This is a CLI library in order to run a PHP script using the NodeJS V8 engine.

I've been a PHP developper for years and now I'm mainly using JavaScript. I will debate about NodeJS versus PHP, because they come with different advantages, and honestly I like both for different reasons.

The main motivation behind this project is to empower a PHP developper to be able to do the same things you could do with NodeJS or Javascript.

You are maybe thinking, if a developper wants to do the same thing as a nodejs application can do, why not learn and use directly NodeJS ? Well, here are some personal reasons :

• Learning curve (not a big one, everybody knows JS /@YDKJS) with a new framework/libraries/etc...
• Grasp Prototypal principles, scopes
• Habits & losing landmarks (coding style, core functions)
• Losing typehinting habits, or dislike Duck Typing
• Losing SOLID principles / patterns
• ... and maybe others, let's chat if you want to share your experience

This project is not made for someone who masters JS and doesn't like PHP. It's just a matter of taste, some guys prefer SOLID vs Duck typing, and may prefer to use a friendly syntax for years instead of learning a new syntax like Typescript.

I do not say it's the best overall solution, you may choose depending on what suits you best.

The project is still under developpement, so you can't use it yet 😄.

Seriously, I plan to :

• Handle all PHP structures (namespace, classes, traits, interfaces)
• Impl a PHP core specific layer (in order to support main PHP functions)
• Impl a new syntax keyword in order to natively support any Javascript library
• Impl a native debug support with sourcemaps
• Impl plugins for gulp/grunt/babel in order to export code for browser
• Add a support for apache cordova
• Add a support for electron

Things you can do :

• Write a mobile application
• Write a GUI application
• All the cool stuff you can do in NodeJS
• Write an application for the browser
• Use frameworks like Vue.JS, SailsJS or Express/Koa

Things you can't do :

• Run an old application (PHP modules like PDO or lib_mysql will not be available)
• Use a dynamic variable name lookup like $$var, I'm not sure I want to degrade overall performance in order to be able to do that
• Maybe others, work is still in progress

PHP is synchronous, however some implementations with libevent/promises were done as experiments - like react php (BTW the Hello world demo is almost the same as NodeJS 😉)

The main problem here is how to run a synchronous code without blocking the loop.

My answer to this is : let I/O tasks run asynchrously, and execute the next statement when the task result is ready.

Now how to do this without breaking the structure flow, and without degrading performances ?

I still need a POC, but I think I will use generators and promises in order to achieve this, the resulting transpiled code will be easy to read and will perform well with a native support.

npm install -g glayzzle
glz -r "echo 'hello world';"

To run a PHP file you can use the same parameter as PHP :

glz -f your-file.php
// or
glz your-file.php

You can also run a script as a server (using NodeJS cluster module)

glz -S 127.0.0.1:8080 index.php

Other planed things :

• Add a standalone FCGI support in order to run it with Apache/Ngnix
• Add a generic daemon FCGI server (something similar to php-fcgi)

Actually the project is a Prof Of Concept, and does not run over all PHP syntax.

Here's my todo list :

• 100% - Develop a parser/lexer
• 10% - Develop a runtime
• 20% - Develop a transpiler
• 15% - Develop a compatibility layer
• 0% - Write some awesome demo

If you want to contribute, fell free to make a pull request or discuss on the chat