Transparent Class Pattern

<?php

class Awesome_Functionality{
    protected $_awesome;

    public function awesomeify(){
        echo $this->_awesome.' is awesome.';
    }
}

class Awesome extends Awesome_Functionality{} // This is in kohana

new Awesome(); // returns Awesome

// Wait I want my own special type of awesome but I don't want to lose any functionality in the core awesome.

class Awesome extends Awesome_Functionality{
    public function awesomeify(){
        echo $this->_awesome.' is more awesome';
    }
}

new Awesome(); // returns Awesome but the functionality has changed. This way you can use the exact class name Awesome but its your own inherited version. Simple but powerful eh?

new