Re: RFC Proposal - static modifier for classes

Seriously? Are you really this stupid or just feigning ignorance? How is this a global: class X { private static $count = 0; } I am no longer pushing this RFC because idiots like you are in charge of the votes but seriously your argument is dumb as fuck. If you aren't sure then why say anything before looking more into it? A class level static is not equivalent to a global in any sense and if I have to explain the differences to you, you are not in a position to be speaking this confidently. This isn't me taking anything personally, i have just come to the realization that this community is not for me, so you guys can have fun jerking each other off, and I will keep my ideas to myself. Cheers, Lanre On 2023-11-23 10:55 a.m., Larry Garfield wrote:

On Thu, Nov 23, 2023, at 1:43 AM, Robert Landers wrote:

I'd venture to say that static classes have some unique benefits over plain functions. One, you can encapsulate state using private static variables. That simply isn't possible with regular functions (unless you use static variables in the functions themselves, which isn't quite the same thing).

It's close enough to the same thing that it has the same problems. As far as I am aware, a static variable in a function is stored in global memory as a singleton. It's logically the same as a global variable, but with access restricted to one function. A static property of a class is also stored in global memory. It's logically the same as a global variable, but with a funny name that has colons in it. It may be access restricted depending on the code. (Engine experts, if I am subtly wrong there please do correct me.) So static variables and static properties are both simply "globals with funny extras." And global-maintained state is well known and understood as a bad idea that hinders testing, refactoring, tractability, maintenance, and everything else developers care about. Using global state, with or without funny syntax around it, is the anti-pattern we should not be encouraging. Generally speaking, even my prototypes eschew globals and statics in 95% of cases. --Larry Garfield