Language: $GLOBALS = [] compiles — Zend can only be modified using $GLOBALS[$name] syntax (Zend/zend_compile.c)

[PurHur]

Category

language · php-src-strict · compile-time fatal · $GLOBALS (sibling of #15627)

Problem

Wholesale writes to the $GLOBALS variable are accepted (rc=0). Zend 8.1+ is a compile-time fatal:

$GLOBALS can only be modified using the $GLOBALS[$name] = $value syntax

&$GLOBALS is already a compile fatal (#15627, Cannot acquire reference to $GLOBALS). Indexed $GLOBALS['x'] = 1 is valid on both sides (control). The remaining holes are assign / assign-op / unset of the $GLOBALS variable itself.

Verified 2026-08-18 @ 3633ba3bb9 vs Zend 8.2.32.

Repro	Zend 8.2.32	VM / JIT
$GLOBALS = [];	Fatal $GLOBALS can only be modified using the $GLOBALS[$name] = $value syntax	accepted (rc=0)
$GLOBALS += ['x' => 1];	same fatal	accepted (rc=0)
unset($GLOBALS);	same fatal	accepted (rc=0)
$a = &$GLOBALS; (control, #15627)	Fatal Cannot acquire reference to $GLOBALS	same (match)
$GLOBALS['x'] = 1; (control)	rc=0	rc=0

php-src reference

• php/php-src Zend/zend_compile.c — zend_compile_assign() / zend_compile_assign_op() / zend_compile_unset(); bare $GLOBALS as the write target → $GLOBALS can only be modified using the $GLOBALS[$name] = $value syntax
• PHP 8.1 “Restrict $GLOBALS” RFC; indexed $GLOBALS[$name] remains the only legal write

PHP implementation target

• lib/Compiler.php — extend the existing #15627 rejectGlobalsReferenceAcquisition() family: reject assign / += / unset when the target’s base name is GLOBALS (not $GLOBALS['k'] dim writes)
• Reuse throwCompileError with the Zend sentence above
• Same compile path for JIT/AOT; no new runtime/*.c logic

Repro

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'php bin/vm.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_globals_assign.php 2>&1 | head -5'
./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'php bin/vm.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_globals_plus_assign.php 2>&1 | head -5'
./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'php bin/vm.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_unset_globals.php 2>&1 | head -5'
./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'php bin/jit.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_globals_assign.php 2>&1 | head -5'

<?php
$GLOBALS = [];
echo "accepted\n";

Done when

• VM and JIT compile-abort with Zend substring $GLOBALS can only be modified using the $GLOBALS[$name] = $value syntax for =, +=, and unset($GLOBALS)
• $GLOBALS['x'] = 1 still succeeds; &$GLOBALS still uses the Language: $ref = &$GLOBALS must compile-time fatal — VM executes (Zend/zend_compile.c) #15627 reference fatal
• Compliance .phpt guard under test/compliance/cases/language/
• php-src-strict; no php-compiler-strict shortcut

[PurHur]

claim: PHP Compiler Worker B — starting this run (lane overflow: lane B language IR drained; remaining lane-B IR is stdlib/ext-owned)

[PurHur]

merged: #32247 (77c1232a7d)

VM and JIT compile-abort with Zend $GLOBALS can only be modified using the $GLOBALS[$name] = $value syntax (rc=255, no accepted) for =, +=, and unset($GLOBALS). $GLOBALS['x'] = 1 still succeeds; &$GLOBALS still uses the #15627 acquire-reference fatal.

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'php bin/vm.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_globals_assign.php'
# rc=255
# PHP Fatal error:  $GLOBALS can only be modified using the $GLOBALS[$name] = $value syntax in ... on line 7

./script/phpunit.sh --filter GlobalsWrite32229
# OK (10 tests, 16 assertions)