Re: type hinting

On Fri, 2008-01-04 at 17:51 +0000, Alain Williams wrote: > On Fri, Jan 04, 2008 at 12:37:19PM -0500, Robert Cummings wrote: > > > IMHO, optionally inclusion of type hinting for functions/methods can > > only be a boon to code quality and readability. IMHO when a type hint is > > provided and a parameter doesn't match the type hint then I think a > > fatal error should occur. This forces the user of the function that has > > type hinting to ensure their data is of the correct type. This prevents > > accidental wrong data conversion. However, I see the other side of the > > coin too where automatic type conversion could be desirable also. > > Perhaps a mixed solution would be viable? > > > > <?php > > > > function foo( require int $a, require string $b ){} > > > > foo( '5', 'bleh' ); // <-- fatal error > > No. > > > ?> > > > > Contrast versus: > > > > <?php > > > > function foo( int $a, string $b ){} > > > > foo( '5', 'bleh' ); // <-- no exception or error $a in foo() will > > // be type int (automatic conversion) > > Yes. If $a is '5' but reject if $a is '5five'. This is what I was considering, but to do something like this we will have to implement a whole separate rule set just for type hint conversion. > > ?> > > > > Versus (still allowed default style): > > > > <?php > > > > function foo( $a, $b ){} > > > > foo( '5', 'bleh' ); // <-- no exceptions or type conversions > > > > ?> > > > > Thoughts? > > > > Cheers, > > Rob. > > -- > > ........................................................... > > SwarmBuy.com - http://www.swarmbuy.com > > > > Leveraging the buying power of the masses! > > ........................................................... > > -- > Alain Williams > Linux Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT Lecturer. > +44 (0) 787 668 0256 http://www.phcomp.co.uk/ > Parliament Hill Computers Ltd. Registration Information: > http://www.phcomp.co.uk/contact.php > Chairman of UKUUG: http://www.ukuug.org/ > #include <std_disclaimer.h> >