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Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] [Concept] Flip relative function lookup order (global, then local)
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:58:02 +0700
Message-ID: <53BD062A-4D7F-4E5D-852E-6D27641213A8@koalephant.com>
References: <21D6F160-5EAE-44FA-907B-E1DAAC1B8D75@rwec.co.uk>
Cc: internals@lists.php.net
In-Reply-To: <21D6F160-5EAE-44FA-907B-E1DAAC1B8D75@rwec.co.uk>
To: "Rowan Tommins [IMSoP]" <imsop.php@rwec.co.uk>
From: php-lists@koalephant.com (Stephen Reay)



> On 23 Aug 2024, at 15:29, Rowan Tommins [IMSoP] <imsop.php@rwec.co.uk> wro=
te:
>=20
> having global as the default mode (even if we provide an option for local)=
 is much less disruptive to existing code.

Hi Rowan,

I don't disagree with this summary of the current state, but I think this mi=
sses an important factor: namespaced functions are currently nowhere near as=
 popular as namespaced classes, and a significant part of that is almost cer=
tainly because we don't have function autoloading, nor any kind of visibilit=
y controls for functions (eg package private).

Making relative function names do the opposite of relative class names sound=
s like a great way to permanently kill any prospects of encouraging develope=
rs to use regular namespaced functions in place of static classes as "bag of=
 functions", which is what we keep hearing we should use - most notably on a=
 recent RFC to embody the concept of a static class.

So we're told "no don't use classes for static functions like that, use prop=
er functions".

We already can't autoload them which makes them less appealing, and less pra=
ctical.=20

In a world where global functions take precedence over local ones because so=
me people don't like writing a single \ character, autoloading would be a mo=
ot point because if you preference global functions you're implicitly tellin=
g developers they shouldn't write namespaced functions, by making them harde=
r and less intuitive to use.


Cheers

Stephen=20=