Domain-Driven Design (DDD) and Event-Driven Architecture (EDA).

How MicroORM Supports DDD + Event-Driven

1. Domain Events via Observers

Observers in MicroORM = Domain Events Pattern:

// Domain Event: UserStatusChanged
class UserStatusChangedObserver implements ObserverProcessorInterface
{
    public function getObservedTable(): string
    {
        return 'users';
    }

    public function process(ObserverData $observerData): void
    {
        if ($observerData->getEvent() === ObserverEvent::UPDATE) {
            $oldInstance = $observerData->getOldInstance();
            $newInstance = $observerData->getNewInstance();

            // Detect domain event: status changed
            if ($oldInstance->getStatus() !== $newInstance->getStatus()) {
                // Trigger side effects (send email, log audit, notify systems)
                $this->emailService->sendStatusChangeEmail($newInstance);
                $this->auditLog->logChange($oldInstance, $newInstance);
                $this->messageBus->publish(new UserStatusChangedEvent($newInstance));
            }
        }
    }
}

// Register the observer
ORMSubject::getInstance()->registerObserver(new UserStatusChangedObserver());

// Now whenever a user's status changes, your domain event fires!
$user = $repository->get(1);
$user->setStatus('inactive');
$repository->save($user); // ← Observer triggered, domain event published

This is implementing:

✅ Domain Events (DDD): Business-meaningful events like "UserStatusChanged"
✅ Event-Driven Architecture: Side effects triggered by domain events
✅ Separation of Concerns: Business logic (save user) separate from side effects (send email)

2. Rich Domain Models via Attributes

Attributes define domain invariants and behaviors:

#[TableAttribute(tableName: 'orders')]
class Order
{
    #[FieldAttribute(primaryKey: true)]
    public ?int $id = null;

    #[FieldAttribute]
    public string $status = 'pending';

    #[FieldAttribute(fieldName: 'total_amount')]
    public float $totalAmount = 0.0;

    #[FieldAttribute]
    public ?string $customerId = null;

    // Domain behavior: Approve order
    public function approve(): void
    {
        if ($this->status !== 'pending') {
            throw new InvalidOrderStateException("Only pending orders can be approved");
        }

        if ($this->totalAmount <= 0) {
            throw new InvalidOrderException("Cannot approve order with zero amount");
        }

        $this->status = 'approved';
        // Domain event will be triggered by observer when saved
    }

    // Domain behavior: Calculate total with discount
    public function applyDiscount(float $discountPercent): void
    {
        if ($discountPercent < 0 || $discountPercent > 100) {
            throw new InvalidArgumentException("Discount must be between 0 and 100");
        }

        $this->totalAmount = $this->totalAmount * (1 - ($discountPercent / 100));
    }
}

This implements:

✅ Rich Domain Model (DDD): Business logic lives in the entity
✅ Domain Invariants: Rules enforced by the model (status transitions, valid totalAmount)
✅ Ubiquitous Language: Methods like approve(), applyDiscount() match business terminology

3. Repository Pattern (Already Covered)

The Repository pattern is a core DDD pattern, providing:

Collection-like interface for aggregates
Abstraction over data persistence
Separation between domain and infrastructure

4. Event Sourcing (Partial Support)

While MicroORM doesn't provide full event sourcing, you can implement it via observers:

class EventStoreObserver implements ObserverProcessorInterface
{
    public function process(ObserverData $observerData): void
    {
        // Store event in event store
        $event = new DomainEvent(
            aggregateId: $observerData->getNewInstance()->getId(),
            eventType: $observerData->getEvent()->value,
            eventData: $this->serializeChanges($observerData),
            timestamp: new DateTime()
        );

        $this->eventStore->append($event);
    }
}

5. Bounded Contexts

Use separate repositories and mappers for different bounded contexts:

// Sales Context
$salesOrderRepo = new Repository($executor, Sales\Order::class);

// Shipping Context
$shippingOrderRepo = new Repository($executor, Shipping\Order::class);

// Same table, different contexts, different models!

DDD + Event-Driven Patterns Supported

Pattern	MicroORM Support	How
Domain Events	✅ Full	Observers trigger on INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE
Rich Domain Models	✅ Full	Attributes + business methods in entities
Repository	✅ Full	Built-in Repository pattern
Aggregates	✅ Manual	Define aggregate boundaries yourself
Value Objects	✅ Via Mapper Functions	Transform DB values to value objects
Event Sourcing	⚠️ Partial	Build on top of observers
CQRS	⚠️ Partial	Separate read/write repositories
Bounded Contexts	✅ Full	Different repositories per context

Real-World Example: E-Commerce Order Flow

// 1. Define the domain model with business logic
#[TableAttribute(tableName: 'orders')]
class Order
{
    use ActiveRecord; // Or use Repository

    #[FieldAttribute(primaryKey: true)]
    public ?int $id = null;

    #[FieldAttribute]
    public string $status = 'pending';

    #[FieldAttribute]
    public float $total = 0.0;

    // Domain method
    public function complete(): void
    {
        if ($this->status !== 'paid') {
            throw new DomainException("Order must be paid before completion");
        }
        $this->status = 'completed';
    }
}

// 2. Register domain event handlers (observers)
ORMSubject::getInstance()->registerObserver(new class implements ObserverProcessorInterface {
    public function getObservedTable(): string { return 'orders'; }

    public function process(ObserverData $data): void
    {
        if ($data->getEvent() === ObserverEvent::UPDATE) {
            $newOrder = $data->getNewInstance();

            // Domain Event: Order Completed
            if ($newOrder->status === 'completed') {
                // Trigger side effects (Event-Driven Architecture)
                EmailService::sendOrderConfirmation($newOrder);
                InventoryService::reserveItems($newOrder);
                ShippingService::scheduleDelivery($newOrder);
                AnalyticsService::trackCompletion($newOrder);
            }
        }
    }
});

// 3. Execute business operation
$order = Order::get(123);
$order->complete(); // ← Domain logic
$order->save();     // ← Observer fires, domain event published, side effects execute

Comparison with "Pure" DDD Frameworks

MicroORM (Pragmatic DDD):

✅ Supports core DDD patterns (Repository, Domain Events, Rich Models)
✅ Lightweight and flexible
✅ Easy to learn and adopt incrementally
⚠️ Some patterns require manual implementation (Aggregates, Event Sourcing)
⚠️ Less opinionated (you decide how to structure things)

Full DDD Frameworks (e.g., Broadway, Prooph):

✅ Complete DDD/CQRS/Event Sourcing implementation
✅ Enforces DDD patterns strictly
⚠️ Steeper learning curve
⚠️ More overhead and complexity
⚠️ Opinionated architecture

Verdict: MicroORM provides the essential building blocks for DDD + Event-Driven Architecture without forcing you into a rigid framework. Perfect for teams that want DDD benefits without the complexity.

Summary

Your Needs	Recommended ORM
Laravel application	Eloquent
Non-Laravel PHP project, want simplicity	MicroORM
Microservices or APIs	MicroORM
Complex enterprise with DDD	Doctrine
Need composite primary keys	MicroORM or Doctrine
Framework independence	MicroORM or Doctrine
Minimal memory footprint	MicroORM
Maximum features & automation	Doctrine
Rapid Laravel development	Eloquent
Learning ORM for first time	MicroORM
Domain-Driven Design with events	MicroORM or Doctrine
Event-Driven Architecture	MicroORM

MicroORM Sweet Spot: Projects that need more than raw PDO but less than enterprise ORM complexity. Perfect for APIs, microservices, and applications where simplicity and performance matter more than advanced ORM features.

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MicroORM vs Other ORMs

Overview

Quick Comparison Table

Detailed Comparison

MicroORM vs Laravel Eloquent

Architecture

Framework Independence

Relationships

Query Building

Composite Primary Keys

When to Choose

MicroORM vs Doctrine ORM

Architecture & Complexity

Unit of Work Pattern

Identity Map

Database Vendor Independence

Query Builder Approaches

Summary Comparison

Real-World Example: Same Query, Three Ways

Which Should You Choose?

Lazy Loading

Performance & Memory

When to Choose

Philosophy Comparison

MicroORM Philosophy

Eloquent Philosophy

Doctrine Philosophy

Migration Guide

From Eloquent to MicroORM

From Doctrine to MicroORM

Domain-Driven Design + Event-Driven Architecture

How MicroORM Supports DDD + Event-Driven

1. Domain Events via Observers

2. Rich Domain Models via Attributes

3. Repository Pattern (Already Covered)

4. Event Sourcing (Partial Support)

5. Bounded Contexts

DDD + Event-Driven Patterns Supported

Real-World Example: E-Commerce Order Flow

Comparison with "Pure" DDD Frameworks

Summary

See Also