Re: Pre-RFC: dd() and dump() functions for PHP core

On Tue, Jun 17, 2025, at 2:54 PM, Braunson Yager wrote: > Hi internals, > > I'd like to gauge interest in adding two debugging functions to PHP > core: dd() and dump(). > > *Background* > Currently, developers rely on userland solutions like Laravel's dd() > helper or Symfony's VarDumper for enhanced debugging output. These > tools are widely adopted across the PHP ecosystem, suggesting strong > demand for better debugging primitives. > > *Proposal Overview > *- dd($var, ...$vars) - "dump and die" - outputs formatted debug info > and terminates execution > - dump($var, ...$vars) - outputs formatted debug info and continues > execution > > *Enhanced Features Over Existing Solutions > *- Native performance (no userland overhead) > - Stack trace integration > - Memory usage reporting > - Execution timing (potentially) > - Better CLI formatting > > *Why Core vs Userland? > *Similar to how var_dump() provides basic introspection, these > functions would offer enhanced debugging capabilities that benefit the > entire ecosystem, not just framework users. > > *Implementation* > I'm seeking collaboration with an experienced PHP core developer for > the C implementation. I can handle the RFC documentation, testing, etc. > I have experience with the Laravel/Symfony codebases. > > *Before drafting a formal RFC, I'd appreciate feedback on: > *1. General appetite for enhanced debugging functions in core > 2. Concerns about naming conflicts with existing userland helpers > 3. Preferred feature scope > > Thoughts? > > Best regards, > Braunson Yager What exactly would dump() offer that's different/better than var_dump() already does today? Is it just a pretty-printed var_dump()? I don't really see a need for that. --Larry Garfield