Re: namespaces and alpha3

Hi Vesselin,

I see the point and objections against "quick and dirty", but on the other hand the discussion about the namespaces started long time ago - two years already?

Longer than that - they were thrown out in 5.0 too.

If for two years there wasn't an agreement how they have to be implemented (or even whether to add them at all! because I see many comments in this sense) what are the reasons to think that in the next 5-6 months, when php6 will reach its "release stage" with the first alphas, this will be done?

The difference between 5.0 and now is that there wasn't an agreed base implementation in 5.0. That much, we have now. The problem (which was only defined clearly within the last few weeks) is that there's no consensus about the extent of namespace support, ie whether or not to go beyond classes as namespace elements. We have the choice of saying this will never happen, or providing the means to make it possible for it to happen, and that's where the discussion is now. If we provide the means to make namespaced functions/constants possible at this stage, we won't be able to change the chosen approach at a later stage even if it becomes apparent that the approach is wrong. Also if we don't provide for it, we won't have the option to change our collective mind later once namespace support is in PHP.

Even the namespaces dont go in php5.3 I think a solution/agreement has to be found quickly because it looks like php 6.0 could be in the same situation after few months.

Moving it to PHP 6 allows more room for experimentation. We can try the -> thing and see if it works well for people or if we need a new symbol to express namespace elements, or even if the whole thing of function/constant support is a Bad Thing for PHP. We don't have time to do all that before 5.3.0. - Steph