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Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2020 02:16:04 +0200
Message-ID: <CAPyj-LDfdATXFD+dc5AY9EqWWxgf8LP1joD2fzvm==1gUoN35A@mail.gmail.com>
To: PHP internals <internals@lists.php.net>
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Subject: [DISCUSSION] Match expression
From: tovilo.ilija@gmail.com (Ilija Tovilo)

Hi internals

I'd like to announce the match expression RFC that replaces the switch
expression RFC I announced a few weeks ago.
New: https://wiki.php.net/rfc/match_expression
Old: https://wiki.php.net/rfc/switch_expression

Due to the feedback I decided to take the RFC in a slightly different
direction. The main objections were:

1. It didn't behave like the traditional switch so it shouldn't use
the switch keyword
2. It didn't fix type coercion
3. The RFC was poorly structured

In hindsight I understand why I had a hard time writing the RFC. I
tried making a case against the switch statement while really not
addressing the switch statement at all. The new RFC proposes a match
expression that fixes all the objections raised against the switch
statement. Additionally, match arms can now contain statement lists
which allows you to use the match expression anywhere the switch
statement would have been used previously.

While some people have suggested statement lists aren't necessary I
don't think it makes sense to raise objections against the switch
statement without offering an alternative.

I also experimented with pattern matching but decided against it. The
exact reason is described in the RFC.

I'm now confident this is the right approach. I hope you will be
happier with this proposal.

Happy Easter!