php - When to use Modules in Zend Framework?

Question

When setting up new ZF Projects i normaly have this directory structure:

• application
  • modules
    • default
      • controller
      • forms
      • view
      • models
    • admin
      • controller
      • forms
      • view
      • models
  • language
  • shared
    • models
• library
• public

I use only modules when e.g the layout is diffrent, or a diffrent database is used, or of course when its a very special case like a admin-backend or a forum/board. Then i have Controller for the different parts of the application. e.g JobController, ProductController and so on.

A colleague of mine showed me his base layout. its nearly the same, but he uses a lot of modules. like Job-Module, Product-Module each of this modules mostly have 2 Controllers an IndexController and an AdminController.

His setup works and isnt wrong, but i never saw such an approach, its seems unneeded complicated.

So to come to an end:

1. When would you use Modules and when you would stick to Controllers?
2. Whats your rule to decide Module or not Module ?
3. What are the cons AND pros of my colleague's setup in your point of view?
4. What are the cons AND pros of my setup in your point of view?

TIA

Rufinus

EDIT: see http://mwop.net/blog/2012-04-30-why-modules.html for info on the redesigned modules in ZF2.0

Answer 1

What are the cons AND pros of my colleague's setup in your point of view?

Better Reusability. Assuming your colleague kept the code inside the modules indepedent from other modules, he effectively created a self-contained problem domain. Unlike with your approach, he can more easily copy the entire module over to other applications then.