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Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2025 19:41:04 +0400
Message-ID: <CAJS5taB_cRV43JnWWkJBJvLqtbWSvM+7XX70mL4Y+Wv---w3VA@mail.gmail.com>
Subject: [PHP-DEV] RFC Karma request: native defer keyword (Zig-style)
To: PHP internals <internals@lists.php.net>
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From: khaledalam.net@gmail.com (Khaled Alam)

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Hi, I'm Khaled Alam, a software engineer based in the UAE and a long-time
PHP user. I'd like to request RFC karma to publish an RFC proposing a nativ=
e
 "*defer"* feature and gather community feedback.

Inspired by Zig's "defer", it schedules a block to run when the current
function exits (return, exception, or natural end), executed in LIFO order,
aimed at safer cleanup without repetitive try/finally scaffolding.

Proof-of-concept implementation PR
<https://github.com/php/php-src/pull/20786>.

Current status:
[x] Parser/AST support for defer { ... }
[x] Compilation + VM support with per-call defer stack (not shared on
op_array)
[x] Defers run correctly on explicit/implicit returns, LIFO order
[_] I=E2=80=99m currently working on exception-unwinding handling so defers=
 also run
when an exception is thrown

Wiki username:
*khaledalamxyz*GitHub username*: *khaledalam

Thank you for considering granting RFC karma.

Best regards,
Khaled Alam

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div>





<p class=3D"gmail-p1">





</p><p class=3D"gmail-p1">





</p><p class=3D"gmail-p1">Hi, I&#39;m Khaled Alam, a software engineer base=
d in the UAE and a long-time PHP user. I&#39;d like to request RFC karma to=
 publish an RFC proposing a <span class=3D"gmail-s1">native</span>=C2=A0&qu=
ot;<b>defer&quot;</b> feature and gather community feedback.</p>
<p class=3D"gmail-p1">





</p><p class=3D"gmail-p1">Inspired by Zig&#39;s &quot;defer&quot;, it sched=
ules a block to run <span class=3D"gmail-s1">when</span> the current functi=
on exits (return, exception, or natural end), executed in LIFO order, aimed=
 at safer cleanup without repetitive <span class=3D"gmail-s1">try</span>/<s=
pan class=3D"gmail-s1">finally</span> scaffolding.</p>
<p class=3D"gmail-p1">Proof-of-concept implementation=C2=A0<a href=3D"https=
://github.com/php/php-src/pull/20786">PR</a>.</p>
<p class=3D"gmail-p1"><font face=3D"arial, sans-serif">Current status:<br><=
/font><span style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif">[x] Parser/AST support <=
/span><span class=3D"gmail-s1" style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif">for</=
span><span style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif">=C2=A0defer { ... }<br></=
span><span style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif">[x] Compilation=C2=A0<a c=
lass=3D"gmail_plusreply" id=3D"plusReplyChip-0">+</a> VM support with per-c=
all defer stack (not shared on op_array)<br></span><span style=3D"font-fami=
ly:arial,sans-serif">[x] Defers run correctly on explicit/implicit returns,=
 LIFO order<br></span><span style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif">[_] I=E2=
=80=99m currently working on exception-unwinding handling so defers also</s=
pan>=C2=A0run <span class=3D"gmail-s1">when</span> an exception is thrown</=
p>






<p class=3D"gmail-p1"><font face=3D"arial, sans-serif">Wiki username:=C2=A0=
</font><b>khaledalamxyz<br></b>GitHub=C2=A0<span style=3D"font-family:arial=
,sans-serif">username</span><b>:=C2=A0</b>khaledalam</p><p class=3D"gmail-p=
1"><font face=3D"arial, sans-serif">Thank you <span class=3D"gmail-s1">for<=
/span> considering granting RFC karma.</font></p>
<p class=3D"gmail-p1"><font face=3D"arial, sans-serif">Best regards,<br></f=
ont><span style=3D"font-family:arial,sans-serif">Khaled Alam</span></p></di=
v><div><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_signature" data-smartmail=3D"gmail_s=
ignature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"lt=
r"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div=
 dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D=
"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div><div dir=3D"ltr"></div></div></div></div></div>=
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></d=
iv></div>

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