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Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2020 12:13:39 -0500
In-Reply-To: <CADyq6sK=H__1OypwjsgBmys=QeDsHZeg+MmqSM4=kc1pyhk_Xg@mail.gmail.com>
Cc: PHP Internals List <internals@lists.php.net>
To: Marco Pivetta <ocramius@gmail.com>
References: <0431210B-417F-4576-BF28-E51ECFA8F3EF@joshbruce.dev>
 <CADyq6sK=H__1OypwjsgBmys=QeDsHZeg+MmqSM4=kc1pyhk_Xg@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] Proposal: A way for classes to define a response to any
 primitive type cast
From: josh@joshbruce.dev (Josh Bruce)

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> On Jul 6, 2020, at 11:54 AM, Marco Pivetta <ocramius@gmail.com> wrote:
>=20
> Hey Josh,
>=20
> Similar proposals were raised recently for `__toArray()`: see
> https://externals.io/message/108369#108369
>=20
> I'd endorse avoiding object-to-<scalar> casts via cast operations: =
they are
> a good source of bugs.
> My rationale for the discouragement of magic cast methods is explained =
with
> some code examples at
> =
https://github.com/ShittySoft/symfony-live-berlin-2018-doctrine-tutorial/p=
ull/3#issuecomment-460441229
>=20
> Greets,
>=20
> Marco Pivetta
>=20
> http://twitter.com/Ocramius
>=20
> http://ocramius.github.com/
>=20
>=20
> On Mon, Jul 6, 2020 at 4:17 PM Josh Bruce <josh@joshbruce.dev> wrote:
>=20
>> Apologies, first time, still learning and have no historical context =
-
>> timing is what it is.
>>=20
>> Proposal type: Concept
>>=20
>> Implementer: Unknown, fallback to me after slow learning
>>=20
>> Presumed simple implementation as the pattern should already be in =
place:
>>=20
>> Cast of (string) -> __toString() - already implemented
>>=20
>> Cast of (bool) -> __toBool()
>>=20
>> Cast of (int) -> __toInt()
>>=20
>> Cast of (object) -> __toObject()
>>=20
>> =E2=80=A6and so on.
>>=20
>> Alternative implementation using an interface:
>>=20
>> \CastableTo{type}
>>=20
>> Extreme implementation:
>>=20
>> Make both of the previous available.
>>=20
>> Known unknowns:
>>=20
>> - Level of interest in something like this in the PHP community =
outside of
>> one upvote on a Stackoverflow question I submitted:
>> =
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/62747837/php-7-tostring-or-other-inter=
face-for-boolean-values
>> <
>> =
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/62747837/php-7-tostring-or-other-inter=
face-for-boolean-values
>>>=20
>> - Whether this conversation or proposal has already occurred.
>> - The historical conversation leading to the creation of the =
__toString()
>> method (and stopping there).
>> - The current conversation around using magic methods in general and
>> specifically when defining a cast response.
>> - Enough details on PHP internal development to implement myself =
(this is
>> the first time in 20 years I felt I couldn=E2=80=99t comfortably =
accomplish what I
>> wanted to, thanks for that).
>> - What potential collisions could occur if someone (me) wanted to
>> implement all possibilities in a single class.
>> - Right now __toBool() would be of the most personal benefit - if =
proposal
>> is converted to an RFC, would it be better (faster/smoother) to do =
one RFC
>> for all the cast possibilities - or to have an RFC for each cast =
separately?
>>=20
>> Thank you for the consideration, information, and feedback.
>>=20
>> Cheers,
>> Josh
>>=20
>> ps. Also, apologies again for walking into a new space on a mission, =
not
>> my normal approach.
>>=20
>> pps. The primary project inspiring the proposal:
>> https://github.com/8fold/php-shoop =
<https://github.com/8fold/php-shoop>
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20

Thank you for the reply Marco.

Decided to put something together: =
https://github.com/joshbruce/external-project-proposals/blob/master/php-co=
ncepts/interact-with-instance-as-php.md =
<https://github.com/joshbruce/external-project-proposals/blob/master/php-c=
oncepts/interact-with-instance-as-php.md>

I really appreciated the links to and conversations on __toArray. I hope =
I adequately incorporated and differentiated the desired outcome =
(interact as if PHP primitive) instead of focusing on the implementation =
(cast).

Also, just to make sure I caught what you were saying: You recommend =
avoiding making thing =E2=80=9Ccast-able=E2=80=9D - but ardently =
necessarily opposed to other means.

Cheers,
Josh


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