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Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] my take on PHP 6, part 2
From: ralph@ralphschindler.com (Ralph Schindler)


>>     - Native ctype support (no, not the current supported one. Look for its
>>     support in Python)
>
> Not an engine feature. feel free to provide an extension API, eventually
> might be bundled. (and enabled by default / force)

the ctype equivilent in php would be a more robust and accessible FFI

http://pecl.php.net/package/ffi

I think the goal here would be to expose lib's and be able to 
dynamically-ish (program via php) an interface to a library without 
having to write an extension.

>>     - With better opcache and ctype, also add better dl(), completely
>>     removing the need to have so many extensions in core
>
> Better dl is not trivial due to operating system restrictions. With
> major refactoring we might improve this a bit, but things which come to
> mind cause major breakage in APIs for quite little effect ... I thought
> a while about this in regards to composer etc.

I think the idea here is to be able to have per-project extension 
dependencies, as you said, with composer.  This would be ideal in a way 
for the ecosystem to vet extensions before inclusion in core.  But 
currently, unless you own the system, extensions are extremely 
inaccessible to gain any real momentum.

-ralph