Move logic of moderation tools etc. away from templates

[TSP]

I discussed this briefly with @Daniel F and @Martin A. a week ago, but I'm creating this topic to make sure it's not forgotten and it can hopefully be added to some todo-list for a future version.

I realize there might be good reason for why you've done something like you've done, but in that case I would happy to hear about the reasoning and maybe get some discussion on it.

Example 1: Badges

This is part of your template code in forums/front/topics/post.phtml:

<div class='ipsResponsive_hidePhone ipsComment_badges'>
    <ul class='ipsList_reset ipsFlex ipsFlex-jc:end ipsFlex-fw:wrap ipsGap:2 ipsGap_row:1'>
        {{if ! $comment->isFirst() and $comment->author()->member_id AND $comment->author()->member_id == $item->author()->member_id}}
            <li><strong class="ipsBadge ipsBadge_large ipsComment_authorBadge">{lang="author"}</strong></li>
        {{endif}}
        {{if $comment->author()->hasHighlightedReplies()}}
            <li><strong class='ipsBadge ipsBadge_large ipsBadge_highlightedGroup'>{expression="\IPS\Member\Group::load( $comment->author()->member_group_id )->name" raw="true"}</strong></li>
        {{endif}}
        {{if ( $comment->item()->isSolved() and $comment->item()->mapped('solved_comment_id') == $comment->pid )}}
            <li><strong class='ipsBadge ipsBadge_large ipsBadge_positive ipsBadge_reverse'><i class='fa fa-check'></i> {lang="this_is_a_solved_post"}</strong></li>
        {{endif}}
        {{if $comment->isFeatured()}}
            <li><strong class='ipsBadge ipsBadge_large ipsBadge_popular'>{lang="this_is_a_featured_post"}</strong></li>
        {{endif}}
        {{if ( settings.reputation_enabled and settings.reputation_highlight and $comment->reactionCount() >= settings.reputation_highlight ) }}
            <li><strong class='ipsBadge ipsBadge_large ipsBadge_popular'>{lang="this_is_a_popular_post"}</strong></li>
        {{endif}}
    </ul>
</div>

I have a plugin where I want to remove the "Author"-badge in some circumstances. In order to do this, I have to choose the following hook point and do a replace: div[data-controller='core.front.core.comment'] div.ipsComment_badges > ul > li > strong.ipsComment_authorBadge

The problem here is that the element I really would want to target is the li-element, but I can't. The consequence is that I leave an empty li-element behind and this creates extra spacing in the theme (which may or not be visible depending on whether there's another badge next to it)

My solution to this is: 

public function post( $item, $comment, $editorName, $app, $type, $class='' )
{
    $return = parent::post( $item, $comment, $editorName, $app, $type, $class );
    return str_replace( "<li>\n<!-- Post anonymously: removed author-badge -->\n</li>", '<!-- Post anonymously: removed author-badge and empty li-tag -->', $return );
}

But this will more likely be something that will cause issues on an upgrade.

It would be better if there was a getBadges()-function that would provide the badges and I could override. 

Example 2: Ellipsis menu and/or moderation tools:

You also have an awful lot of logic in your templates that has to do with moderation tools. Look at all this stuff, from the same template: 

<ul id='elControls_{$comment->$idField}_menu' class='ipsMenu ipsMenu_narrow ipsHide'>
    {{if $comment->canReportOrRevoke() === TRUE}}
        <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->url('report')}' data-ipsDialog data-ipsDialog-remoteSubmit data-ipsDialog-size='medium' data-ipsDialog-flashMessage='{lang="report_submit_success"}' data-ipsDialog-title="{lang="report_post"}" data-action='reportComment' title='{lang="report_content"}'>{lang="report"}</a></li>
    {{endif}}
    {{if $comment->mapped('first') }}
        <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->item()->url()}' title='{lang="share_this_post"}' data-ipsDialog data-ipsDialog-size='narrow' data-ipsDialog-content='#elSharePost_{$comment->$idField}_menu' data-ipsDialog-title="{lang="share_this_post"}" d='elSharePost_{$comment->$idField}' data-role='shareComment'>{lang="share"}</a></li>
    {{else}}
        <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->item()->url()->setQueryString( array( 'do' => 'findComment', 'comment' => $comment->$idField ) )}' title='{lang="share_this_post"}' data-ipsDialog data-ipsDialog-size='narrow' data-ipsDialog-content='#elSharePost_{$comment->$idField}_menu' data-ipsDialog-title="{lang="share_this_post"}" id='elSharePost_{$comment->$idField}' data-role='shareComment'>{lang="share"}</a></li>
    {{endif}}
    {{if $comment->canEdit() || ( !$comment->mapped('first') and ( $comment->canPromoteToSocialMedia() || $comment->item()->canSolve() || $comment->canDelete() || $comment->canHide() || $comment->canUnhide() || $comment->canSplit() || $item->canFeatureComment() || $item->canUnfeatureComment() || ( $comment->hidden() == -2 AND \IPS\Member::loggedIn()->modPermission('can_manage_deleted_content') ) ) )}}
        <li class='ipsMenu_sep'><hr></li>
    {{endif}}
    {{if $comment->canEdit()}}
        {{if $comment->mapped('first') and $comment->item()->canEdit()}}
            <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->item()->url()->setQueryString( 'do', 'edit' )}'>{lang="edit"}</a></li>
        {{else}}
            <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->url('edit')}' data-action='editComment'>{lang="edit"}</a></li>
        {{endif}}
    {{endif}}
    {{if $comment->hidden() == -2 AND \IPS\Member::loggedIn()->modPermission('can_manage_deleted_content')}}
        <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->url('restore')->csrf()}' data-confirm data-confirmSubMessage='{lang="restore_as_visible_desc"}'>{lang="restore_as_visible"}</a></li>
        <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->url('restore')->csrf()->setQueryString( 'restoreAsHidden', 1 )}' data-confirm data-confirmSubMessage='{lang="restore_as_hidden_desc"}'>{lang="restore_as_hidden"}</a></li>
        <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->url('delete')->csrf()->setQueryString( 'immediately', 1 )}' data-confirm data-confirmSubMessage='{lang="delete_immediately_desc"}'>{lang="delete_immediately"}</a></li>
    {{else}}
        {{if $comment instanceof \IPS\Content\Hideable}}
            {{if !$comment->hidden() and $comment->canHide()}}
                <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->url('hide')->csrf()}' data-ipsDialog data-ipsDialog-title="{lang="hide"}">{lang="hide"}</a></li>
            {{elseif $comment->hidden() and $comment->canUnhide()}}
                <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->url('unhide')->csrf()}'>{lang="unhide"}</a></li>
            {{endif}}
        {{endif}}
        {{if $comment->canSplit()}}
            <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->url('split')}' data-action='splitComment' data-ipsDialog data-ipsDialog-title="{lang="split_to_new" sprintf="\IPS\Member::loggedIn()->language()->addToStack( $item::$title )"}">{lang="split"}</a></li>
        {{endif}}
        {{if $comment->canDelete()}}
            <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->url('delete')->csrf()->setPage('page',\IPS\Request::i()->page)}' data-action='deleteComment' data-updateOnDelete="#commentCount">{lang="delete"}</a></li>
        {{endif}}
        {{if $comment->isFeatured() AND $item->canUnfeatureComment()}}
            <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->url('unfeature')->csrf()->setPage('page',\IPS\Request::i()->page)}' data-action="unrecommendComment">{lang="unrecommend_content"}</a></li>
        {{endif}}
        {{if !$comment->isFeatured() AND $item->canFeatureComment()}}
            <li class='ipsMenu_item'><a href='{$comment->url('feature')->csrf()->setPage('page',\IPS\Request::i()->page)}' data-ipsDialog data-ipsDialog-title='{lang="recommend_post"}' data-ipsDialog-remoteSubmit data-ipsDialog-size='medium' data-action="recommendComment">{lang="recommend_content"}</a></li>
        {{endif}}
        {{if ( ! $comment->mapped('first') and $comment->canPromoteToSocialMedia() )}}
            <li class='ipsMenu_item'>{template="promoteLink" app="core" group="global" params="$comment"}</li>
        {{endif}}
    {{endif}}
</ul>

In my opinion a lot of this logic should rather come from new and more sentralized functions like: $comment->getModeratorOptions() or something that would return a list of prepared <a>-elements or an array or object with the necessary components to also set things like 'data-ipsDialog' etc. for some items.