Rewrite Short Tags

[scrubbicus]

So I've seen some short hand PHP syntax before and I've tried using it on my scripts and it wouldn't work, syntax such as

 

<?=$message?>

 

I just started taking a look at Code igniter today and I realized you have to enabled it in this framework, does anyone have a tutorial on how to write a script, or if it's a system setting, do that so I can use this shorthand in my work outside of frameworks?

[cags]

It requires short_open_tag to be set to On in your PHP.ini file. It's also generally frowned upon because your code is no longer as portable.

[scrubbicus]

Well when I try to write this shorthand on files outside the Code Igniter framework but still in my localhost I can't get it to work, so I'm presuming I don't have that enabled in the php.ini file but it's still working within that framework?

[mrMarcus]

<?= is only 2 characters shorter than a proper full tag <?php

 

and how often are you really writing an open tag anyways that would make adding those 2 extra characters so consuming?

 

stick with full tags as cags says, and stay portable.  or we'll be seeing you soon enough asking why you're code no longer works since your host upgraded their servers.

[cags]

Perhaps the framework handles code differently, I don't know, I have never worked with Code Igniter.

 

<?= is only 2 characters shorter than a proper full tag <?php

 

and how often are you really writing an open tag anyways that would make adding those 2 extra characters so consuming?

 

stick with full tags as cags says, and stay portable.  or we'll be seeing you soon enough asking why you're code no longer works since your host upgraded their servers.

Actually it's not only two characters shorter. <?= $var ?> is shorthand for <?php echo $var; ?> which is more like 8 characters shorter. But the point still stands.

[salathe]

CodeIgniter parses short tags in files and converts them to "normal" code at runtime.

 

Helpful links:

http://codeigniter.com/user_guide/general/alternative_php.html

Line 673 of http://dev.ellislab.com/svn/CodeIgniter/trunk/system/libraries/Loader.php

[Daniel0]

There is not anything inherently wrong with the short tags. If you can control the environment where they'll be used, I see no issue using it. For instance, on PHP Freaks I could turn short tags on and use them if I wanted to. That would be no problem whatsoever.