rfc:namespaceresolution

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rfc:namespaceresolution [2008/10/31 17:51] – lsmithrfc:namespaceresolution [2008/11/04 19:20] – lsmith
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-====== Namespace identifier resolution RFCs ====== +====== Non fully qualified namespaced identifier resolution RFCs ====== 
-  * Version: 1.0.1+  * Version: 1.1.0
   * Date: 2008-10-30   * Date: 2008-10-30
   * Author: Lukas Smith <smith@pooteeweet.org>   * Author: Lukas Smith <smith@pooteeweet.org>
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   * First Published at: http://wiki.php.net/rfc/namespaceresolution   * First Published at: http://wiki.php.net/rfc/namespaceresolution
  
-This RFC discusses the way identifiers inside a namespace are to be resolved. +This RFC discusses the way identifiers inside a namespace are to be resolved that are not fully qualified.
 ===== Introduction ===== ===== Introduction =====
  
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 ?> ?>
 </code> </code>
-Obviously its important that we make a conscious decision for these questions. Depending on how we approach this, users might unintentionally trigger autoload, call functions in the global namespace they did not expect or they could run into trouble when trying to migrate existing code to namespaces. 
  
-Obviously one way to avoid this is via an explicit "use" statement or by fully qualifying the name+Its important that we make a conscious decision for these questions. Depending on how we approach this, users might unintentionally trigger autoload, call functions in the global namespace they did not expect or they could run into trouble when trying to migrate existing code to namespaces. 
 + 
 +One way to avoid this is via an explicit "use" statement or by fully qualifying the name
  
 <code php> <code php>
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 </code> </code>
  
-While there is obviously no way to magically import the right things all namespaces, we do have the option of automatically falling back into the  global namespace if the identifier does not resolve in the local namespace. This RFC details some alternative approaches for this as well as how things would be like if such a fallback would not exist.+While there is no way to magically import the right things all namespaces, we do have the option of automatically falling back into the  global namespace if the identifier does not resolve in the local namespace. This RFC details some alternative approaches for this as well as how things would be like if such a fallback would not exist.
  
 ===== Possible approaches ===== ===== Possible approaches =====
- 
 ==== Fallback to the global namespace ==== ==== Fallback to the global namespace ====
  
 In this scenario when an identifier does not resolve inside the current namespace and attempt would be made to find the identifier in the global namespace. In this scenario when an identifier does not resolve inside the current namespace and attempt would be made to find the identifier in the global namespace.
  
-When referencing global identifiers in namespaces, it is probably a reasonable assumption that the bulk of that will be function calls. This is because currently most functionality in PHP is provided via functions. Also once an instance of a class has been made, one does not have to reference the identifier again in common usage (obviously there will still be cases, like with instanceof/type hint checks or static calls).+When referencing global identifiers in namespaces, it is probably a reasonable assumption that the bulk of that will be function calls. This is because currently most functionality in PHP is provided via functions. Also once an instance of a class has been made, one does not have to reference the identifier again in common usage (there will still be cases, like with instanceof/type hint checks or static calls).
  
 In the past people often created classes for the sole reason of being able to sort of "namespace" their functions. Given that we now have real namespaces, class usage as a namespace replacement is no longer necessary. Still another possible assumption, which is considerably more dangerous to make, is that most code that uses namespaces will mostly use classes for its implementation and considerably less depend on namespaced functions. In the past people often created classes for the sole reason of being able to sort of "namespace" their functions. Given that we now have real namespaces, class usage as a namespace replacement is no longer necessary. Still another possible assumption, which is considerably more dangerous to make, is that most code that uses namespaces will mostly use classes for its implementation and considerably less depend on namespaced functions.
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 One noteworthy aspect here is that for classes we have autoload. If non fully qualified identifiers can be used to reference global identifiers, "lazy" programmers can skip fully qualifying identifiers even if they have the full intention of referencing a global identifier. With autoload this could trigger expensive operations, which are essentially useless. One noteworthy aspect here is that for classes we have autoload. If non fully qualified identifiers can be used to reference global identifiers, "lazy" programmers can skip fully qualifying identifiers even if they have the full intention of referencing a global identifier. With autoload this could trigger expensive operations, which are essentially useless.
  
-For functions however we do not have autoload capabilities. This brings the advantage that falling back to the global namespace does not run the performance risk of autoload. So a fallback would be much less expensive, but obviously there would still be overhead for not making intentional references to the global namespace fully qualified.+For functions however we do not have autoload capabilities. This brings the advantage that falling back to the global namespace does not run the performance risk of autoload. So a fallback would be much less expensive, but there would still be overhead for not making intentional references to the global namespace fully qualified.
  
 At the same time the ability to automatically fallback into the global namespace gives the ability to overload global identifiers inside a namespace without having to modify existing code inside that namespace. This however can also be considered dangerously similar to the ambiguity issues we solved by changing the namespace separator (for example static code analysis becomes more difficult). At the same time the ability to automatically fallback into the global namespace gives the ability to overload global identifiers inside a namespace without having to modify existing code inside that namespace. This however can also be considered dangerously similar to the ambiguity issues we solved by changing the namespace separator (for example static code analysis becomes more difficult).
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 </code> </code>
  
-One approach to make it at least noticeable when a fallback into the global namespace occurs would be to throw an E_NOTICE in this case. This would obviously discourage users from using the fallback for overloading, but it would ensure that people migrating legacy code or people who have not yet fully understood namespaces, would be able to find out about where they are loosing performance.+One approach to make it at least noticeable when a fallback into the global namespace occurs would be to throw an E_NOTICE in this case. This would discourage users from using the fallback for overloading, but it would ensure that people migrating legacy code or people who have not yet fully understood namespaces, would be able to find out about where they are loosing performance.
  
 Another approach to reduce (though it does not remove the issues entirely) some of the issues is by simply removing functions (and constants) from namespaces. Another approach to reduce (though it does not remove the issues entirely) some of the issues is by simply removing functions (and constants) from namespaces.
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   - Classes still need fully qualified names   - Classes still need fully qualified names
  
-=== Only for classes ===+=== Only for classes (autoload first) ===
  
 Assumption: People want to overload global classes Assumption: People want to overload global classes
  
-Notes: By throwing an E_NOTICE when a fallback occurs, the performance issues become more manageable, but it would reduce the feasibility of overloading.+Notes: By throwing an E_NOTICE when a fallback occurs, the performance issues become more manageable, but it would reduce the feasibility of overloading. Also if instead of checking autoload before global, one could first check global before falling back to autoload. This prevents performance issues, but would raise issues with the load order similar to functions/constants.
  
 == Advantages == == Advantages ==
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 Assumption: People want to easily migrate their existing code and beginners should not have to know (as much about) if they are coding inside a namespace or not. Assumption: People want to easily migrate their existing code and beginners should not have to know (as much about) if they are coding inside a namespace or not.
  
-Notes: By throwing an E_NOTICE when a fallback occurs, the performance issues become more manageable, but it would reduce the feasibility of overloading. Also note that if functions (and constants) would be removed from namespaces, then some of the disadvantages would be removed as functions (and constants) would always directly reference the global namespace.+Notes: By throwing an E_NOTICE when a fallback occurs, the performance issues become more manageable, but it would reduce the feasibility of overloading. Also note that if functions (and constants) would be removed from namespaces, then some of the disadvantages would be removed as functions (and constants) would always directly reference the global namespace. Also if instead of checking autoload before global, one could first check global before falling back to autoload. This prevents performance issues for classes, but would raise issues with the load order similar to functions/constants, but means things would be consistent in the sense that overloading requires defining the relevant identifiers ahead of use for everything (classes/functions/constants).
  
 == Advantages == == Advantages ==
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 ===== Changelog ===== ===== Changelog =====
  
 +- from 1.0 to 1.1: added variant with 1) ns 2) global 3) autoload
 - from 1.0 to 1.0.1: tweaked examples - from 1.0 to 1.0.1: tweaked examples
 - from 0.9 to 1.0: added some examples, added note about use statement, fixed some language issues - from 0.9 to 1.0: added some examples, added note about use statement, fixed some language issues
rfc/namespaceresolution.txt · Last modified: 2017/09/22 13:28 by 127.0.0.1

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