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Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 20:34:37 +0100
Reply-To: Marcus Boerger <helly@php.net>
Message-ID: <125-1581635562.20040122203437@marcus-boerger.de>
To: Stephane Drouard <stephane.drouard@st.com>
Cc: internals@lists.php.net
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Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] base class
From: helly@php.net (Marcus Boerger)

Hello Stephane,

Thursday, January 22, 2004, 3:48:19 PM, you wrote:

> PHP implements an "stdClass". I expected that:
> * this was the base class for all classes, even if they do not explicitly "extends stdClass",

nope, there is absolutely no reason for that

> * this class implemented all the "standard" methods (__construct(), __destruct(), ...).

all __* are magic functions they must not exist and are not meant to be
called directly (which seems to be your problem). It is just easy: never
call a __* method directly with the exception neing __clone() which works
slightly different.

> In the PHP5 presentation, it is mentionned the interest of unified
> constructors. Currently it is not possible to call parent::__construct()
> if the class does not derived from another one, or none of its parent
> implements a constructor.

Well you design a class tree/framework and should know what you have done.
If not use reflection.

> Another problem: when you change a class implementation and decide to
> now implement a constructor, you have to review all its derived classes.
> Which finally limits the benefit of unified constructors.

A change is a change.

> I think all classes should be derived from a common base class
> (stdClass or a new dedicated one), even if it's not explicitly written.
> This base class should also implement all the standard methods:

[...]

That would slow down execution ***very*** much and makes absolutely no
sense at all. If you want a base class for your classes do it. Fell free.
Do implement whatever classtree/framework you whish to have. But don't
misuse internal classes.


-- 
Best regards,
 Marcus                            mailto:helly@php.net