Re: Re: [RFC] var_representation() : readable alternative to var_export()

On Thu, Feb 4, 2021 at 3:36 PM tyson andre <tysonandre775@hotmail.com> wrote: > Hi internals, > > > I've created > > https://wiki.php.net/rfc/readable_var_representation based > on > > my original proposal in > > https://externals.io/message/112924 > > > > This RFC proposes adding a new function `var_representation(mixed > $value, int $flags=0): string` > > with the following differences from var_export: > > > > 1. var_representation() unconditionally returns a string > > 2. Use null instead of > > NULL - lowercase is recommended by more coding > > guidelines (https://www.php-fig.org/psr/psr-2/). > > 3. Change the way indentation is done for arrays/objects. > > See ext/standard/tests/general_functions/short_var_export1.phpt > > (e.g. always add 2 spaces, never 3 in objects, and put the array > start on the > > same line as the key) > > 4. Render lists as "['item1']" rather > > than `"array(\n 0 => > 'item1',\n)"` > > > > Always render empty lists on a single line, render multiline by > default when there are 1 or more elements > > 5. Prepend \ to class names so that generated code > > snippets can be > used in > > namespaces without any issues. > > 6. Support VAR_REPRESENTATION_SINGLE_LINE in > > $flags. > > This will use a single-line representation for arrays/objects, though > > strings with embedded newlines will still cause newlines in the > output. > > 7. If a string contains control characters("\x00"-"\x1f" and > "\x7f"(backspace)), > > then represent the entire string as a double quoted string > > escaping \r, \n, > > \t, \$, > > \\, and \", in addition to > escaping remaining control characters > > with hexadecimal encoding (\x00, \x7f, etc) > > > > This is different from my original proposal in two ways: > > 1. The function signature and name changed from my previous proposal. > > It now always returns a string. > > 2. Backspace control characters (\x7f) are now also escaped. > > A reminder that voting on the var_representation RFC starts in a day. > This RFC proposes adding a new function `var_representation(mixed $value, > int $flags=0): string with multiple improvements on > var_export()`. > > Any other feedback? > > Thanks, > - Tyson > Given the recent discussion in the interactive shell thread, I think you should consider whether the new function could also be expanded to serve that use case. I think that if we're going to add one more dumping function to the 4 we already have, it better cover all the use-cases we have. The "limited size dump" doesn't really fit in with "dump is executable PHP code", but if I understand correctly, executable PHP code is not the whole goal of the proposal. Regards, Nikita