I wanted to get in touch to ask about whether integration with com_categories was something you've considered. com_categories is designed to be a re-usable extension to allow you to create nested categories for whatever purpose you like- it's not just for content and contacts. I'd really like to be able to link items in my component to a category, and somehow for you very clever people at j-cook to figure out how j-cook can create the code required to use com_categories for the creation of categories for com_<my_component> using the joomla categories component.
You have a 'user' foreign key, so why not a 'category' foreign key liked to categories of the type com_<my_component> ?
If this is unfeasible, any suggestions on the most efficient way of implementing this myself would be useful. Maybe I just add an int field to my table and then change this to a category field when installed? I know there's tutorials for creating a com_categories view for you custom component online, but if anyone has further pointers then that would be appreciated too
Cheers, and keep up the good work!
Andy
afterthought: Also, with the custom fields coming in 3.7, I really think that the users and content and categories components will become much more adaptable without requiring custom components. There absolutely will still be the need for custom components built with j-cook, but I think it builds a stronger case for having a category foreign key (and have j-cook create a new category type for your custom component) within j-cook. We all know that our components don't exist in a vacuum, so whatever integration with core Joomla components is possible would be great. I hope other people see the value in this too.

Before anyone else comes along, I've just learned how ridiculously easy it is to create categories of the type of your custom component- it's as simple as changing the &extension= parameter of the url. I think I'll just insert an int into whatever tables need use reference a category and then create a menu link to the categories component from within the cpanel of my custom component.
It's not exactly ideal, because I won't be able to filter lists within my component by their category unless I add more category type fields replacing int filters, but I'm pretty happy right now.
I'd be even happier if you added support for com_categories though

Yes, it is really easy to instance manually, and YES Cook will integrate it in future.

The problem I encounter at the moment is to interract with tables and models which are not part of the main component, or even not build with Cook.
A simple form value is easy, but Cook does more of that with Foreign Keys. A simple foreign key is meaning a lot of features which are not possible with a third model (even Joomla table)
Users and accesses are linked to the main native tables, so I can do the same, but still it is lacking.

Once I solved this problem, I will do amazing links all over Joomla and third tables.
Some patience....