Do not require a file in comments_template()

[mattonomics]

comments_template() is a very useful and reliable way to set up comments for a page, but it has a major downfall: it forces a file to be included when, in reality, one does not need to be.

Numerous times it has been the case that I needed comments to be setup in the wp_query object, but did not want to output anything at that time. The hack I have used is simply to include an empty comments.php file. This method is less than desirable for obvious reasons.

So, I propose that we simply add a parameter I'm calling $require that will control whether or not a file is included at all.

[nacin]

Rather than a new parameter, I think this makes the most sense as a separate function.

comments_template() can remain for template inclusion purposes, but a new function should handle setup. It might make the most sense as a method on WP_Query, such as get_comments() to match get_posts().

Things like set_query_var() would need to become $query->set() to be agnostic for any WP_Query object.

[scribu]

Or, how about we move all the comment stuff out of WP_Query?

[wonderboymusic]

the stuff that decorates $wp_query is gross and confusing