Re: [RFC] [Discussion] Bound-Erased Generic Types

Hi Derick, Il 25/05/2026 17:28, Derick Rethans ha scritto:

On Sun, 10 May 2026, Seifeddine Gmati wrote:

I'd like to start the discussion on a new RFC adding bound-erased generics types to PHP. Generic type parameters can be declared on classes, interfaces, traits, functions, methods, closures, and arrow functions, with bounds, defaults, and variance markers. Type parameters erase to their bound at runtime; the pre-erasure form is preserved for Reflection and consumed by static analyzers. - RFC: https://wiki.php.net/rfc/bound_erased_generic_types - Implementation: https://github.com/php/php-src/pull/21969

I have just read through this well-put-together RFC again. It however does not change my opinion that I don't believe that having types declared, but not generally enforced, is a good idea. I have had several conversions with PHP users over the last few weeks, and although many would like generics, they were almost exclusively confused when it became clear these types weren't enforced. It would create another paradigm for PHP users, different from everywhere else where types are defined they are enforced. I therefore do not believe this is a way forward, and await what the result of https://thephp.foundation/blog/2025/08/05/compile-generics/ is going to turn out to be. FWIW, I share the same feelings.

Cheers -- Matteo Beccati