PHP: rfc:better_crediting

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====== PHP RFC: Better Crediting ======
  * Version: 0.9
  * Date: 2026-07-02 (use today's date here)
  * Author: Weilin Du, weilindu@php.net
  * Status: Draft
  * Implementation: TBD
  * Discussion thread: TBD
  * Voting thread: TBD

===== Introduction =====
This RFC propose a new crediting policy for the php language to properly credit all contributors(including the olds and the news).

The RFC relies on three facts:

a) As a language with a super long history, inevitably, the php language has "generations" of contributors.

b) Today's crediting function (namely phpcredits()) and public website (namely https://www.php.net/credits.php) both lack the mentioning of new contributors (i.e. new RFC authors, new extension maintainers, new core developers, and only on the website -- the author of new extensions) That is, the newer "generation" of contributors are often NOT credited.

c) Crediting new contributors is a Good Thing(tm) to the development of the language that encourage people to walk inside the php internals.

Given the obvious correctness of these facts, it is vital for the language to update a policy for crediting.

===== Proposal =====
Now, let's first clear the definition. In this RFC, the scope of crediting is and will be:

a) the phpcredits() function

b) the https://www.php.net/credits.php webpage

=== The webpage ===

The rust language has a thanks.rust-lang.org site for every contributors of the version 

... REMAINING WORK HERE ...

===== Backward Incompatible Changes =====

No BC break is expected unless the output of phpcredits() is used in the code base which is mosyly impossible.

===== Proposed PHP Version(s) =====
php 8.6

===== RFC Impact =====

This RFC will encourage new contributors to engage in the php core.

===== Voting Choices =====

Primary Vote requiring a 2/3 majority to accept the RFC:

<doodle title="Accept the policy as outlined in the RFC?" voteType="single" closed="true" closeon="2026-01-01T15:30:00Z">
   * Yes
   * No
   * Abstain
</doodle>

===== Patches and Tests =====
TBD

===== Implementation =====
TBD

===== References =====
None

===== Rejected Features =====
None

===== Changelog =====
Initial Update 2026/7/2
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