[development] Giving form_alter an $op and calling it more than once.

[Chris Johnson]

Karoly Negyesi wrote:
>>> Back to the point: What if we re-do the lifecycle of a node ins the form
>>> system?
>>> That would mean you have form_alter($op) with:
>>> $op = load (collecting the form, change)
>>> $op = view (theming, changing the behaviour, reordering and so)
>>> $op = insert (data is inserted)
>>> $op = validate (valdation)

Would I be all wet to suggest the following as a thought exercise?

In the name of performance, as well as to enable ordering and repeat 
callbacks, a lot more sophistication and work could be done at module enable time.

What if, instead of "call module hook if it exists" calls, we built an ordered 
list of callbacks for each hook at module enable time, and did our hook calls 
by walking that list (graph)?  Enabling a module would add its hooks to lists 
stored in a compact, high-performance format in a cache / db table.  Callbacks 
would walk those lists.  Necessary enable logic would allow module to place 
itself in a list more than once if needed for re-invoking / roundtrip scenarios.

This might even improve bootstrap performance.

Does such a scheme help?  Or have I missed some crucial point?  :-/

..chrisxj