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Date: Tue, 7 May 2019 08:47:41 -0400
Cc: Nikita Popov <nikita.ppv@gmail.com>,
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To: Stephen Reay <php-lists@koalephant.com>
Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] Proposal for a RFC
From: stevenwadejr@gmail.com (Steven Wade)

> Maybe I=E2=80=99m missing the point (I=E2=80=99ve never used it) of =
VarDumper, but isn=E2=80=99t this type of thing exactly why the =
`__debugInfo` magic method exists?


I can't speak for the exact reason a library like VarDumper is using =
casting versus __debugInfo, but in trying to find a substitute this =
morning, I played with the method you mentioned and found that it can be =
overwritten by classes and be commanded to not return anything (similar =
to my __toArray proposal), whereas current functionality prevents =
overriding casting to an array so casting will always give you insight =
but users can overwrite __debugInfo and cause unintended effects. I =
assume that's the reason for not using __debugInfo.

--
Steven Wade
stevenwadejr@gmail.com