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Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2025 15:49:59 +0100
Message-ID: <CAO__Xv4sEzKEgEPWTS5qtQnPr3L08vMdw57orjXhq14DNcmwpg@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: [PHP-DEV] [RFC Idea] main() entry point for PHP
To: PHP Developers Mailing List <internals@lists.php.net>
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From: fenniclog@gmail.com (fennic log)

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This is basically an idea I have for PHP to support a main entry point.
Where regardless of execution, if you run a PHP file, in CLI or Web
request.
If the file that is executed contains a main function, that is
automatically executed by the engine after any procedural code.

Any procedural code in the file, and included files are executed before
main(). I made this decision because there would be cases where developers
want to set up a global scope and variables.
The main entry function MUST be within the executed file, any included
files which contain a main function are treated as user functions.

main function signature: `function main(): int;` main must return an int
exit code.

Example
```php
echo "Before main";
function main(): int
{
    echo "Executed in main";
    return 0;
}
echo "After main";
return 1; // This is ignored as main() exists and its return value is the
exit code.
```

Expected output:
Before main
After main
Executed in main
PHP returns code 0

*Open questions.*

*1.* Should we add a declare(main_entry_point=true); for it to be opt-in
*2.* Should main() take arguments?
*3.* Should the main() be context aware? eg `main(array $argv, int $argc)`
for the CLI SAPI. I'm not sure what it would be for CGI SAPI.

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<div dir=3D"ltr">This is basically an idea I have for PHP to support a main=
 entry point.<div>Where regardless of execution, if you run a PHP file, in =
CLI or Web request.=C2=A0</div><div>If the file that is executed contains a=
 main function, that is automatically executed by the engine after any proc=
edural=C2=A0code.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Any procedural code in the=
 file, and included files are executed before main(). I made this decision =
because there would be cases where developers want to set up=C2=A0a global =
scope and variables.</div><div>The main entry function MUST be within the e=
xecuted file, any included files which contain a main function are treated =
as user functions.<br><div><br>main function signature: `function main(): i=
nt;` main must return an int exit code.<br><br></div><div>Example</div><div=
>```php</div><div>echo &quot;Before main&quot;;<br>function main(): int</di=
v><div>{</div><div>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 echo &quot;Executed in main&quot;;</div><d=
iv>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 return 0;</div><div>}</div><div>echo &quot;After main&quot=
;;</div><div>return 1; // This is ignored as main() exists and its return v=
alue is the exit code.<br>```</div><div><br></div><div>Expected output:<br>=
Before main<br>After main<br>Executed in main</div><div>PHP returns code 0<=
/div><div><br><b>Open questions.</b><br><br></div><div><b>1.</b>=C2=A0Shoul=
d we add a declare(main_entry_point=3Dtrue); for it to be opt-in</div><div>=
<b>2.</b> Should main() take arguments?</div><div><b>3.</b> Should the main=
() be context aware? eg `main(array $argv, int $argc)` for the CLI SAPI. I&=
#39;m not=C2=A0sure what it would be for CGI SAPI.</div><div><br></div><div=
><br></div></div></div>

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