Re: POSIX regex

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 08:47:42 +0200, Lukas Kahwe Smith <mls@pooteeweet.org> wrote: > Larry Garfield wrote: >> Non-core PHP developer speaking, so read with that in mind: >> >> One of the things that held back PHP 5 adoption for so long, IMO, is the large >> amount of FUD that surrounded it. Even now, 3 years after it was >> released, I keep seeing the argument that "I can't drop PHP 4 and use PHP 5, then >> I >> have to rewrite *everything* to use objects. I hate objects." That is, of >> course, completely untrue, and if you're paying even moderate attention >> it's not at all difficult to write code that runs just fine in both PHP 4 and >> PHP 5, with and without register_globals and magic_quotes. All it takes is a >> little forethought and not letting yourself be sloppy. > > I have seen little of that. But I have seen issues due to array_merge() > changes. But more importantly our handling of E_STRICT has made it > difficult for many. > >> Writing PHP 5/6 compatible code needs to be just as easy, if not easier, in >> addition to having better marketing to head off the FUD. Taking a stance >> of "you'll have to start from scratch if you want to be PHP 6 compatible, oh >> well" is an absolutely sure-fire way to guarantee that no one uses PHP 6 for >> anything except niche markets. > > I see it more as a question of being open about whats going on. If we > would have had the upgrading guides from the beginning of 5.0.z, I think > things would have been easier. I'm /quite/ sure you are correct here. As memory serves; ppl were polarized for or against almost immediately when PHP5 came out. This alone, is probably this single most important ingredient to produce a FUD factory. > The fact that our x.0.z releases are not > particularly popular is another issue. > > I think the biggest challenge PHP5 faced however was that it was mainly > about making developers life easier, since PHP4 already enables you to > do pretty much any kind of web site if you are willing to put in the > required time. Native unicode to me feels a bit more like adding > something that was not really doable before (sure you can but that would > mean writing every lib yourself, so the time required is beyond the vast > majority of dev teams). Then again its not like all developers will jump > on unicode the second its released (mainly because not all end users are > asking for this). But the point is, getting very high adoption rates for > new PHP releases will always be hard. Just wondering; would it make /any/ sense to run a survey/poll on the PHP site, asking what feature/capability/etc.. they would most like to see in future PHP versions? This /might/ provide some insight for the developers to see if they are at all inline with the developers goals/roadmap. Point being; it may help future versions avoid the /underwhelming/ reception that PHP5 recieved. And better; might help future versions recieve the same success that PHP4 did. Just a thought. > > regards, > Lukas > > -- > PHP Internals - PHP Runtime Development Mailing List > To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php ///////////////////////////////////////////////////// Service provided by hitOmeter.NET internet messaging! .