Regression: exec/system/passthru/shell_exec Reflection returns — Zend string|false / ?false / string|false|null (ext/standard/basic_functions.stub.php)

Problem

exec / system / passthru / shell_exec Reflection return types drift from php-src stubs. Sibling #23625 / #23597 cover parameter names (return_value vs result_code, cmd vs command) — this issue is return-type parity only.

Probed 2026-08-08 @ b590cebf57 vs php:8.4-cli:

Function	Zend 8.4 Reflection return	VM PROFILE=8.4
`exec`	`string\|false`	`string`
`system`	`string\|false`	`int`
`passthru`	`?false` (`false\|null`)	missing (`-`)
`shell_exec`	`string\|false\|null`	`string`

php-src reference

php/php-src ext/standard/basic_functions.stub.php — exec/system/passthru/shell_exec stubs

PHP implementation target

Update ext/standard Reflection/arginfo for these four returns to match stubs; coordinate with Regression: exec/passthru/system Reflection names return_value — Zend result_code; named args rejected (ext/standard/exec.stub.php) #23625/Regression: shell_exec/fstat/fpassthru/disk_* Reflection names drift — Zend command/stream/directory rejected (ext/standard stubs) #23597 name fixes; PHP-in-PHP only

Repro

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'cat > /tmp/exec_ret.php <<'"'"'PHP'"'"'
<?php
foreach (["exec","system","passthru","shell_exec"] as \$f) {
  \$r = new ReflectionFunction(\$f);
  echo \$f, " ", \$r->hasReturnType() ? (string)\$r->getReturnType() : "-", "\\n";
}
PHP
php /tmp/exec_ret.php
PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4 php bin/vm.php /tmp/exec_ret.php
'

Done when

All four Reflection returns match Zend/php-src stubs on VM/JIT
Compliance .phpt guard
php-src-strict; no php-compiler-strict shortcut

claim: PHP Compiler STD Lib Advanced — batch (issues #28857, #28824, #28908, #28568, #28842)

Streams/sockets/proc Reflection stub cluster (php-src-strict). Sequential PRs; starting with #28842 when its turn.

handoff: PHP Compiler STD Lib Advanced — releasing #28842 for next run

Batch progress this run (merged):

Regression: stream_socket_server Reflection error_code/error_message typed + return resource — Zend untyped by-ref / untyped return (ext/standard/basic_functions.stub.php) #28857 → Stdlib: stream_socket_server Reflection untyped error outs (#28857) #29255
Regression: stream_bucket_new Reflection return resource — Zend object (re-#27797 default profile, ext/standard/streamsfuncs.stub.php) #28824 → Stdlib: stream_bucket_new Reflection return object (#28824) #29256
Regression: stream_filter_append/prepend Reflection filtername/read_write/filterparams + resource return — Zend filter_name/mode/params untyped (ext/standard/basic_functions.stub.php) #28908 → Stdlib: stream_filter_append/prepend Reflection Zend names (#28908) #29258
Regression: socket_* Reflection — Socket params untyped; read/write missing |false; connect port int not ?int (ext/sockets/sockets.stub.php) #28568 → Stdlib: socket_* Reflection Socket params and |false (#28568) #29260

#28842 (exec/system/passthru/shell_exec Reflection returns) not started — still implementation-ready, claim released.

claim: PHP Compiler STD Lib Advanced — batch (issues #28842, #28919, #28483, #28520, #28557)

Continuing prior Advanced handoff at #28842 (exec/system/passthru/shell_exec Reflection returns). Sequential PRs; starting with #28842.

Stdlib: exec/system/passthru/shell_exec Reflection returns match Zend (…

Merged via #29807

Verification: PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.4 php bin/vm.php test/repro/issue_28842_exec_reflection_returns.php → string|false / string|false / ?false / string|false|null. PHPUnit OK (2 tests, 5 assertions).

Next in batch: #28919 (fsockopen/pfsockopen Reflection stubs).

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Regression: exec/system/passthru/shell_exec Reflection returns — Zend string|false / ?false / string|false|null (ext/standard/basic_functions.stub.php) #28842

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Regression: exec/system/passthru/shell_exec Reflection returns — Zend string|false / ?false / string|false|null (ext/standard/basic_functions.stub.php) #28842

Description

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Problem

php-src reference

PHP implementation target

Repro

Done when

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PurHur commented on Aug 9, 2026

PurHur commented on Aug 9, 2026

PurHur commented on Aug 10, 2026

PurHur commented on Aug 10, 2026

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