pplusplus:faq

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pplusplus:faq [2019/08/09 21:36] zeevpplusplus:faq [2019/08/14 13:37] zeev
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 This is a clarifying FAQ for the idea presented on [[https://marc.info/?l=php-internals&m=156529545007909&w=2|internals@]].  It attempts to address many points that were raised repeatedly in the discussion that ensued. This is a clarifying FAQ for the idea presented on [[https://marc.info/?l=php-internals&m=156529545007909&w=2|internals@]].  It attempts to address many points that were raised repeatedly in the discussion that ensued.
 +
 +A [[pplusplus:concerns|list of concerns]] about this idea has been compiled by Arnold Daniels.  Some of them are addressed [[pplusplus:faq#what_are_the_general_concerns|here]].
  
 Note:  P++ is a temporary code name and is subject to change. Note:  P++ is a temporary code name and is subject to change.
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 ==== Why not just make a perpetual PHP 7.4 LTS and be done with it, as we move to a stricter PHP 8/9?  ==== ==== Why not just make a perpetual PHP 7.4 LTS and be done with it, as we move to a stricter PHP 8/9?  ====
  
-There are many issues with this approach Even if we disregard the fact that this leaves the huge dynamic-preferring crowd hanging with no feature or performance updates - it's impractical from a development effort point of view.  Unlike this proposal - this does, in fact, mean de-facto fork.+There are many issues with this approach, but these are probably the most important ones: 
 +  - For the dynamic crowd - more strictness is not equivalent to progress, and as such - they don't want to see future versions of PHP forcing them in that direction.  They still want to get other types of new features (non-strictness related), better performance, bug fixes, new extensions and such.  Making PHP stricter with newer versions means that for many users - upgrading would mean going backwards as far as their development preferences are concerned. 
 +  - Equally important - it'remarkably difficult - arguably impractical from a development effort point of view.  Unlike this proposal - which aims to continue supporting both dialects in the same codebase - having version that would no longer be actively developed, but would still have to be maintained for security and critical bugfixes requires resources that we simply don't have (it is arguably a kind of a fork).
  
 ==== Will I need to choose between PHP and P++? ==== ==== Will I need to choose between PHP and P++? ====
  
-Yes and no.  As mentioned above, when you install one - you'd have the other - so as far as apps go - you'd be able to run both dialects on a single server.  However, practically speaking, projects and individuals are likely to typically pick and standardize on one or the other - similarly to how things went down with strict_types.+Yes and no.  As mentioned above, when you install one - you'also have the other - so as far as apps go - you'd be able to run both dialects on a single server, even within the same app.  However, practically speaking, projects and individuals are likely to typically pick and standardize on one or the other - similarly to how things went down with strict_types.
  
  
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   - **Stick with dynamic PHP**.  This will not be accepted by the proponents of a stricter language.   - **Stick with dynamic PHP**.  This will not be accepted by the proponents of a stricter language.
-  - **Evolve towards strict PHP**.  This will not be accepted by the proponents of a dynamic language. +  - **Evolve towards a stricter PHP**.  This will not be accepted by the proponents of a more dynamic language. 
-  - **Fork the codebase**.  This is a net lose option for everyone involved, regardless of how it's done.  There's no technological advantage to doing that, and we don't have enough contributors to do that even if we wanted to (which we don't).+  - **Fork the codebase**.  This is a net loss option for everyone involved, regardless of how it's done.  There's no technological advantage to doing that, and we don't have enough contributors to do that even if we wanted to (which we don't).
   - **Come up with some creative solution to cater to both audiences**.  This is what this proposal attempts to do.  It does that while keeping the project itself unified, and while ensuring perpetual interoperability between the two dialects - so that while there'll be some level of fragmentation, it will be the minimal one possible that still addresses everyone's primary needs.   - **Come up with some creative solution to cater to both audiences**.  This is what this proposal attempts to do.  It does that while keeping the project itself unified, and while ensuring perpetual interoperability between the two dialects - so that while there'll be some level of fragmentation, it will be the minimal one possible that still addresses everyone's primary needs.
  
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   - The rollout strategy is quite different.  The P++ proposal aims to first focus on the compatibility-breaking elements - things like strict ops, changes to type conversion logic, array index handling, requiring variable declarations, etc. - and aim to deliver them at the first installment of P++.  That's with the goal of allowing new projects/frameworks to start fresh, without knowing that they'd likely have to undergo a major rewrite a year or two down the line when more compatibility-breaking changes are introduced.  The Editions proposal appears to have no such goal - but instead, aims to gradually add/change elements in PHP.   - The rollout strategy is quite different.  The P++ proposal aims to first focus on the compatibility-breaking elements - things like strict ops, changes to type conversion logic, array index handling, requiring variable declarations, etc. - and aim to deliver them at the first installment of P++.  That's with the goal of allowing new projects/frameworks to start fresh, without knowing that they'd likely have to undergo a major rewrite a year or two down the line when more compatibility-breaking changes are introduced.  The Editions proposal appears to have no such goal - but instead, aims to gradually add/change elements in PHP.
   - Related to rollout - the Editions approach doesn't allow for just two dialects - but any number of dialects.  We could have a PHP2020 dialect, along with a PHP2022 dialect and a PHP2027 dialect. If we keep them all - this may actually increase our maintenance complexity.   - Related to rollout - the Editions approach doesn't allow for just two dialects - but any number of dialects.  We could have a PHP2020 dialect, along with a PHP2022 dialect and a PHP2027 dialect. If we keep them all - this may actually increase our maintenance complexity.
-  - It does not have quite the same positioning/marketing advantages as this proposal+  - This proposal also mentions different BC-break strategies for PHP vs P++ (conservative vs. aggressive), while Editions will likely not touch that topic at all. 
 +  - The Editions proposal does not have quite the same positioning/marketing aspect that this proposal does.
  
 It's important to note that the two ideas aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.  We could introduce P++ and evolve it with editions, especially if it proves too difficult to get all the compat-breaking changes into the first installment of P++. It's important to note that the two ideas aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.  We could introduce P++ and evolve it with editions, especially if it proves too difficult to get all the compat-breaking changes into the first installment of P++.
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 There's no shortage of challenges before we can run our first P++ app. There's no shortage of challenges before we can run our first P++ app.
  
-  - We need to get buy-in.  That means that folks from both schools of though need to give up on a dream of having PHP be entirely dynamic or entirely typedwhile disregarding those who think differently from them.  This appears to be a very substantial challenge.+  - We need to get buy-in.  That means that folks from both schools of thought need to give up on a dream of having PHP be entirely dynamic or entirely statically typed while disregarding those who think differently from them.  This appears to be a very substantial challenge.
   - In order to be successful, the first version of P++ should deal with all, or at least most of compatibility-breaking changes from PHP - so that developers who make the (probably fairly painful) switch won't have to reaudit/radically refactor their code once more in the future.  Some have voiced concern that they may be too optimistic to do in one installment with the limited developer-power we have.  We'd have to evaluate that once we have a better idea of what that list is.  Note that it does not mean we need to implement any and all ideas we may have for P++ at this first version - just that we should prioritize elements that would trigger substantial end-user code rewrites - and try to handle them before our first release.   - In order to be successful, the first version of P++ should deal with all, or at least most of compatibility-breaking changes from PHP - so that developers who make the (probably fairly painful) switch won't have to reaudit/radically refactor their code once more in the future.  Some have voiced concern that they may be too optimistic to do in one installment with the limited developer-power we have.  We'd have to evaluate that once we have a better idea of what that list is.  Note that it does not mean we need to implement any and all ideas we may have for P++ at this first version - just that we should prioritize elements that would trigger substantial end-user code rewrites - and try to handle them before our first release.
   - Of course, the most challenging of all - we need to find a reasonable name for this new dialect.   - Of course, the most challenging of all - we need to find a reasonable name for this new dialect.
 +
 +
 +==== This is Hack all over again, isn't it?  Why would it fair any better? ====
 +
 +While conceptually the motivations for both P++ and Hack are similar - there are at least two critical differences between the two - each of which is likely sufficiently big to change the expected outcome.
 +
 +  * Hack was/is developed by a single company, and not as an open process by volunteers.  Even if the vendor that's behind it is gigantic - companies and individuals were often reluctant to standardize on a such a platform.
 +  * Perhaps more importantly - Hack (and HHVM) did not have PHP's gigantic distribution vehicle.
 +    * For Hack, it was an uphill battle for users to even give it a try:
 +      * They had to learn about its existence, and be sufficiently interested to learn more about it.
 +      * Assuming they were interested enough to give it a try - they had to go through the trouble of setting it up - using entirely different methods from the ones they were used to from the PHP days (different layout, different configuration, different everything).
 +    * With P++ - this is a radically different story from the ground up:
 +      * Every user of PHP (starting with 8.0, or whenever we make it available) - will have it available on their servers.  You will not have to install anything, or set anything up - it will simply be there.
 +      * This in turn means that virtually anybody running a Linux distro, a recent version of WAMP, a recent version of MAMP - millions of servers and development workstations will have access to P++ without having to do anything proactively.
 +      * In terms of awareness - since P++ will be a big part of the "What's new in PHP 8" - it will enjoy free marketing like Hack could only dream of - similar to the PHP 7 performance splash (few in the PHP world are unaware of it).
 +      * Of course, it doesn't mean that everyone will want to start using it - but the barrier to entry with P++ is many orders of magnitude lower than what Hack to face.
 +
 +
 +==== What are the general concerns?  ====
 +
 +Arnold Daniels compiled [[https://wiki.php.net/pplusplus/concerns|a list of concerns]] about this proposal.
 +
 +Some of them are addressed here:
 +
 +=== Converting PHP code to P++ code is not trivial ===
 +
 +That may be true - but it ultimately depends on what we decide to put into P++.  This proposal assumes that the contents of what we'd want to do would be similar, regardless of whether we deliver it using declare()s, Editions or a unified P++ dialect.  The premise of this proposal is that there's a large group of people in the PHP space that //want// to change PHP to be substantially different from the way it is today - making it increasingly more strong- and statically-typed.  It also assumes that this isn't bad thing - as long as don't treat it as a zero sum game with those who want to keep PHP more dynamic and loosely-typed as it presently is.
 +
 +=== PHP tooling will not support P++ ===
 +
 +It's important to understand that technologically - it'll actually be slightly simpler for vendors to support P++ vs. having to support granular declare()s or an unlimited amount of editions.  There's no reason to assume that it'll be treated any differently than if similar features/changes are introduced and delivered using a different mechanism.
 +
 +
 +=== It's not possible to do a cleanup without breaking PHP compatibility ===
 +
 +That is true - but that is actually a good reason to consider introducing this new dialect, and not vice versa.  Many proponents of strict also want to make bigger leaps in terms of breaking downwards compatibility.  Today - there's no other option except for a zero sum game with folks who may not be so fond of breaking BC (especially if it's in order to make PHP stricter).  There have been numerous instances of that in recent times, and it seems many more are in store for the future.
 +
 +Regarding the specific examples brought up by Andi:
 +  * Removing array() will have no impact on compatibility of P++/PHP - it's just syntactic salt for the more modern [] syntax.
 +  * Removing the global namespace for functions (if we do it) will only affect P++ code (i.e., access to it would be removed) - it will still be there in PHP code.
 +
 +It's important to stress that neither of these ideas were discussed to date, and may or may not be proposed for future inclusion in P++.
 +
 +=== The popularity of Python doesn't have to do with typing ===
 +
 +This document - and the proposal in general - does not claim to suggest that strong/static typing is a good or a bad idea.  It purposely doesn't take sides on which side is "right" What it does do is acknowledge that there are two substantially opposed schools of thought for PHP users - and provides a proposal on how the project can evolve to address both of them in an efficient and productive manner.  That said - clearly, there are a lot of people who //think// a strongly-typed PHP would be a better choice, so having that option may indeed increase its popularity.
 +
 +
 +=== Is there really a need for a different dialect? ===
 +
 +One of the axioms that many in the 'strict' camp appear to believe in, is a more strongly-typed and a more statically-typed language means progress - and that the main question is how we can deliver on it.  Can we do it in PHP 8 - while keeping the dynamic crowd on a legacy 7.4 version?  Should we do perhaps do it more gradually by releasing changes every few years, until we get to where we want to be?  For that crowd - it needs to be clear that for people who prefer dynamic, loosely-typed languages - strong & static typing aren't progress - and it doesn't matter if it happens overnight or over the course of a decade.
 +
 +At the same time - many others pro-strict folks are more pragmatic, and want to simply add optional strictness - along the lines of strict_types.  This, arguably - can be called progress - it's not regressive for anybody, and it does provide progress to folks who prefer a more strongly-typed / statically typed language.  This will likely be the direction we go for - which means that we'll already have different dialects available anyway.  It's really a matter of whether we'd have 2^N dialects (granular declare()s), N dialects (Editions), or 2 (PHP/P++).
  
pplusplus/faq.txt · Last modified: 2019/08/14 13:47 by zeev