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Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2025 00:03:11 +0300
Message-ID: <CAGwLL8WonJfDSpVf0bcAnjSDH9EFueFhFUyYOrOfY59UFG2fSg@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] [RFC Idea] main() entry point for PHP
To: Kamil Tekiela <tekiela246@gmail.com>
Cc: fennic log <fenniclog@gmail.com>, 
	PHP Developers Mailing List <internals@lists.php.net>
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From: i.miroslavov@gmail.com (Iliya Miroslavov Iliev)

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On Fri, Jul 4, 2025 at 6:09=E2=80=AFPM Kamil Tekiela <tekiela246@gmail.com>=
 wrote:

>
>
> 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 develope=
rs
>> 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 th=
e
>> 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=3Dtrue); 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.
>


fennic, you don't get the concept of the `main` function. Nothing will be
printed before nor after. Only what is inside it as a rule nothing else is
executed outside that scope. You will end up with "headers already sent"
and so on with that proposition.

Kamil, you forgot to count the enter button for the new line... sheesh :)

--=20
Iliya Miroslavov Iliev
i.miroslavov@gmail.com

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><br></div><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote g=
mail_quote_container"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Jul 4, =
2025 at 6:09=E2=80=AFPM Kamil Tekiela &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:tekiela246@gmai=
l.com">tekiela246@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gm=
ail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,=
204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"auto"><div><br><br><div class=3D"gma=
il_quote"><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_attr">On Fri, Jul 4, 2025, 16:50 =
fennic log &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:fenniclog@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank">fen=
niclog@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br></div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" =
style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);pa=
dding-left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr">This is basically an idea I have for PHP t=
o 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 exe=
cuted contains a main function, that is automatically executed by the engin=
e after any procedural=C2=A0code.=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Any proced=
ural code in the file, and included files are executed before main(). I mad=
e this decision because there would be cases where developers want to set u=
p=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 funct=
ion are treated as user functions.<br><div><br>main function signature: `fu=
nction main(): int;` main must return an int exit code.<br><br></div><div>E=
xample</div><div>```php</div><div>echo &quot;Before main&quot;;<br>function=
 main(): int</div><div>{</div><div>=C2=A0 =C2=A0 echo &quot;Executed in mai=
n&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>Expe=
cted 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=A0Should we add a declare(main_entry_point=3Dtrue); for it to be o=
pt-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></d=
iv></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div><div dir=3D"a=
uto">Why though?</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></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">Bes=
ides, PHP already has main function so what you are proposing would be conf=
using.=C2=A0</div><div dir=3D"auto"></div></div>
</blockquote></div><div><br clear=3D"all"></div><div><br></div><div>fennic,=
 you don&#39;t get the concept of the `main` function. Nothing will be prin=
ted before nor=C2=A0after. Only what is inside it as a rule nothing=C2=A0el=
se is executed outside that scope. You will end up with &quot;headers alrea=
dy sent&quot; and so on with that proposition.<br><br>Kamil, you forgot to =
count the enter button for the new line... sheesh :)</div><div>=C2=A0</div>=
<span class=3D"gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir=3D"ltr" class=
=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr">Iliya Miroslavov Iliev<div><a href=3D=
"mailto:i.miroslavov@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank"><font color=3D"#6aa84f">i=
.miroslavov@gmail.com</font></a><br></div></div></div></div>

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