[PHP-DEV] Discussion Short Constructor

[Dmitry Derepko]

Hi,

I've found a discussion about Records https://externals.io/message/125975
and found a one key point which I really like in Kotlin (hello): short
constructors.

Rob said that short constructor will be probably removed:


   5. Inline constructor isn’t necessary and could be proposed separately.
   I’ve thought recently about this feature

I will probably remove this, to be honest. It was for nesting records
inside classes or other records, but this feature was declined, so there
isn't really a need for it.

Whether it's true or not I've played with syntax analyser and created a
sugared polyfill for short constructors:
https://github.com/php/php-src/pull/19133

Many examples of how it works inside the PR, just read them.

Should I propose the RFC or not?

This step move us further to "light" structures or "heavy" structures
written "simple":

class RedBox extends Box(width: 50, height: 200);

$box = new RedBox();

instead of

class RedBox extends Box {
    public function __construct()
    {
        parent::__construct(width: 50, height: 200);
    }
}

OR

class RedBox extends Box {
    public function getWidth(): int
    {
        return 50;
    }

    public function getHeight(): int
    {
        return 200;
    }
}

OR even with Single Expression Functions RFC:


class RedBox extends Box {
    public function getWidth(): int => 50;

    public function getHeight(): int => 200;
}


-- 
Best regards,
Dmitrii Derepko.
@xepozz