Req #53159 [Opn->Sus]: Tolerant and Strict Variables and functions

Edit report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=53159&edit=1 ID: 53159 Updated by: cmb@php.net Reported by: dmgx dot michael at gmail dot com Summary: Tolerant and Strict Variables and functions -Status: Open +Status: Suspended Type: Feature/Change Request Package: Variables related PHP Version: Irrelevant Block user comment: N Private report: N New Comment: Thank you for your interest in PHP and for submitting a feature request. Please be aware that due to the magnitude of change this request requires, it would be necessary to discuss it on PHP Internals list (internals@lists.php.net) as an RFC. Please read the guide about creating RFCs here: <https://wiki.php.net/rfc/howto>. If you haven't had experience with writing RFCs before, it is advised to seek guidance on the Internals list (<http://php.net/mailing-lists.php>) and/or solicit help from one of the experienced developers. Please do not consider this comment as a negative view on the merits of your proposal – every proposal which requires changes of certain magnitude, even the very successful and widely supported ones, must be done through the RFC process. This helps make the process predictable, transparent and accessible to all developers. Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2010-10-27 02:45:29] uramihsayibok at gmail dot com See http://wiki.php.net/rfc/typechecking If you have a new idea, submit an RFC. Less likely to be shrugged off. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2010-10-25 22:22:47] dmgx dot michael at gmail dot com Description: ------------ These are suggestions for PHP 6.0. A tolerant variable, unlike a scalar, has an assigned type. If a value is placed in a tolerant variable of the wrong type it silently casts it to the correct type. It would require a new language keyword, "tolerant". tolerant string $a = 'hello'; $a = false; echo $a // echos the string value of false, '' A strict variable behaves much the same but triggers an error (or throws exception) rather than silently recasting. It requires a new keyword "strict" strict int $a = 5; $a = false; // exception thrown. The purpose of these var types is to build a better bridge between undata-typed programming used by beginning coders and strict data-typed programming used by veterans without forcing the former camp to adjust - PHP's strength is ease of learning. Tolerant functions apply the recasting to their incoming arguments according to the datatypes hinted for the objects - if the value isn't of the appropriate object a new object ob the type hinted is created receiving that value as an argument. Strict functions throw errors but can also overload sharing names with each other so long as no two strict functions try to have both the same name and argument types. So strict function foo ( int $a ) {} strict function foo ( string $a ) {} strict function foo ( MyClass $a ) {} would be possible. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Edit this bug report at https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=53159&edit=1