Re[2]: [PHP-DEV] Proposal: Array syntax

[s0niX]

Hi

The problem i see when using array() (or list()) is that it nearly looks
like it is a function, but it isn't. Using [] instead would clearly
mark this difference.
array() and list() are special language constructs, why shouldn't they look a bit special?
This doesn't break backwards compatibility and it makes new code look
better and more readable.

Daniel Penning

Am Mittwoch, 5. November 2003 um 09:49 schrieben Sie:

AG> Hi Christian,

AG> Personally I don't like having two ways of doing things. It makes it harder
AG> for people to read scripts.
AG> However, I think the proposed syntax is significantly more elegant than
AG> today's array() which makes me think twice about the idea and possibly
AG> making an exception to the rule. I think it'll improve the look of PHP
AG> scripts. Also I think people calling methods using call_user_method([$obj,
AG> "method"]); will find it sexier than the array() syntax.
AG> I guess I think it'd be interesting to see what other's think. Also,
AG> another point to check is if list() can also be converted into [] because
AG> having a hybrid wouldn't be too nice.

AG> Andi

AG> At 12:33 AM 11/5/2003 +0100, Christian Schneider wrote:

>>I propose to add an alternative (backward compatible) short array creation
>>syntax:
>>$a = [ 1, 2, 3 ]; and $a = [ 'a' => 42, 'b' => "foo" ];
>>
>>It can also be used in function calls:
>>img(['src' => "logo.gif", 'alt' => "Logo"]);
>>
>>Reason behind this change: Arrays are used a lot and should therefore have
>>as little syntactic overhead as possible. And I think the short syntax is
>>also easier to read and write.
>>
>>A patch for the parser is trivial and is attached for Zend2.
>>
>>Note: I checked the newsgroup archive but couldn't find a discussion about
>>this. After not hearing back about my proposed enhancement to
>>debug_backtrace() and the dangling comma for function call parameters
>>being rejected I wonder if I'm using the right mailing list for this :-)
>>
>>- Chris
>>
>>
>>Index: Zend/zend_language_parser.y
>>================================================ ===================
>>RCS file: /repository/ZendEngine2/zend_language_parser.y,v
>>retrieving revision 1.127
>>diff -u -r1.127 zend_language_parser.y
>>--- Zend/zend_language_parser.y 19 Oct 2003 08:38:48 -0000 1.127
>>+++ Zend/zend_language_parser.y 4 Nov 2003 23:32:12 -0000
>>@@ -581,6 +581,7 @@
>> | '@' { zend_do_begin_silence(&$1 TSRMLS_CC); } expr {
>> zend_do_end_silence(&$1 TSRMLS_CC); $$ = $3; }
>> | scalar { $$ = $1; }
>> | T_ARRAY '(' array_pair_list ')' { $$ = $3; }
>>+ | '[' array_pair_list ']' { $$ = $2; }
>> | '`' encaps_list '`' { zend_do_shell_exec(&$$,
>> &$2 TSRMLS_CC); }
>> | T_PRINT expr { zend_do_print(&$$, &$2 TSRMLS_CC); }
>> ;
>>
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[Mike Robinson]

s0niX wrote:

> The problem i see when using array() (or list()) is that it nearly looks
> like it is a function, but it isn't. Using [] instead would clearly
> mark this difference.
> array() and list() are special language constructs, why shouldn't
> they look a bit special?
> This doesn't break backwards compatibility and it makes new code look
> better and more readable.
>

Indeed. It's a nice idea.
Having that syntax as an alternative to list() would be cool too.

Whether it has enough steam to get around the magic rule I'll
leave to others, because the rule is there for a reason. :)

Best Regards
Mike Robinson

>
> Am Mittwoch, 5. November 2003 um 09:49 schrieben Sie:
>
> AG> Hi Christian,
>
> AG> Personally I don't like having two ways of doing things. It
> makes it harder
> AG> for people to read scripts.
> AG> However, I think the proposed syntax is significantly more
> elegant than
> AG> today's array() which makes me think twice about the idea and
> possibly
> AG> making an exception to the rule. I think it'll improve the
> look of PHP
> AG> scripts. Also I think people calling methods using
> call_user_method([$obj,
> AG> "method"]); will find it sexier than the array() syntax.
> AG> I guess I think it'd be interesting to see what other's think. Also,
> AG> another point to check is if list() can also be converted
> into [] because
> AG> having a hybrid wouldn't be too nice.
>
> AG> Andi
>
> AG> At 12:33 AM 11/5/2003 +0100, Christian Schneider wrote:

> >>I propose to add an alternative (backward compatible) short

> array creation

> >>syntax:
> >>$a = [ 1, 2, 3 ]; and $a = [ 'a' => 42, 'b' => "foo" ];
> >>
> >>It can also be used in function calls:
> >>img(['src' => "logo.gif", 'alt' => "Logo"]);
> >>
> >>Reason behind this change: Arrays are used a lot and should

> therefore have

> >>as little syntactic overhead as possible. And I think the short

> syntax is

> >>also easier to read and write.
> >>
> >>A patch for the parser is trivial and is attached for Zend2.
> >>
> >>Note: I checked the newsgroup archive but couldn't find a

> discussion about

> >>this. After not hearing back about my proposed enhancement to
> >>debug_backtrace() and the dangling comma for function call parameters
> >>being rejected I wonder if I'm using the right mailing list for this :-)
> >>

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[Dirkjan Ochtman]

I like it a lot as well. Having the [] syntax also support range()-like
calls would be a very nice idea as well. :D

Regards,

Manuzhai

"Mike Robinson" <mike@fiddy8.com> wrote in message
news:PPEJIJHNCLOJJONNJNMJCEKPCAAA.mike@fiddy8.com. ..

> s0niX wrote:
>

> > The problem i see when using array() (or list()) is that it nearly looks
> > like it is a function, but it isn't. Using [] instead would clearly
> > mark this difference.
> > array() and list() are special language constructs, why shouldn't
> > they look a bit special?
> > This doesn't break backwards compatibility and it makes new code look
> > better and more readable.
> >

>
> Indeed. It's a nice idea.
> Having that syntax as an alternative to list() would be cool too.
>
> Whether it has enough steam to get around the magic rule I'll
> leave to others, because the rule is there for a reason. :)
>
> Best Regards
> Mike Robinson
>
>

> >
> > Am Mittwoch, 5. November 2003 um 09:49 schrieben Sie:
> >
> > AG> Hi Christian,
> >
> > AG> Personally I don't like having two ways of doing things. It
> > makes it harder
> > AG> for people to read scripts.
> > AG> However, I think the proposed syntax is significantly more
> > elegant than
> > AG> today's array() which makes me think twice about the idea and
> > possibly
> > AG> making an exception to the rule. I think it'll improve the
> > look of PHP
> > AG> scripts. Also I think people calling methods using
> > call_user_method([$obj,
> > AG> "method"]); will find it sexier than the array() syntax.
> > AG> I guess I think it'd be interesting to see what other's think. Also,
> > AG> another point to check is if list() can also be converted
> > into [] because
> > AG> having a hybrid wouldn't be too nice.
> >
> > AG> Andi
> >
> > AG> At 12:33 AM 11/5/2003 +0100, Christian Schneider wrote:

> > >>I propose to add an alternative (backward compatible) short

> > array creation

> > >>syntax:
> > >>$a = [ 1, 2, 3 ]; and $a = [ 'a' => 42, 'b' => "foo" ];
> > >>
> > >>It can also be used in function calls:
> > >>img(['src' => "logo.gif", 'alt' => "Logo"]);
> > >>
> > >>Reason behind this change: Arrays are used a lot and should

> > therefore have

> > >>as little syntactic overhead as possible. And I think the short

> > syntax is

> > >>also easier to read and write.
> > >>
> > >>A patch for the parser is trivial and is attached for Zend2.
> > >>
> > >>Note: I checked the newsgroup archive but couldn't find a

> > discussion about

> > >>this. After not hearing back about my proposed enhancement to
> > >>debug_backtrace() and the dangling comma for function call parameters
> > >>being rejected I wonder if I'm using the right mailing list for this

:-)

> > >>

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