Detect changes to WP native fields in User when using pods_api_pre_save_pod_item

[lougreenwood]

I have a common interface where I use pods_api_pre_save_pod_item for all of my models. One of these models is WP's User.

I would like to detect when a user updates either their first or last name and automatically set the display_name & nick_name.

I understand that this can be done using a standard WP filter, e.g: update_user_metadata, but ideally, I'd like to be able to use Pods as a concrete interface to all fields, whether WP or custom. This allows me to keep all before/after save logic confined to the respective object's models, rather than floating around as a usual WP action.

[quasel]

I'm not aware of any built in functionality within pods that would help you there - one way would be to just compare the current user values to the new ones on save - any other ideas @jimtrue ?

[lougreenwood]

I mean that in the same way I can use pods pods_api_pre_save_pod_item to detect some change in some pods field, it would be good if this payload included WP native fields too.

This would allow using Pods-own methods as a proxy for detecting changes to any field in a pod, whether they come from WP or Pods. The benefit being a single and consistent API for interacting with a Pod, limiting the need to jump between WP's methods/actions/filters and Pods - especially because WP's actions and filters can be a confusing mess whereas Pods is more modern & logical.