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Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2024 23:23:40 +0200
To: internals@lists.php.net
Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] [Initial Feedback] Typed Arrays
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From: rob@bottled.codes ("Rob Landers")

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On Wed, Jun 26, 2024, at 22:56, Casper Langemeijer wrote:
>=20
> On Wed, Jun 26, 2024, at 21:59, Richard Miles wrote:
>>  I think we should have typed arrays in PHP.=20
>=20
> Yes! I cannot stand sitting through conference talks on 'generics' tha=
t only talk about 'collections'. This could be solved if we had typed ar=
rays. If anything we would get better talks on Generics. :-)
>=20
> Arrays of a type is one of the last cases where I need docblocks to te=
ll my editor about the types.
>=20
> In my opinion, even if we would have some implementation of generics, =
having typed arrays with a simple syntax would be awesome.
>=20
> A syntax suggestion:
>=20
> $array =3D stdClass[];
> class A {
>   public stdClass[] $array;
> }
>=20
> Adding an invalid array member should throw TypeError.
>=20
> I know there are way more edge-case situations to think of (for exampl=
e: if class B extends A, $b is of type B[], but holds only A's, can $b b=
e assigned as value of public A[] $a ?)
>=20
>>  Generics or bust.
>=20
> I do not understand the reasoning behind that. Is it because we really=
 want generics, but when the 95% use-case is solved we fear that there w=
ould not be enough momentum to get that? I'd love to have generics too, =
but a very simple array syntax would in my opinion still add a lot of va=
lue, even if we already had generics.
>=20

You actually just gave me an evil idea on how to get generics in userlan=
d=E2=80=A6 unfortunately it is bed time as I have an early train to catc=
h in the morning. I will stew on it, but here is the gist:

Create a class that generates a typed collection when accessed via array=
, such that (new InternalTypedArray)['int'] produces a class that acts l=
ike an array but only accepts ints.

Using the composer file loading key, load a file that contains:

define('TypedArray', new InternalTypedArray);

You can now use $arr =3D TypedArray['MyType']

Could be interesting and I wouldn=E2=80=99t be surprised if it hasn=E2=80=
=99t been done before.=20

=E2=80=94 Rob
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<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><title></title><style type=3D"text/css">
p.MsoNormal,p.MsoNoSpacing{margin:0}</style></head><body><div><br></div>=
<div><br></div><div>On Wed, Jun 26, 2024, at 22:56, Casper Langemeijer w=
rote:<br></div><blockquote type=3D"cite" id=3D"qt" style=3D""><div><br><=
/div><div><span style=3D"color:var(--ui-page-color-fg);">On Wed, Jun 26,=
 2024, at 21:59, Richard Miles wrote:</span><br></div><blockquote type=3D=
"cite" id=3D"qt-qt" style=3D"overflow-wrap:break-word;"><div><span style=
=3D"color:var(--ui-page-color-fg);">&nbsp;I think we should have typed a=
rrays in PHP.&nbsp;</span><br></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Yes=
! I cannot stand sitting through conference talks on 'generics' that onl=
y talk about 'collections'. This could be solved if we had typed arrays.=
 If anything we would get better talks on Generics. :-)<br></div><div><b=
r></div><div>Arrays of a type is one of the last cases where I need docb=
locks to tell my editor about the types.<br></div><div><br></div><div>In=
 my opinion, even if we would have some implementation of generics, havi=
ng typed arrays with a simple syntax would be awesome.<br></div><div><br=
></div><div>A syntax suggestion:<br></div><div><br></div><div>$array =3D=
 stdClass[];<br></div><div>class A {<br></div><div>&nbsp; public stdClas=
s[] $array;<br></div><div>}<br></div><div><br></div><div>Adding an inval=
id array member should throw TypeError.<br></div><div><br></div><div>I k=
now there are way more edge-case situations to think of (for example: if=
 class B extends A, $b is of type B[], but holds only A's, can $b be ass=
igned as value of public A[] $a ?)<br></div><div><br></div><blockquote t=
ype=3D"cite"><div>&nbsp;Generics or bust.<br></div></blockquote><div><br=
></div><div>I do not understand the reasoning behind that. Is it because=
 we really want generics, but when the 95% use-case is solved we fear th=
at there would not be enough momentum to get that? I'd love to have gene=
rics too, but a very simple array syntax would in my opinion still add a=
 lot of value, even if we already had generics.<br></div><div><br></div>=
</blockquote><div><br></div><div>You actually just gave me an evil idea =
on how to get generics in userland=E2=80=A6 unfortunately it is bed time=
 as I have an early train to catch in the morning. I will stew on it, bu=
t here is the gist:<br></div><div><br></div><div>Create a class that gen=
erates a typed collection when accessed via array, such that (new Intern=
alTypedArray)['int'] produces a class that acts like an array but only a=
ccepts ints.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Using the composer file loadin=
g key, load a file that contains:<br></div><div><br></div><div>define('T=
ypedArray', new InternalTypedArray);<br></div><div><br></div><div>You ca=
n now use $arr =3D TypedArray['MyType']<br></div><div><br></div><div>Cou=
ld be interesting and I wouldn=E2=80=99t be surprised if it hasn=E2=80=99=
t been done before.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div id=3D"sig121229152">=E2=
=80=94 Rob<br></div></body></html>
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