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Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2014 18:59:13 +0100
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Subject: [RFC] Bare Name Array
From: ajf@ajf.me (Andrea Faulds)

Good evening,

I have created an RFC containing two proposals.

The first is a less cumbersome syntax for arrays. At present, string =
keys in arrays are declared like this:

=93stringKey=94 =3D> 3,

That=92s a whole five characters, seven including spaces, for your most =
common case (identifier-like key). In JavaScript, you can avoid quoting =
the key for this common case. I propose something similar for PHP. Where =
the key fits the profile of IS_STRING, this RFC proposes that you can do =
this instead:

stringKey: 3,

Now it=92s only two characters, three including spaces, for the most =
common case. It makes declaring arrays more convenient.

The second proposal is a less cumbersome syntax for dereferencing arrays =
with string keys. At present, you need to do this:

$myArray[=93foobar=94][=93andSoOn=94][=93moreKeys=94][=93etc=94]

That=92s four characters per dereference. Yet for objects, only two are =
needed:

$myObject->foobar->andSoOn->moreProps->etc

Thus, this RFC also proposes the following syntax for dereferencing =
arrays with string keys, where said keys fit the profile of IS_STRING:

$myArray:>foobar:>andSoOn:>moreProps:>etc

The :> syntax can be considered provisional, I=92m open to better =
alternatives.

The two proposals will be voted on separately, but I=92m making a single =
RFC as they=92re related and complement each other.

The RFC is here: https://wiki.php.net/rfc/bare_name_arrays

Please read it and tell me your thoughts. I already have a completely =
working patch with tests available.

Thanks!

--
Andrea Faulds
http://ajf.me/