File templates: make a PHP variable with template variable case conversion

Hi,

i'm trying to make a file template for a generating a model. I would like to use the ${NAME} variable and in some places convert it to camel case.

I would like to create something like this, where the protected variable has the same name as the model but in camel case:

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

namespace App\Model;

/**
 * Class TestModel
 * @package App\Model
 *
 * @property int TestModelID
 *
 */
class TestModel extends AbstractModel
{
   protected $testModel = null;
}

I didn't find anything online, the closest to my problem is this post but I don't understand the "answer". I installed the String manipulation plugin and tried to set a $CAMEL_CASE variable as David Rees has written in the post I linked but with no success. I also tried to use `uncapitalize` string manipulation function but it doesn't work:

My file template:

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

namespace App\Model;

#set($CAMEL_NAME = ${StringUtils.uncapitalize(${NAME})})

/**
 * Class ${NAME}
 * @package App\Model
 *
 * @property int ${NAME}ID
 *
 */
class ${NAME} extends AbstractModel
{
 /** @var ${NAME} */
 protected ${CAMEL_NAME} = null;
}

Generated output:

<?php
declare(strict_types=1);

namespace App\Model;


/**
 * Class TestModel
 * @package App\Model
 *
 * @property int TestModelID
 *
 */
class TestModel extends AbstractModel
{
  /** @var TestModel */
protected ${
CAMEL_NAME
} = null;
}

Can you please tell me what I'm doing wrong and how to solve my problem.

Recap: I would like to make a PHP variable with camel case from a template variable ${NAME}.

Thanks