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Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] [VOTE] array_column() function
From: smalyshev@sugarcrm.com (Stas Malyshev)

Hi!

> Stas, I think you are misrepresenting this a bit. It's not about adding
> something "cool looking", it's about adding a feature that solves *this
> and many more* problems in a consistent way. A way that does *not*
> require to add a new function for every single array manipulation.

We already have a way that works with arrays without adding functions.
It's called foreach(). However, *some* ways of manipulating arrays are
encountered very frequently, and it is a long-standing tradition of PHP
to provide shortcut functions for such functionality.

> I know that not everyone agrees with that philosophy, but I personally
> don't like to add new features that can be easily covered by more
> general solutions, or features that just represent a hack because the

That's why I am talking about difference in visions. I prefer practical
solution for immediate needs, you think it is never needed as long as
there is a general solution and the practical need can be implemented
using it, even if the code will be longer and requires more work from
the person implementing it.

> That's why I think that this is not necessary. It will be hopefully
> properly handled in the future and until then this function is trivial
> enough to just write it yourself. I don't see how we need yet another

Most of array_* functions can be trivially written using foreach() or
some other form of loop. That, in my opinion, does not detract from
their usefulness. And if we look at the history of PHP, that has long
been the tradition.
-- 
Stanislav Malyshev, Software Architect
SugarCRM: http://www.sugarcrm.com/
(408)454-6900 ext. 227