[development] The array argument in hook_user: can we get rid of it?

[Earl Miles]

Nedjo Rogers wrote:
> Unlike our other object hooks (e.g., hook_nodeapi, hook_taxonomy), 
> hook_user passes two arguments by reference. Both are representations of 
> the user object, one in array and the other in object format.
> 
> There's a lot of interest in streamlining our object handling. I've been 
> working on a set of generalized object handling methods that build on 
> our current ones in http://drupal.org/node/113435.
> 
> As I dig into this, I'm finding that hook_user's difference from our 
> other hooks is one of the main barriers. Maintaining this double pass by 
> reference would force all other object types to do the same, even though 
> they don't have data they need to pass.
> 
> Hence my question: can we change hook_user to behave like the other 
> object hooks, passing a single argument (the user object) by reference? 
> Pitfalls?
> 
> Looking at the implementations in user.module, this double passing looks 
> to be mainly a matter of convenience--separating out what are parameters 
> to match (user_load()) or extended user attributes (user_save()) from 
> the base user object. My hunch is, if they're user data they're user 
> data as far as hook implementations are concerned, so it shouldn't 
> matter much if they're passed in a single object. But maybe this is 
> wishful thinking.
> 
> I'm thinking a patch to change hook_user to pass a single argument by 
> preference may be a necessary prior patch to getting a generalized set 
> of methods in. Thoughts?

THe reason hook_user works like that is so that you can edit only part of a 
user object, which is currently a necessity for profile module. Changing the 
structure may well be a good idea, but will have very widespread ramifications, 
and will need a way to retain the current abilities.