Re: PHP header files, restrict to declaring code only

> > That said... most polyfill files, of which there are a decent number, do some variation on: > > <?php > > if (!function_exists('coolness')) { > function coolness(int $coolLevel) { ... } > } > ?> > I can see quite a lot that could be done with preloading by executing code once, essentially compile time code execution. For example, choose which database interface is being used once, instead of every time the script runs. Or compile 'fluent call chains' into a more efficient form. If the AST were accessible, there is quite a lot more that could be done.