How to run a PHP script from Go using go-php?

Instantiate a new engine with php.New(), create a context, assign an output writer like os.Stdout to Context.Output, and call context.Exec('script.php') to execute the file and capture output.

Can go-php handle concurrent requests with goroutines safely?

No, due to PHP's thread-safety issues without ZTS support, which is unsupported. The README recommends syncing contexts between goroutines or sharing a single context, limiting scalability for concurrent applications.

Go-PHP vs using exec to call PHP from Go: which is better?

Go-PHP offers in-process execution with bidirectional variable binding, enabling tighter integration than exec, which spawns separate processes. However, exec might be simpler for isolated tasks without complex data exchange.

How to pass a Go struct to PHP as an object with go-php?

Use NewReceiver to attach a Go method receiver as a PHP class, allowing the struct's exported methods and fields to be accessed in PHP contexts, enabling object-oriented code reuse across languages.

Is go-php suitable for production with high performance needs?

It can be used in production for controlled, non-concurrent scenarios, but the lack of performance benchmarks and multithreading issues means it's not ideal for high-performance, parallel systems.

What PHP versions does go-php support?

It supports PHP 5.x and 7.x series, with PHP 7.x as the default build target. Building for PHP 5.x requires the 'php5' tag, but PHP 8.x is not mentioned, limiting access to newer features.

go-php — PHP Bindings for Go

What is go-php?

Go-PHP is a Go package that provides bindings for executing PHP scripts within Go applications. It allows developers to run PHP code, exchange variables between Go and PHP contexts, and attach Go methods as PHP classes. This enables integration of PHP functionality into Go-based systems without requiring separate PHP runtime environments.

Target Audience

Go developers who need to integrate existing PHP codebases, scripts, or libraries into their Go applications, particularly those migrating from PHP to Go or building polyglot systems.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Go-PHP because it provides a straightforward way to execute PHP code from Go with bidirectional variable exchange and class attachment capabilities, avoiding the need for external PHP processes or complex interoperability layers.

PHP bindings for the Go programming language (Golang)

Use Cases

Best For

Integrating legacy PHP scripts into modern Go applications
Executing PHP templating engines from Go web servers
Building Go applications that need to call PHP libraries or functions
Migrating PHP codebases to Go incrementally
Creating polyglot systems that combine Go performance with PHP functionality
Embedding PHP execution in Go CLI tools or services

Not Ideal For

High-throughput concurrent applications using goroutines, due to PHP's lack of thread-safety without ZTS support
Projects requiring the latest PHP 8.x features, as support is limited to PHP 5.x and 7.x series
Teams seeking a plug-and-play solution without system dependencies, since building requires PHP installed as a library (e.g., php-embed)

Pros & Cons

Pros

Bidirectional Variable Exchange

Allows binding Go variables to PHP contexts and returning PHP values to Go via Context.Bind and Context.Eval, enabling seamless data flow between languages without external processes.

Method Receiver Attachment

Supports attaching Go method receivers as PHP classes with NewReceiver, facilitating object-oriented interoperability by exposing exported methods and embedded struct fields.

PHP Version Flexibility

Compatible with both PHP 5.x and 7.x series, providing practical interoperability for legacy and modern PHP codebases, as noted in the README.

Stable Script Execution

Executing PHP script files and inline strings via Context.Exec and Context.Eval is marked as stable, offering reliable integration for existing PHP scripts.

Cons

Severe Multithreading Limitations

PHP lacks thread-safety without ZTS, which is unsupported in this package, severely restricting use with goroutines and requiring careful context management, as admitted in the Caveats section.

Sparse Documentation

The Roadmap explicitly states a lack of documentation and examples, making implementation and debugging more challenging for developers.

Complex Build Setup

Requires PHP installed as a library (e.g., php-embed), adding system dependencies and build complexity, especially with version-specific tags like 'php5' for older PHP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is go-php?

Target Audience

Go developers who need to integrate existing PHP codebases, scripts, or libraries into their Go applications, particularly those migrating from PHP to Go or building polyglot systems.

Value Proposition

Use Cases

Best For

Integrating legacy PHP scripts into modern Go applications
Executing PHP templating engines from Go web servers
Building Go applications that need to call PHP libraries or functions
Migrating PHP codebases to Go incrementally
Creating polyglot systems that combine Go performance with PHP functionality
Embedding PHP execution in Go CLI tools or services

Not Ideal For

High-throughput concurrent applications using goroutines, due to PHP's lack of thread-safety without ZTS support
Projects requiring the latest PHP 8.x features, as support is limited to PHP 5.x and 7.x series
Teams seeking a plug-and-play solution without system dependencies, since building requires PHP installed as a library (e.g., php-embed)

Pros & Cons

Pros

Bidirectional Variable Exchange

Allows binding Go variables to PHP contexts and returning PHP values to Go via Context.Bind and Context.Eval, enabling seamless data flow between languages without external processes.

Method Receiver Attachment

Supports attaching Go method receivers as PHP classes with NewReceiver, facilitating object-oriented interoperability by exposing exported methods and embedded struct fields.

PHP Version Flexibility

Compatible with both PHP 5.x and 7.x series, providing practical interoperability for legacy and modern PHP codebases, as noted in the README.

Stable Script Execution

Executing PHP script files and inline strings via Context.Exec and Context.Eval is marked as stable, offering reliable integration for existing PHP scripts.

Cons

Severe Multithreading Limitations

PHP lacks thread-safety without ZTS, which is unsupported in this package, severely restricting use with goroutines and requiring careful context management, as admitted in the Caveats section.

Sparse Documentation

The Roadmap explicitly states a lack of documentation and examples, making implementation and debugging more challenging for developers.

Complex Build Setup

Requires PHP installed as a library (e.g., php-embed), adding system dependencies and build complexity, especially with version-specific tags like 'php5' for older PHP.

Frequently Asked Questions

go-php

What is go-php?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

go-php

What is go-php?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?