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To: Alain Williams <addw@phcomp.co.uk>
Cc: Robert Cummings <robert@interjinn.com>, Pierre <pierre.php@gmail.com>,  Marcus Boerger <helly@php.net>, Gregory Beaver <greg@chiaraquartet.net>, internals Mailing List <internals@lists.php.net>
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Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2008 12:53:26 -0500
Message-ID: <1199469206.15292.164.camel@sbarrow-desktop>
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Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] type hinting
From: sam@sambarrow.com (Sam Barrow)

On Fri, 2008-01-04 at 17:51 +0000, Alain Williams wrote:
> On Fri, Jan 04, 2008 at 12:37:19PM -0500, Robert Cummings wrote:
> 
> > IMHO, optionally inclusion of type hinting for functions/methods can
> > only be a boon to code quality and readability. IMHO when a type hint is
> > provided and a parameter doesn't match the type hint then I think a
> > fatal error should occur. This forces the user of the function that has
> > type hinting to ensure their data is of the correct type. This prevents
> > accidental wrong data conversion. However, I see the other side of the
> > coin too where automatic type conversion could be desirable also.
> > Perhaps a mixed solution would be viable?
> > 
> > <?php
> > 
> > function foo( require int $a, require string $b ){}
> > 
> > foo( '5', 'bleh' );  // <-- fatal error
> 
> No.
> 
> > ?>
> > 
> > Contrast versus:
> > 
> > <?php
> > 
> > function foo( int $a, string $b ){}
> > 
> > foo( '5', 'bleh' );  // <-- no exception or error $a in foo() will
> >                      //     be type int (automatic conversion)
> 
> Yes. If $a is '5' but reject if $a is '5five'.

This is what I was considering, but to do something like this we will
have to implement a whole separate rule set just for type hint
conversion.

> > ?>
> > 
> > Versus (still allowed default style):
> > 
> > <?php
> > 
> > function foo( $a, $b ){}
> > 
> > foo( '5', 'bleh' );  // <-- no exceptions or type conversions
> > 
> > ?>
> > 
> > Thoughts?
> > 
> > Cheers,
> > Rob.
> > -- 
> > ...........................................................
> > SwarmBuy.com - http://www.swarmbuy.com
> > 
> >     Leveraging the buying power of the masses!
> > ...........................................................
> 
> -- 
> Alain Williams
> Linux Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT Lecturer.
> +44 (0) 787 668 0256  http://www.phcomp.co.uk/
> Parliament Hill Computers Ltd. Registration Information: http://www.phcomp.co.uk/contact.php
> Chairman of UKUUG: http://www.ukuug.org/
> #include <std_disclaimer.h>
>