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References: <CAO__Xv4sEzKEgEPWTS5qtQnPr3L08vMdw57orjXhq14DNcmwpg@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <CAO__Xv4sEzKEgEPWTS5qtQnPr3L08vMdw57orjXhq14DNcmwpg@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2025 17:06:06 +0200
Message-ID: <CAGBsUrf9Jb=bM385z_mAFseKP1asxht=EHBML=QzjVWocYVP+Q@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] [RFC Idea] main() entry point for PHP
To: fennic log <fenniclog@gmail.com>
Cc: PHP Developers Mailing List <internals@lists.php.net>
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From: tekiela246@gmail.com (Kamil Tekiela)

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On Fri, Jul 4, 2025, 16:50 fennic log <fenniclog@gmail.com> wrote:

> 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.
>

Why though?

You are just saving seven keystrokes.

main();

Besides, PHP already has main function so what you are proposing would be
confusing.

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<div dir=3D"auto"><div><br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote gmail_quote_contai=
ner"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Jul 4, 2025, 16:50 fenni=
c log &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:fenniclog@gmail.com">fenniclog@gmail.com</a>&gt=
; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .=
8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">This is b=
asically an idea I have for PHP to support a main entry point.<div>Where re=
gardless 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 au=
tomatically executed by the engine after any procedural=C2=A0code.=C2=A0</d=
iv><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 cas=
es where developers want to set up=C2=A0a global scope and variables.</div>=
<div>The main entry function MUST be within the executed file, any included=
 files which contain a main function are treated as user functions.<br><div=
><br>main function signature: `function main(): int;` main must return an i=
nt exit code.<br><br></div><div>Example</div><div>```php</div><div>echo &qu=
ot;Before main&quot;;<br>function main(): int</div><div>{</div><div>=C2=A0 =
=C2=A0 echo &quot;Executed in main&quot;;</div><div>=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 value 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 ques=
tions.</b><br><br></div><div><b>1.</b>=C2=A0Should we add a declare(main_en=
try_point=3Dtrue); for it to be opt-in</div><div><b>2.</b> Should main() ta=
ke arguments?</div><div><b>3.</b> Should the main() be context aware? eg `m=
ain(array $argv, int $argc)` for the CLI SAPI. I&#39;m not=C2=A0sure what i=
t would be for CGI SAPI.</div></div></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir=
=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">Why though?</div><div dir=3D"auto"><b=
r></div><div dir=3D"auto">You are just saving seven keystrokes.=C2=A0</div>=
<div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">main();</div><div dir=3D"auto=
"><br></div><div dir=3D"auto">Besides, PHP already has main function so wha=
t you are proposing would be confusing.=C2=A0</div><div dir=3D"auto"></div>=
</div>

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