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To: Mike Schinkel <mike@newclarity.net>, PHP internals
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CC: Mark Randall <marandall@php.net>
Thread-Topic: [PHP-DEV] Re: [RFC] "use global functions/consts" statement
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Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2020 18:14:43 +0000
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Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] Re: [RFC] "use global functions/consts" statement
From: tysonandre775@hotmail.com (tyson andre)

>=A0We might eventually benefit from versioned "libraries" of functions tha=
t can be imported in one command=0A=
> which would solve many-a-future-problem by itself.=0A=
=0A=
I'd be in favor of a module system, I just can't think of a good way to mig=
rate to that with existing limitations.=0A=
I'd imagine there would be various obstacles/objections to getting an RFC f=
or that approach accepted.=0A=
=0A=
Of course, whatever you're thinking of for "libraries" might=0A=
be completely different than what I think you mean.=0A=
Proposals for that could start a different thread.=0A=
=0A=
For example, if one wanted a module system like NodeJS with "import functio=
ns, consts from 'some_native_module_or_php_file'"/"export function ..."=0A=
=0A=
1. Languages such as NodeJS, Python, etc. still have a core set of function=
s that get loaded even if there are no imports.=0A=
    Those functions can get added to dynamically (see note on polyfills.=0A=
    https://stackoverflow.com/questions/27930038/how-to-define-global-funct=
ion-in-python is hopefully rare)=0A=
    That would be an argument in favor of preferring deprecating checking i=
n the current namespace,=0A=
    not deprecating the global namespace. (for uses that aren't fully quali=
fied)=0A=
2. It's possible for almost any php module's functionality such as "mbstrin=
g" to be provided by a native module,=0A=
   or from a pure php polyfill such as symfony/mbstring-polyfill. https://w=
ww.php.net/mbstring=0A=
   Or even just a few functions from an extension.=0A=
   I don't know how the equivalent of "import [functions, consts] from 'mbs=
tring'" would work in a portable way,=0A=
   e.g. with a future version of the composer autoloader.=0A=
3. This would add more ambiguity if imported names can get overridden (e.g.=
 by MyNs\strlen),=0A=
   making opcache less beneficial to performance.=0A=
   It would also make it harder to comprehend code if exported functions fr=
om modules can have aliased names.=0A=
=0A=
A more limited version of "libraries" might be possible (pure php only with=
 other limitations) but it doesn't seem as useful.=